Pneumonia, causes and prevention

The lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or other organisms is called pneumonia. this condition kills more than 60 thousands Americans each year. Pneumonia can affect anybody but it is a particular concern for those who suffer from chronic diseases, weakened immune system or old people. Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death in infants worldwide.

Pneumonia has more than 50 forms of which some are mild and some are life – threatening. This infection can occur after another condition like influenza, a cold or any other illness, or may be triggered on its own. This condition develops suddenly showing a great variety of symptoms from which the most common are cough, shortness of breath, chills, fever and chest pain.

Bacterial pneumonia is easily treated with antibiotics but a continuously growing problem is represented by bacteria strains that are resistant to antibiotics. Because of this, the best thing to do is to prevent the condition.

Pneumonia is caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites (rarely) or other microorganisms. The most common cause is the streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium. However, specialists can't usually identify the exact organism that produced the infection.

A cold or a flu, which are infections of the upper respiratory tract, make it more difficult for the lungs to fight any possible infection. Because of this, it is likely for pneumonia to appear after a milder infection like flu or cold. Pneumonia appears when a person breathes in his or her lungs infected air particles.

Pneumonia can be prevented by vaccination with pneumococcal vaccine. This vaccine helps a lot of people but not everyone as research show.

The chances of contracting pneumonia can be diminished also by a flu vaccine because it is known that pneumonia can follow this kind of respiratory tract infection.

Where to look for pneumonia

Pneumonia is a condition that affects the lungs and the respiratory system and it manifests through inflammation and fluid filling of the alveoli (microscopic sacs filled with air that absorb oxygen from the air, which are found in the lungs). This condition can be caused by many factors, including viruses, bacteria, fungi or other organisms infections.

One of the classification forms of pneumonia regards where and how a person is exposed to the condition:

• * Pneumonia acquired in the community. A person can acquire the pneumonia in the course of his or her daily life: in school, at work, etc. This form of pneumonia resembles to a very rare but severe and often deadly form called acute eosinophilic pneumonia, which was encountered in soldiers that served in or near Iraq . This kind of resemblance may lead to delayed proper treatment due to misdiagnosis.
• * Aspiration pneumonia is a form that appears when a person aspires (inhales) foreign matter into the lungs. Most cases are caused by the contents of the stomach reaches the lungs after vomiting. This process is caused by any affection of the normal gag reflex caused by brain injury or any other disorder.
• * Opportunistic organisms can also cause pneumonia. This is a form of the condition that affects people with impaired immune system. The persons with AIDS, sickle cell disease and other conditions that impair the immune system are also affected by organisms that are harmless for an otherwise healthy person. Corticosteroids, chemotherapy or other medications that suppress the immune system can put a person at risk for contacting opportunistic pneumonia. P. carinii pneumonia is one form of the condition that only affects persons with compromised immune system.
• * Nosocomial pneumonia is the form of pneumonia acquired in the hospital. This form can be acquired in the hospital, where the risk is higher, if the person is connected to a mechanical ventilator, is in the intensive care unit or has an impaired immune system. This form can be very severe and even deadly for young children, old people, people suffering from HIV/AIDS and chronic obstructive pulmonary conditions.

Usually, pneumonia appears when the natural system of defense of your body suffers a breakdown. This allows germs to invade the lungs and multiply the organism will concentrate a large number of white cells to fight the infection. The alveoli are this way filled with germs, white cells and fluids and become inflamed leaving thus little space for oxygen and making breathing more difficult. Cough will then produce a thick greenish or rust – colored mucus.

An increased risk for developing pneumonia is presented by very old people and very young people whose immune system is not fully developed.