They are:

complications with viral pneumonia.

What Is Pneumonia?

Bacterial Pneumonia

Mycoplasma Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both

Bacterial pneumonia can affect anyone at

Mycoplasma organisms are not viruses or

lung. It can be caused by fungi, bacteria, or

any age. It can develop on its own or after a

bacteria, but they have traits common to

viruses. Pneumonia causes inflammation in

serious cold or flu. The most common cause

both. They are the smallest agents of

your lungs air sacs, or alveoli. The alveoli

of bacterial pneumonia isStreptococcus

disease that affect humans. Mycoplasmas

fill with fluid or pus, making it difficult to

pneumoniae. Bacterial pneumonia can also

generally cause mild cases of pneumonia,

breathe. Symptoms of pneumonia can

be caused by Chlamydophila

most often in older children and young

range from mild to life-threatening. The

pneumonia or Legionella

adults.

severity of your pneumonia usually depends

pneumophila. Pneumocystis

Other Types of Pneumonia

on:

jiroveci pneumonia is sometimes seen in

Many additional types of pneumonia affect

those who have weak immune systems due

immune-compromised individuals.

to illnesses like AIDS or cancer.

Tuberculosis and Pneumocystis

the cause of your inflammation

the type of organism causing your

infection

your age

your general health

Keep reading to learn about what causes
pneumonia as well as its symptoms. You
should call your doctor if you have any
concerns. Severe pneumonia is a medical
emergency.

Types and Causes of Pneumonia

There are five major types of pneumonia.

carinii pneumonia (PCP) generally affect

Viral Pneumonia

people with suppressed immune systems,

such as those who have AIDS. In fact, PCP

In most cases, respiratory viruses can cause

pneumonia, especially in young children

can be one of the first signs of illness in

people with AIDS.

and the elderly. Pneumonia is usually not

serious and lasts a short time. However, the

Less common types of pneumonia can also

flu virus can cause viral pneumonia to be

be serious. Pneumonia can be caused by

severe or fatal. Its especially harmful to

inhaling food, dust, liquid, or gas, as well as

pregnant women or individuals with heart or

by various fungi.

lung issues. Invading bacteria can cause

Who Is at Risk for Developing

Pneumonia?

No one is immune to pneumonia, but

there are certain factors that can
raise your risks:

Certain medical conditions raise your

medical attention if you have any of these

risks for pneumonia. These

symptoms:

conditions include asthma, cystic

skin with bluish tone (from lack of oxygen)

fibrosis, diabetes, and heart failure.

blood in sputum (coughed-up mucus)

What Are the Symptoms of

labored breathing

Pneumonia?

high fever (102.5F or higher)

confusion

People who have had a stroke, have

The general symptoms of bacterial

problems swallowing, or are

rapid heartbeat

pneumonia can develop quickly and may

bedridden can easily develop

How Is Pneumonia Diagnosed?

include:

Pneumonia can be easily overlooked as the

pneumonia.

Infants from birth to age two are at

chest pain

risk for pneumonia, as are

shaking chills

individuals age 65 or older.

fever

People with weakened immune

dry cough

systems are at increased risk of

wheezing

pneumonia. This includes people

muscle aches

who take medications that weaken

nausea

the immune system, such as steroids

vomiting

and certain medications for cancer,

rapid breathing

and people with HIV, AIDS, or cancer.

rapid heartbeat

Drug abuse increases risk. This

difficulty breathing

resembles a cold or the flu. However, it

usually lasts longer and symptoms seem
more severe than these other conditions.

Detailed Patient History

To determine whether or not you have
pneumonia, your doctors will usually inquire
about your signs and symptoms. Questions
they may ask include:

includes excessive alcohol

consumption and smoking.

cause of an illness because it often

Some symptoms may indicate a medical

emergency. You should seek immediate

What are your symptoms and when

did they begin?

What were your recent travels and

Diagnostic Tests

activities?

pleural space (the space between the tissue

What was your recent exposure to

animals?
What was your recent exposure to
individuals who are sick?

Chest X-rays can be used to determine if

that covers the outside of your lungs and

infection is present in your lungs. However,

the inside of your chest cavity), a fluid

chest X-rays wont show your type of

sample can be taken to help determine if

pneumonia. Blood tests can provide a better

the pneumonia is bacterial or viral.

picture of the type of pneumonia. Also,

What are your past and current

medical issues?
What medications are you currently

What is your smoking history?

Have you recently had any

level of oxygen blood saturation by

infection is in your bloodstream.

attaching a small sensor to your finger.

Pneumonia can prevent normal oxygenation

Other Tests
The following are additional tests that may

vaccinations or illnesses?

be required:

A CT scan of the chest is similar to

Crackling and bubbling sounds in the chest

an X-ray, but the pictures provided by this

during inhalation are usually indicators of

method are highly detailed. This painless

pneumonia. Wheezing may also be present.

test provides a clear and precise picture of

Your doctor may also have trouble hearing

the chest and lungs.

of your chest.

of the blood.

When antibiotics fail, a bronchoscopy

can be used to view the airways inside the
lungs to determine if blocked airways are

Physical Exam

normal breathing sounds in different areas

A pulse oximetry test measures the

blood tests are necessary to see if the

taking?

If there is fluid apparent in the

contributing to the pneumonia.

Part 6 of 7: Treatment

How Is Pneumonia Treated?

This sputum test involves examining

the sputum (the mucus you cough up) to
determine what type of pneumonia is
present.

The type of treatment prescribed for

pneumonia mostly depends on what type of
pneumonia is present, as well as how

severe it is. In many cases, pneumonia can

Treating Bacterial Pneumonia

be treated at home.

General Treatment
The typical treatment plan for pneumonia
includes taking all prescribed medications
and participating in follow-up care. A chest
X-ray may be ordered to make sure your
pneumonia has been successfully treated.

Symptoms usually clear within one to three

weeks.

Antibiotics are used to treat this type of

Can Pneumonia Be Prevented?

pneumonia. Antibiotics should be taken as

Anyone with diabetes, asthma, and other

directed. If you stop taking the antibiotics

severe or chronic health problems is at risk

before treatment is complete, the

for pneumonia. However, in many cases, it

pneumonia may return. Most people will

can be prevented with vaccines against

improve after one to three days of

bacterial pneumonia and flu. Quitting

treatment.

smoking will definitely lower your risk of

Treating Viral Pneumonia

pneumonia.

Antibiotics are useless if a virus is the cause

of pneumonia. However, certain antiviral
drugs can help treat the condition.