Dr Dulcy gives health advice

UNDERSTANDING THE DISEASE: THERE CAN BE MORE THAN 30 CAUSES

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of the lungs. Many germs, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi, can cause pneumonia. It is often spread through coughing, sneezing, touching or even breathing, and those who don’t exhibit symptoms can also spread the illness.

You can also get pneumonia by inhaling a liquid or chemical. You can get pneumonia in your daily life, such as at school or work. This is called community-associated pneumonia. You can also get it when you are in a hospital or nursing home. This is called healthcare-associated pneumonia.

People most at risk are older than 65 or younger than five, or already have other chronic illnesses. You may cough, run a fever, and have difficulty breathing.

Pneumonia can be treated at home. It often clears up in two to three weeks. But older adults, babies, and people with other diseases can become very ill.

Treatment depends on what kind you have. If bacteria are the cause, antibiotics should help. If you have viral pneumonia, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine to treat it. Vaccines are available to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia and influenza. Other preventive measures include covering your mouth when you cough, washing your hands frequently and not smoking.

If you have any of the following symptoms please see your doctor urgently:

You have a high fever, shaking chills, a cough with phlegm that doesn’t improve or gets worse, develop shortness of breath with normal daily activities, have chest pain when you breathe or cough, or feel suddenly worse after a cold or the flu.

CAUSES OF PNEUMONIA

Pneumonia can have more than 30 different causes. Understanding the cause is important because pneumonia treatment depends on its cause. Many different germs and other things can cause pneumonia. There are five main causes: bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, other infectious agents, such as fungi – including pneumocystis.

Various chemicals

About one-third of the pneumonia cases each year are caused by viruses. These viruses are the most common cause of pneumonia in children and young adults. The flu virus is a common cause of viral pneumonia in adults. Other viruses that cause pneumonia include respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus, herpes simplex virus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus.

TYPES OF PNEUMONIA Bacterial pneumonia

This can attack anyone, at any age. It can occur on its own or develop after you have had a cold or the flu. People at greatest risk for bacterial pneumonia include people recovering from surgery, people with respiratory diseases or viral infections and people who have weakened immune systems. If your body’s defences are weakened by illness, old age, malnutrition, or impaired immunity, the pneumonia bacteria, which can live in healthy throats, can mul- tiply and work their way into the lungs.

Viral pneumonia

Most respiratory viruses attack the upper respiratory tract, but some cause pneumonia, especially in children. Most of these pneumonias are not serious but others can be severe. Viral pneumonia caused by the influenza virus may be severe and sometimes fatal. The virus invades the lungs and multiplies; however, there are almost no physical signs of lung tissue becoming filled with fluid. This pneumonia is most serious in people who have pre-existing heart or lung disease and pregnant women. Viral pneumonias may be complicated by an invasion of bacteria, with all the typical symptoms of bacterial pneumonia.

Mycoplasma pneumonia

Mycoplasmas are the smallest free-living agents of disease in humankind. They are not classified as to whether they are bacteria or viruses, but they have traits of both. Mycoplasma usually cause a mild form of pneumonia, but may be severe with certain symptoms lasting a long time. They affect all age groups.

Other types of pneumonia

Tuberculosis (TB) rarely can cause pneumonia (tuberculosis pneumonia). It is extremely dangerous unless treated early.

Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, which is caused by a fungus, is sometimes seen in people whose immune system is impaired (due to HIV infection or certain medications that suppress the immune system).

Other less common pneumonias may be quite serious and occur more often.

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

Symptoms of pneumonia caused by bacteria usually come on quickly. They may include:

Cough. You will likely cough up mucus (sputum) from your lungs. Mucus may be rusty or green or tinged with blood. Fever. Fast breathing and feeling short of breath. Shaking and chills. Chest pain that often feels worse when you cough or breathe in. Fast heartbeat. Feeling very tired or weak. Nausea and vomiting. Diarrhoea. Older adults may have different, fewer, or milder symptoms. Or they may have a cough but not bring up mucus. The main sign of pneumonia in older adults may be confusion or delirium. Or, if they already have a lung disease, that disease may get worse.

TREATMENT

If pneumonia is caused by bacteria, your doctor will give you antibiotics. These almost always cure pneumonia caused by bacteria. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics. After you take antibiotics, you should start to feel much better. Call your doctor if you do not feel better after antibiotics. Call your doctor right away if you feel worse.