Pneumonia
Overview of Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Antibiotics have reduced the fatalities associated from pneumonia many fold. Prior to the discovery of antibiotics, about one-third of people who developed pneumonia died from the infection. There has been a steep decline in the number of deaths due to pneumonia since 1940, when penicillin became widely available. In the later years, the decline was increasing annually probably due to the increased coverage of medical services across the population. There was a rise in the number of deaths in 1957 due to the influenza A pandemic. In 2000, the number of patients in a homecare setting with admission in the hospital with a primary diagnosis of pneumonia in USA was 20,300 (1.5%).2 In a 2004 survey, pneumonia and influenza together were the 8th leading cause of death in the USA .3
Route of Transmission of Pneumonia
Routes of transmission of Pneumonia
Pneumonia is frequently categorized by cough, sneezing, runny nose and other upper respiratory symptoms. The infection is transmitted from person to person through a sneeze or a cough when small droplets containing the pathogens are discharged into the air.
Classification of Pneumonia
Classifications of pneumonia
Pneumonia can be classified as community acquired pneumonia and hospital acquired pneumonia.
Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia
Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia
The signs and symptoms of pneumonia are basically of the upper respiratory infection. Most people initially have symptoms of a cold followed by a high fever (sometimes as high as 104ºF), shaking chills, and a cough with
Diagnosis of Pneumonia
Diagnosis of Pneumonia
In most cases, pneumonia may be suspected clinically when the doctor examines the patient and hears coarse breathing or crackling sounds when listening to a portion of the chest with a stethoscope.
Treatment Options of Pneumonia
Treatment of Pneumonia
Guidelines for the treatment of diseases are published by the related societies in the respective nations. These are based on prior evidence of clinical benefit from specific therapies.
Conclusions of Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a serious illness that requires a visit to the doctor to assess it’s severity and start therapy. If diagnosed and treated at the right time, it is a very easily manageable condition. In case of an elderly person or babies or children or immunocompromised people developing upper respiratory signs and symptoms, medical attention becomes necessary to rule out or treat pneumonia.
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Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: July 05, 2011