What are the Symptoms of Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a lung infection that leads to inflammation and fluid deposition in the structural units of lungs called alveoli. The cause of pneumonia can be either bacteria or viruses or fungi. The infection could leads to mild to life-threatening health consequences. Infants, young kids, people above 65-years age, and the ones with a low immune system, are at higher risk than rest of the population. The symptoms of this complication could also vary from mild to serious, concerning the factors of its cause.

In this article, let us understand what is pneumonia, check out its symptoms and what could be the possible treatments to cure this infection.

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a typical infection that occurs in one or both lungs due to bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The infection results in inflammation of the lung air sacs, i.e., alveoli. Due to the infection, the alveoli get filled with fluid, causing breathing problems. A quite common question in relation in this relation is whether pneumonia is contagious. Yes, both viral and bacterial pneumonia are contagious and can be spread from one person to another through the ingestion of airborne droplets during a cough or sneeze. The same could be spread by contaminated objects too, if an individual touches a surface infected by the particular virus. However, in the case of fungal pneumonia, the spread is from the environment and not from one person to another.
Pneumonia has different stages, and could be classified depending on the area of the lungs it's disturbing. They are:

•    Bronchopneumonia: It is usually close to or around the bronchi and can affect all parts of both the lungs.

•     Lobar Pneumonia: Lungs are made up of lobes. When one or more lobes of the lungs are infected, known as lobar pneumonia. Each lung is created of lobes, which are the lungs’ sections.

What are the Symptoms of Pneumonia?

The pneumonia symptoms could be mild to life-threatening. It can include:
•    Coughing that might result in mucus production
•    Sweating or chills
•    Fever
•    Breath shortness while doing a particular task or even while resting
•    Chest pain while coughing or breathing
•    Extreme fatigue, feeling of tiredness
•    Nausea or vomiting
•    Loss of appetite
•    Headaches

Other symptoms could vary based on the individual's age and overall health condition.

•    Infants usually might not reflect any symptoms. Sometimes, they might seem less energetic, vomit, or have trouble eating or drinking.
•    Kids below five years old could have problems with breathing or wheezing.
•    Older adults generally have mild symptoms. They could experience lower than normal body temperatures.
    

Risk Factors and When to Visit a Doctor

People regardless of their age or gender can catch pneumonia, but particular groups are at greater risks. The highly vulnerable groups include:
•    Infants and kids till 2 years old
•    People aged 65 years or more
•    Individuals with a weak immune system because of pregnancy/HIV/use of some specific medications like steroids and cancer drugs
•    Individuals suffering from chronic medical conditions like asthma, cystic fibrosis, COPD, liver disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or sickle cell diseases.
•    People who have been recently or are currently hospitalized and especially on ventilator support.
•    People who are frequently or regularly exposed to toxic fumes and other forms of air pollution.  
•    People in a crowded environment, be it prison or a nursing home.
•    Chain smokers because their body finds it difficult to get rid of the mucus in the airways.
•    Alcohol consumption contributes to weakening of the immune system.

Is Pneumonia Curable?

A range of infectious agents holds the potential to cause pneumonia, and many individuals with the infection easily recovers with proper treatment. In case of bacterial infections, giving up on the antibiotic early, would not be an intelligent choice. This would not help in the complete clearance of the infection and there are high chances of recurrence. Early discontinuation of the antibiotics could also result in antibiotic resistance, which is further very difficult to treat.

For viral pneumonia, home treatment works fine and can be cured within one to three weeks. In certain cases, antivirals could be used. For fungal pneumonia, there are antifungal medications that might usually take the longest time for the complete treatment procedure.  

Outlook
                                                              
In most cases, people respond to the treatment and recover from the infection. For an individual, the treatment and recovery time would depend on the pneumonia type they have, its severity, and the overall condition of their physical health. For a younger person, the recovery time could be as low as one week. On the other hand, others could take longer periods of time to feel fit. In the case of severe symptoms, the recovery span might take up to several weeks.  
The following points could be kept in mind and adhered to, to fasten the recovery process and avoid further complications:
•    Sticking to the prescribed treatment plan and having the medications as guided.
•    Ensuring the body gets plenty of rest to help it combat the infection.
•    Take plenty of fluids.
•    Follow-up schedules with the doctor.

Wrapping Up                                    

Pneumonia is a typical lung infection, caused due to bacteria, fungi, or viruses. To diagnose the infection, the doctor would conduct a physical exam and take your medical history. After scrutinizing the reports, they could suggest further tests like a chest x-ray. The treatment for the infection depends on the individual's symptoms and general health state. Usually, an individual completely recovers within a few weeks.

This was all about the lung disease pneumonia, what it means, the symptoms, the risk factors associated with it, and how long it usually takes to recover. Sticking to the prescribed treatment plan and abiding strictly by the doctor’s guidelines, could result in quick recovery for the patient.

Note: The article is meant for general awareness of the readers. The information can not be used as a substitute to any medical prescription or health expert consultation.

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