Disease Details
| Pneumonia | |
|---|---|
| Disease Type | Chest Diseases |
| Description | Pneumonia is swelling (inflammation) of the tissue in one or both lungs. It's usually caused by a bacterial infection. At the end of the breathing tubes in your lungs are clusters of tiny air sacs. If you have pneumonia, these tiny sacs become inflamed and fill up with fluid. |
| Symptoms |
The symptoms of pneumonia can develop suddenly over 24 to 48 hours, or they may come on more slowly over several days. Common symptoms of pneumonia include: • A cough – which may be dry, or produce thick yellow, green, brown or blood-stained mucus (phlegm) • Difficulty breathing – your breathing may be rapid and shallow, and you may feel breathless, even when resting • Rapid heartbeat • Fever • Feeling generally unwell • Sweating and shivering • Loss of appetite • Chest pain – which gets worse when breathing or coughing Less common symptoms include: • coughing up blood (hemoptysis) • headaches • fatigue • nausea or vomiting • wheezing • joint and muscle pain • feeling confused and disorientated, particularly in elderly people |
| Prevention |
Although most cases of pneumonia are bacterial and aren't passed on from one person to another, ensuring good standards of hygiene will help prevent germs spreading. For example, you should: • cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief or tissue when you cough or sneeze • throw away used tissues immediately – germs can live for several hours after they leave your nose or mouth • wash your hands regularly to avoid transferring germs to other people or objects A healthy lifestyle can also help prevent pneumonia. For example, you should avoid smoking as it damages your lungs and increases the chance of infection. Find out how to stop smoking. Excessive and prolonged alcohol misuse also weakens your lungs' natural defences against infections, making you more vulnerable to pneumonia. People at high risk of pneumonia should be offered the pneumococcal vaccine and flu vaccine |
| Complications |
Complications of pneumonia are more common in young children, the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, such as diabetes. Possible complications of pneumonia include: • Pleurisy – where the thin linings between your lungs and ribcage (pleura) become inflamed, which can lead to respiratory failure • A lung abscess – a rare complication that's mostly seen in people with a serious pre-existing illness or a history of severe alcohol misuse • Blood poisoning (septicaemia) – also a rare but serious complication You'll be admitted to hospital for treatment if you develop one of these complications. Preventing pneumonia |
| Risk Factor |
The following groups have an increased risk of developing pneumonia: • Babies and very young children • Elderly people • People who smoke • People with other health conditions, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, or a heart, kidney or liver condition • People with a weakened immune system – for example, as a result of a recent illness, such as flu, having HIV or AIDS, having chemotherapy, or taking medication following an organ transplant |
