Diseases of the Respritory System: Pneumonia

Pneumonia

What Causes Pneumonia? How do you prevent it?

Pneumonia is caused by a number of different things and there are a number of different variations. It is contracted either through germs entering your lungs or from breathing in food, chemicals, water or dust. Pneumonia is a communicable infection that can be prevented by the following:

• washing your hands regularly and properly
• Do not share cups pr eating utensils from people that are sick
• get a flu shot each year
• get a pneumococcal shot (may need every five years)

What structures are affected?

There are two sections of your lungs that pneumonia effects. The first is Lobar Pneumonia, which affects a section or lobe of the lung. The second is Bronchial Pneumonia, which affects a section around the bronchioles in the lungs.

Lobar

Bronchial

Symptoms and Diagnosis

There are many symptoms of pneumonia and they can range from serious to mild. The severity of the disease can depend on your age and the type.Common symptoms are cough, yellow-greeen phlegm, shortness of breath, tired and unwell feeling, chest pain, fever. If you feel you have these symptoms you should consult your doctor for diagnosis.

When your doctor diagnosises you they will run a series of tests. Septum tests on mucus or phlegm, blood tests and chest x-rays.

Treatment

Most types of pneumonia are treated by a prescription of antibiotics. If you have a more severe case you can be hospitalised and put iv to avoid dehydration 

Different Varieties of Pneumonia

Bacterial Pneumonia

• lung infection caused by bacteria
• usally effects the lobe of a lung (lobar)
• usally comes during or after a infection in the upper respritory system (cold or flu) 

Viral Pneumonia

• lung infection casued by virus (germ)
• Many differnt viruses can cause it, flu and RSV or respritory syncytial virus. Most common in children.
• Less serious than Bacterial but can be deadly to very old or very yong people, people who have diseases that weaken the immune system or pregnant women.

Mycoplasma pneumonia

• infection of the lungs caused by a small germ called Mycoplasma pneumoniae
• sometimes refered to as walking pneumonia it is the most common and mild form
• Any age of person can get it but it is most common in people below the age of 40. Very common in school age children