Pneumonia

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Pneumonia
Infection of lungs; due to bacteria, virus or fungus

What is Pneumonia?
A life threatening lower respiratory tract infection that particularly affects children and older adults
What are the signs & symptoms of Pneumonia?
• High fever
• Excessive sweating
• Chills/ Shivering
• Coughing out greenish, yellow or even bloody mucus
• Shallow breathing
• Rapid breathing
• Chest pain
• Loss of appetite, tiredness and weakness
• Nausea and vomiting, especially in small children
• Confusion, especially in older people
• Bluish coloration of lips and nail beds
• Confused mental status
• Wheezing
Who are typically affected with Pneumonia?
Individuals Recovering from surgery, Suffering from respiratory disease like Asthma, COPD, Infected with viral infection, Pregnancy, Pre-existing heart-Lung condition, Long term exposure to infested material or who have low immunity, old age, alcoholics and elderly due to aspiration of food particles
What is Bacterial Pneumonia?
The most ...
... serious type of Pneumonia with gradual or sudden onset with typical pneumonia signs and symptoms
• It can be secondary to viral Flu or Cold
• Streptococcus pneumoniae – Causes most frequent Pneumonia
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae – Causes very mild Pneumonia affecting under 40 individuals
• Chlamydophila pneumoniae – Causes mild Pneumonia
• Legionella pneumophila – Causes most severe type

What is Viral Pneumonia?
Most viral pneumonia infections are relatively milder and lasts shorter than bacterial pneumonia
• Flu virus – causes the most common but severe type of viral pneumonia in adults
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – causes the most common type of viral pneumonia in kids
• Symptoms and the condition can be complicated with added bacterial infection
What is Fungal Pneumonia?
Causes Pneumonia in individuals with weak immune system and the ones exposed to soil or bird droppings contaminated with fungi or it spores
• Pneumocystis jirovecii – Causes the most serious type of fungal Pneumonia
• Histoplasma capsulatum – Causing histoplamosis; pneumonia like infection
• Blastomyces dermatitidis – Causing blastomycosis; pneumonia like infection
• Aspergillus and Candida – Typically causes pneumonia in weakened immune system.
How Pneumonia is Prevented?
• Vaccination – Hib, Flu, MMRV and Pneumococcal (PCV/PPV) Vaccines are protective
• Good nutrition, Enough Sleep and Regular Exercise
• Avoiding or quitting smoking
• Adequate ventilation with air quality indoors
• Vitamin C supplementation
• Managing HIV-AIDS or Diabetes Mellitus or Malnutrition
• Minimising exposure to both indoor and outdoor air pollution
• Preventive medication during outbreaks
• Personal Hygiene especially washing hands with soap
How Pneumonia is treated at the hospital?
Depending on the severity it can be treated in OP/Oral/IV, pneumonia is treated using intravenous fluids, antibiotics and oxygen therapy
How is Pneumonia Diagnosed?
Pneumonia is diagnosed specifically based on Medical history, Personal examination and diagnostic tests
• Blood, Sputum and Culture Tests
• Imaging Investigations – X-Ray, CT scan, Bronchoscopy
• Pulse Oximetry & Arterial Blood Gas Test
Dos and Don’ts
• Use NSAIDs or Paracetamol to control fever and pain
• Don’t give aspirin to children
• Do not take cough medicines on your own
• Drink warm beverages
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Don’t smoke and stay away from smoke
• Take plenty of rest and sleep
• Immediately seek medical advice if the symptoms worsen
Call for Action
See your doctor right away if you have difficulty breathing, develop a bluish color in your lips and fingertips, have chest pain, a high fever, or a cough with mucus that is severe or is getting worse

Pneumonia:
What is pneumonia?
It is an infection of the lungs, particularly affection older adults and children.
Signs and symptoms of Pneumonia:
- Fever
- Cough out yellow–green phlegm, sometimes with blood.
- Breathlessness / Breathing difficulty
- Chest pain
- Generalised weakness / Lethargy
- Confusion in older people
Who are typically affected?
1. Old age
2. Elderly aged people with decreased immunity like HIV, Kidney disease, Diabetes, Heart failure
3. Alcohol excess
4. Asthama
5. Smokers
6. Swallowing disorder
What is Bacterial Pneumonia?
- These are the severe forms of Pneumonia caused by Bacteria like Pneumonococcus, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella and other atypical bacteria
- TB is also another bacterial pneumonia and is a slowly progressive disease.
What is Viral Pneumonia?
- Most viral pneumonia are relatively milder infections.
- Influenza (SWINE Flu etc) is the most severe viral pneumonia which can cause devastating lung damage requiring Ventilator support.
What is Fungal Pneumonia?
- Usually seen in people with decreased immunity
- Pneumocystis jirovecii – Causes the most serious type of fungal Pneumonia
- Histoplasma capsulatum – Causing histoplamosis; pneumonia like infection
- Blastomyces dermatitidis – Causing blastomycosis; pneumonia like infection
- Aspergillus and Candida – Typically causes pneumonia in weakened immune system.
- Most common type in India is Aspergillus, travellers (to the USA etc.) can pick up infection even with a good immune system.

How Pneumonia is prevented?
• Vaccination – Flu, MMRV and Pneumococcal (PCV/PPV) Vaccines are protective
• FLU and Pneumococcal vaccines can prevent the disease, but are not 100% effective
• Good nutrition, Sleep and Regular Exercise
• Avoiding or quitting smoking
• Adequate ventilation with good air quality indoors
• Adequate treatment of HIV or Diabetes Mellitus or Malnutrition
• Personal Hygiene especially hand washing with soap and use of N95 masks.
How pneumonia is treated at the Hospital?
Depending on the severity with Intravenous antibiotics, Oxygen and ventilator support if required.
How is Pneumonia Diagnosed?
Pneumonia is diagnosed specifically based on Medical History, patient examination and diagnostic tests, which include;
- Complete blood picture
- Sputum and culture tests
- X-Ray, CT Scan, Bronchoscopy (camera into the lungs)
- Blood gas test
Do’s and Don’t’s:
• Use Paracetamol to control fever and pain
• Do not take cough medicines on your own
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Don’t smoke and stay away from second hand smoke (passive smoking)
• Take adequate rest
• Immediately seek medical advice if the symptoms worsen
Call for Action:
See your doctor right away if you have difficulty breathing, have chest pain, a high fever, or a cough with excessive mucus or blood.

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