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Pneumonia is an infection born out of inflammation in the air sacs of your lungs called alveoli. Alveoli are found at the end of the bronchioles or the joining air tubes of the lungs, where the circulating blood in our body exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide every time we breathe in and out. When these are inflamed, in one or both of our lungs, these sacs start filling with pus or fluids. It leads to bouts of cough with phlegm or pus, often accompanied by fever or chills. Over time this blocks the air sacs causing breathing difficulty.
Pneumonia can vary between mild to life-threatening. However, it can be serious for :
This is an infection that spreads over an inflamed surface. This is the perfect breeding ground for a variety of organisms, like bacteria, viruses and fungi, which can all cause pneumonia. Of all the germs, airborne bacteria and viruses are the most common causes.
Our immune system is capable of dealing with this infection, but sometimes these germs can also overpower it despite having good health. We can classify pneumonia based on the germ that causes the infection and the place where it is acquired from.
Bacteria or Bacteria organisms: One lobe-inflamed pneumonia caused by streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria is called lobar pneumonia. Those experiencing illness, poor nutrition, old age, or impaired immunity are more susceptible to this. When both lobes are affected by the mycoplasma pneumonia bacteria it is called bronchial pneumonia. This is mild and does not require bed rest, hence referred to as Walking Pneumonia.
Virus or virus-like organisms: Various viruses can cause this, but almost 1/3rd of all cases are traced back to the flu (influenza) virus. Bacterial pneumonia can also develop in an existing viral infection. With the recent onset of the COVID-19 virus, pneumonia was a closely followed occurrence in the majority of cases. Viral pneumonia is very common in children.
Fungi: Fungal infection is common for people having chronic health problems and weak immune systems. It is also found in people with proximity to higher concentration of fungal matter. For example Fungi rich soil or bird droppings.
Community-acquired pneumonia: This is a community-based spread of the infection and is concentrated in areas where more people are suffering from the infection. This was a phenomenon we observed during the COVID-19 outbreak. Containment zones depicted where the infection was spreading more.
Hospital/ Healthcare acquired pneumonia: This can happen in two ways: during prolonged hospital stays due to or during daycare or outpatient treatments.
In the first case, the infection is acquired during hospital stays for ongoing treatment. The infection develops a higher resistance to antibiotics, due to pre-existing comorbidities for which the patient is undergoing a prolonged hospital stay. Usually, these patients have to be put on ventilation devices from which the infection travels.
In the second case, it is acquired from daycare procedure devices. For example, Dialysis or OPD treatment, assisted living facilities. These usually transmit from commonly used equipment.
Other ways of acquiring pneumonia:
When you inhale any type of food or drink, bodily fluids like the vomit or saliva of an infected patient into your lungs can also get pneumonia.
The symptoms are dependent on the germ causing the Pneumonia, your age and your level of immunity. While a newborn’s prominent symptom will be fever & vomiting, an older person might show increased weakness and lower body temperature. So every case will be different. The overall symptoms common to all forms of pneumonia are:
Bacterial pneumonia is more serious than others. Here symptoms surface with very high fever, excessive sweating, rapid change in pulse rate and pale or bluish lips and nail beds due to lack of oxygen. Lack of oxygen also makes these patients delirious.
Viral pneumonia develops over several days. Initial symptoms are like flu, which gets worse, with increased coughing, breathlessness and muscle pain. Fever will follow if the symptoms are not attended to.
Your recent health and travel history might be enough to diagnose pneumonia. In addition to this, an ENT or Pulmonologist will perform a physical examination. After assessing these the following tests will be performed:
Treatment is mostly given with home care and over-the-counter medicines. Bacterial pneumonia is treated with antibiotics, but viral pneumonia doesn’t have any specific treatment. Your doctor will prescribe medicines, rest, proper diet and fluid intake to bring your immunity back.
In severe cases, however, the doctor will ask you to get hospitalised for increased observation and targeted treatment. But prevention of pneumonia can help us avoid the disease at its source. Vaccines and flu shots are the best way to prevent pneumonia. A pneumococcal vaccine will protect you from bacterial pneumonia. These are a must for high-risk age groups.
Pneumonia affects each person differently. Some respond well to treatment, but others might be suffering from a much more fatal infection. In severe cases, the body develops complications which mixed with weak immunity, high blood sugar or cirrhosis can create further complications.
Q1. What are the 4 stages of pneumonia?
Q2. Do all patients with COVID-19 get pneumonia?
It has been observed that most patients who underwent a serious COVID diagnosis also developed pneumonia-like symptoms and further in fatal cases it led to severe complications similar to pneumonia which resulted in increased fatalities.
Q3. How long does it take for the lungs to heal after pneumonia?
It all depends on your level of immunity, the severity of pneumonia, your age and the time taken for recovery. In severe cases, it is very taxing upon the body to get back to its former glory since severe respiratory infections leave the person very weak.
In normal cases of pneumonia, which can be treated with home care and over-the-counter medication, the lungs recover back to health within two weeks.
