A bacterial, viral, or fungal infection causes inflammation and fluid in your lungs, which is known as pneumonia. It makes breathing difficult and can lead to a fever and a cough with yellow, green, or red mucus. Pneumonia is commonly caused by influenza, COVID-19, and pneumococcal illness.
Bacterial pneumonia is typically more serious than viral pneumonia, which commonly resolves on its own. Pneumonia can infect one or both lungs. Bilateral or double pneumonia occurs when you have pneumonia in both lungs.
Bacterial pneumonia is more common and more severe than viral pneumonia. It is more likely that you will need to stay in the hospital. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial pneumonia. Viral pneumonia causes flu-like symptoms and tends to resolve on its own. Viral pneumonia typically does not require particular treatment.
Types of Pneumonia:
- Community Acquired Pneumonia: Community-acquired pneumonia is defined as pneumonia contracted outside of a healthcare setting. Some causes of Community Acquired Pneumonia include, Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi and Protozoa.
- Hospital Acquired Pneumonia: Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) can occur when you are in a hospital or healthcare facility for another sickness or operation. HAP is generally more serious than community-acquired pneumonia because it is frequently caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This means that HAP can worsen your condition and make it more difficult to treat.
- Healthcare Associated Pneumonia: Healthcare Associated Pneumonia can be acquired while in a long-term care institution or an outpatient, extended-stay clinic. It is typically caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, similar to hospital-acquired pneumonia.
- Ventilator Associated Pneumonia: If you need a respirator or a breathing machine to breathe while in the hospital, you are at risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia is caused by the same bacteria that cause community-acquired pneumonia, as well as the drug-resistant bacteria that cause hospital-acquired pneumonia.
- Aspiration Pneumonia: Aspiration occurs when solid food, liquids, spit, or vomit enter the lungs via the trachea (windpipe). If you can’t cough them up, your lungs could become infected.
Symptoms of Pneumonia:
It might be difficult to distinguish between the symptoms of a cold, the flu, and pneumonia. Because pneumonia can be life-threatening, it is critical to get medical assistance for serious symptoms that may be indicative of pneumonia, such as:
– Congestion or chest discomfort.
– Having difficulty breathing.
– Fever of at least 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.88 degrees Celsius).
– Coughing up yellow, green, or red mucus or spit.
Pneumonia itself is not infectious, but the bacteria and viruses that cause it are. For example, while the flu is contagious and can lead to pneumonia, the majority of people who contract the flu do not develop pneumonia. Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most common cause of pneumonia, can spread from person to person by touching infected surfaces or coughing and sneezing. Fungal pneumonia is not communicable. In contrast to viruses and bacteria, fungal diseases do not transmit from person to person.
While pneumonia can have symptoms similar to a cold or the flu, severe symptoms such as a high fever, trouble breathing, and colored mucus suggest that medical assistance is required. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical because bacterial pneumonia is more deadly and may necessitate hospitalization and antibiotics, whereas viral pneumonia typically cures on its own. Remember that pneumonia is not contagious, but the germs that cause it can be. If you see any alarming signs, get medical attention.