What is pneumonia?
Our lungs have air sacs known as alveoli that help us breathe freely. Pneumonia is a lung infection that causes inflammation in these air sacs. It causes difficulty in breathing and other symptoms such as chills and fever. Pneumonia also fills the alveoli with pus and fluid, causing cough. Germs known as bacteria, viruses, and fungi can cause pneumonia. Bacterial and viral pneumonia are contagious infections.
These infections can spread through airborne droplets of the infected person’s due to coughing or sneezing. Sharing the handkerchief of the infected person or any other object may also spread the infection. Fungal pneumonia is not contagious, as one may get it through the environment.
What are the symptoms of pneumonia?
The initial signs and symptoms of pneumonia may be similar to those of influenza infection. The initial symptoms may include joint and muscle pain, high fever, and headache. Other symptoms of pneumonia are as follows:
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lung abscess
- Diarrhoea
- Fatigue
- Pain in the chest while breathing and coughing
- Sweating
- Chills
Bacterial pneumonia infection progresses rapidly within a day or two, causing several symptoms. In contrast, viral pneumonia infection progresses slowly over a couple of weeks. You should contact a physician if a high fever and productive cough persist along with breathing difficulty.
What causes pneumonia?
Streptococcus is the main bacteria that causes pneumonia infection. It accounts for most cases of pneumonia infections. Individuals with a common cold or flu are more likely to develop bacterial pneumonia. “Walking pneumonia” is a milder infection caused by bacteria-like organisms. An individual suffering from a walking pneumonia infection needs no bed rest, hence the name.
Several respiratory viruses are responsible for causing pneumonia, including COVID-19. During the pandemic, we became familiar with the term COVID Pneumonia. Viral pneumonia infections can progress to bacterial pneumonia, which is more severe. There is no antibiotic treatment for viral pneumonia infections. Fungi such as Cryptococcus can cause fungal pneumonia. It is common in any individual with weak immunity.
How is prevention?
It is possible to prevent pneumonia if you get vaccinated with an appropriate vaccine. The Flu vaccine can help prevent pneumonia, as pneumonia is a common complication of influenza. The Hib vaccine offers effective protection against H. influenza Type B infection, which causes meningitis and pneumonia infection.
There are several vaccines to prevent pneumonia infections in children and adults. The use of pneumococcal vaccines in children reduces the need for tympanostomy tubes. These vaccines also prevent pneumonia and middle ear infections.
Maintaining good immunity is essential to prevent pneumonia infection. You can boost immunity by getting sufficient sleep, eating a healthy diet, and regularly exercising. Avoid smoking to protect the lungs. Maintaining personal hygiene is also a crucial aspect of pneumonia prevention.
Risk factors of pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection that can strike anyone. The following factors can increase the possibility of getting pneumonia.
- Age: Pneumonia is more likely to affect children below the age of 2 and individuals above the age of 65 years.
- Immunity: A person with a weakened or suppressed immune system can easily be infected by pneumonia. A recent case of viral infection reduces immunity and makes the person prone to pneumonia infection.
- Hospital stay: Hospitalisation and the use of a ventilator increase the chances of getting pneumonia.
- Chronic disease: The presence of chronic diseases such as chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and COPD increases the risk of contracting pneumonia.
- Habits: People who have the habit of smoking or drink excessive alcohol are likely to get pneumonia.
Treatment options
Pneumonia is a treatable disease. Pneumonia treatment aims to avoid complications and cure the infection. The physician plans the line of treatment by evaluating your age, health parameters, along, and the type and severity of infection.
Hospital admission: Hospitalisation is necessary if the pneumonia symptoms are severe and there are other health conditions. Constant monitoring of health parameters is important during the hospital stay. Doctors use antibiotics injected into a vein for faster recovery. Healthcare staffs use oxygen therapy and respiratory therapy to improve the health parameters of the patient.
Oral antibiotics- Doctors use antibiotics to clear up pneumonia infection. The doctor will choose an appropriate antibiotic by assessing the symptoms and results of blood and The doctor will X-ray investigation.
Cost
The cost of pneumonia treatment depends on the severity of infection, the patient’s health status, and the need for hospitalisation. The average cost of pneumonia treatment in India can range between Rs 10,000/- to Rs 25,000.
ICU admission can further increase the treatment expenditure. The cost of treating mild pneumonia infections without hospitalisation is estimated to be around Rs 2000. Pneumonia checkup costs in India can range between Rs 2000 and Rs 10,000 depending upon the type of investigation.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
