Understanding Pneumonia: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a kind of respiratory Infection. During Pneumonia, the disease primarily affects the lower part of the respiratory system, such as the lungs or bronchi.
Bronchi are the airways that link the lungs to the windpipe. During Pneumonia, the air sacs in the lungs fill with fluid and pus, making it more challenging to take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide.
Pneumonia can typically appear due to a virus or bacterial Infection.
In some cases, Fungal infections may result in Pneumonia, which is rarer. The condition may occur in people with weak immune systems due to other diseases.
Viral Pneumonia often resolves on its own, but it frequently requires medical care and supportive treatment. Pneumonia can occur during or after another viral illness, such as the flu or a cold.
If your Pneumonia is viral, antibiotic medicines will not be effective unless there is a secondary bacterial infection. Bacterial Pneumonia requires antibiotics to prevent complications and help your body clear the Infection. Even with antibiotics, recovery from bacterial Pneumonia can take 4 to 6 weeks.
Most community-acquired bacterial Pneumonia is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Several antibiotics are effective in treating this bacterial Infection.
What are the Symptoms of Pneumonia?
Pneumonia does not induce the same symptoms among patients. Children may show different symptoms compared to adults. Newborns, older patients, and people with compromised immune systems often experience milder symptoms; however, this does not mean they are less ill.
Common symptoms of Pneumonia include:
- Chills
- Chest pain during breathing or coughing
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Vomiting and nausea
- Cough, with or without mucus or phlegm
It is possible to have Pneumonia without fever or other common symptoms listed above. If you feel unwell and have an upper respiratory infection that is not improving, consult your doctor.
Diagnosis for Pneumonia
If you have a cold or the flu that does not improve within 7 to 10 days and you experience difficulty breathing, a persistent cough, or a fever, consult a doctor.
A doctor or physician will examine your existing symptoms and may ask for a chest X-ray to ensure the diagnosis of Pneumonia.
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Chest X-ray
A chest X-ray is a primary method for helping confirm the diagnosis of Pneumonia. The test reveals the fluid consolidation present in the lungs.
Other tests, including laboratory analyses and sputum cultures, may help doctors differentiate between viral and bacterial Pneumonia. Laboratory tests also determine the severity of the Infection.
Treatment for Pneumonia
Treatment for Pneumonia depends on your symptoms, illness severity, and other medical factors. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics for Pneumonia, the course will last 5 to 10 days. It is essential to complete the entire course of treatment and take your antibiotics strictly, as advised. If you have concerns about your prescription or feel unwell after completing the course, consult a doctor again.
Antibiotics Used for Pneumonia
The below-listed Antibiotics are generally prescribed to treat Pneumonia:
Azithromycin
Azithromycin is a first-line treatment for bacterial Pneumonia in people under 65. A doctor often prescribes Azithromycin with another antibiotic, such as doxycycline or amoxicillin.
Currently, Azithromycin is being studied for its effectiveness in treating secondary bacterial Pneumonia associated with COVID-19.
Patients allergic to penicillin or amoxicillin may need to take cephalosporin antibiotics alongside Azithromycin or doxycycline.
Clarithromycin
Clarithromycin is another macrolide antibiotic commonly prescribed for Pneumonia. Doctors often prescribe Clarithromycin in combination with other antibiotics, particularly for older adults and people with compromised immune systems.
Tetracycline
Tetracycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic available in the form of doxycycline and minocycline. An antibiotic like Tetracycline is used to treat Pneumonia, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs), and other bacterial infections.
Explore more about Antibiotics ▶ How long do antibiotics take to work?
Other Antibiotics
Research is ongoing to find out the most effective treatments for bacterial Pneumonia.
Recarbrio is a newer combination of antibiotics that combines imipenem-cilastatin with sulbactam. It helps treat hospital-acquired Pneumonia, secondary pneumonia infections, and ventilator-associated Pneumonia.
Lefamulin is a recently approved antibiotic by the FDA for treating community-acquired Pneumonia.
Your doctor will select the appropriate antibiotic combination based on age, illness severity, other medical conditions, and allergic history that you might have.
Children with Pneumonia are generally prescribed amoxicillin, ampicillin, cephalosporins, and macrolide-class antibiotics.
Penicillin-derived antibiotics are ineffective for infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, also known as walking Pneumonia. Penicillin-derived antibiotics target bacterial cell walls, while mycoplasma bacteria lack cell walls.
Macrolides and tetracyclines typically help in the milder and more common forms of Pneumonia.
Walking Pneumonia, caused by mycoplasma, is often caused by a viral infection, like a cold, and occurs more frequently in children and young adults.
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Hospitalization for conditions like Pneumonia
According to the data analysis, each year, 1.5 million people visit the emergency department due to Pneumonia.
Hospitalization-like conditions occur when people experience breathing difficulties and are at risk for complications. Even if breathing appears easy, admission can be necessary to maintain oxygen saturation levels if they are too low.
The average hospital stay for a patient diagnosed with Pneumonia is 3 to 5 days. Once you start to feel better, your doctor may allow you to be discharged.
However, some breathing treatments may continue, and oxygen at-home care may be needed following hospitalization.
Caution:
When using antibiotics for Pneumonia, follow the prescription, monitor for side effects, stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, consult your doctor, and rest well.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies for Pneumonia
Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics for bacterial Pneumonia. However, lifestyle changes and home remedies may help ease symptoms and speed recovery.
Here are some Home Remedies you may try:
- Gargle salt water or drink warm tea, as it will help to relieve a sore throat.
- Drink a cup of caffeinated coffee; it will help ease feelings of breathlessness.
- You may use over-the-counter pain relievers, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. These medicines will help you reduce symptoms like fever, discomfort, and aches during Pneumonia.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Staying well-hydrated will help your body fight off the Infection more effectively.
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