Infection in one or both lungs caused by fungi, viruses, or bacteria is pneumonia. It might cause inflammation in the lungs’ air sacs or the alveoli, causing them to fill with pus or fluid. Consequently, one may experience breathing issues. Both bacterial and viral pneumonia are contagious, meaning they can spread from one person to another via inhalation of airborne droplets from cough or sneeze. It is also possible to get pneumonia by coming in contact with an object contaminated with a pneumonia-causing virus or bacteria. Fungal pneumonia is contracted from the environment but is not contagious. Let us study the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment for pneumonia.

Symptoms of pneumonia
Typically, the pneumonia symptoms vary from mild to severe, such as chills, fever, coughing that produces mucus, sweating, breathlessness, chest pain, loss of appetite, headaches, vomiting, nausea, confusion, and fatigue. Usually, the symptoms vary with age and depend on the patient’s general health.

While infants usually show no symptoms, sometimes, they may experience issues in eating or drinking, vomit, or may not have enough energy. Kids below five might have wheezing or fast breathing, and older adults usually show mild symptoms. At times, pneumonia might cause the temperature to drop.

Causes of pneumonia
Several germs may be responsible for pneumonia, and the most prevalent ones are viruses and bacteria found in the air. Ideally, the immune system does not let these germs infect the lungs, but at times, these germs can overwhelm the immune system, regardless of how good one’s health is.

Pneumonia is classified based on where one acquired the infection and the germs that cause this infection.

• Community-acquired pneumonia
  It is the most common kind of pneumonia and occurs outside healthcare facilities and hospitals. This pneumonia is caused by streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, mycoplasma pneumoniae, or bacteria-like organisms, fungi, and viruses, including the COVID-19 virus.
• Hospital-acquired pneumonia
  Often, people develop pneumonia during their hospital stay for any other illness. It is usually graver, as the bacteria responsible for it is resistant to treatments. People on ventilators are at a greater risk of developing this type of pneumonia.
• Health care-acquired pneumonia
  People who receive care in outpatient clinics or reside in long-term healthcare facilities are susceptible to developing this kind of pneumonia. It may also be caused by bacteria that are resistant to treatments.
• Aspiration pneumonia
  One may get this type of pneumonia when one inhales vomit, food, saliva, or drink into the lungs. It might also occur when something intervenes with their normal gag reflex.

Risk factors
Anyone can get pneumonia. But some risk factors aggravate the risk of developing it.

• Age
  Children below two and adults over 65 have a greater risk of developing pneumonia.
• Chronic disease
  Those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, or heart disease have a greater susceptibility to pneumonia.
• Being hospitalized
  Those on ventilators have a higher probability of developing pneumonia.
• Suppressed or weakened immune system
  People who had an organ transplant, those who are on prescription treatments for a while, people with AIDS or HIV, and those who undergo chemotherapy are more susceptible to pneumonia.

Diagnosis of pneumonia
The doctor will first enquire about the patient’s medical history and symptoms for diagnosis. Following this, they will try to hear the lungs. In people with pneumonia, there is a bubbling, cracking, or rumbling sound heard in the breathing. Now, based on this physical examination, if the doctor believes the patient has pneumonia, they will have to undergo some tests, such as blood tests to assess the presence of bacterial infection, chest X-ray to determine the presence of infection and its spread, sputum test to check if there are any fluids in the lungs causing infection, and pulse oximetry to analyze the oxygen level in the blood.

More tests may be recommended if one has any other health disorder or their symptoms started while in the hospital. These include a CT scan to acquire a detailed image of the lungs, arterial blood gas test to check the oxygen in the blood, pleural fluid culture to check for the bacteria responsible for pneumonia, and bronchoscopy to check for any blockages in airways.

Treatment for pneumonia
The choice of treatment depends on the severity and the type of pneumonia.

• Antibacterial treatment
  For bacterial pneumonia, certain antibacterial treatment options are prescribed.
• Antiviral treatment
  If one has viral pneumonia, treatment is not needed. But if influenza is causing pneumonia, antiviral therapy may be recommended.
• Antifungal treatment
  Doctors prescribe antifungal treatment options for fungal-related pneumonia.
• Advanced treatment
  Those with severe pneumonia, a grave illness, or a weak immune system may need hospitalization. The patient will receive fluids for hydration and intravenous antibacterial treatment in the hospital. At times, they may be put on a supplementary oxygen supply.