 |
What is Pneumonia? How to Prevent From Pneumonia?
Author: peterhutch   | Posted: 18-03-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 116 | Rating: (175)  (?) 
Pneumococcal is a serious disease that causes much sickness and death. In fact, pneumococcal disease kills more people in the United States each year than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined.
People with infectious pneumonia often have a cough producing greenish or yellow sputum and a high fever that may be conducted by shaking chills. Shortness of breath is also common. People with pneumonia may cough up blood, experience headaches, or develop sweaty and clammy skin. Other possible symptoms are loss of appetite, fatigue, blueness of the skin, nausea, vomiting, mood swings, and joint pains or muscle aches. In some people, particularly the elderly and those who are debilitated, bacterial pneumonia may follow influenza or even a common cold. People with weak immune systems at greatest risk of pneumonia. Sometimes pneumonia can lead to additional complications. Complications are more frequently associated with bacterial pneumonia than with viral pneumonia.
Pneumonia is caused by the inhalation of infected microorganisms (tiny, single-celled living organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or protozoa) spread through contact with an infected person. The microorganisms enter the body through the mouth, nose and eyes. If the body's resistance is down, the natural process of fighting off diseases is weakened and the microorganisms are free to spread into the lungs and the lungs' air sacs.
Antibiotics usually work well with younger, otherwise healthy people with strong immune systems. You most likely will see some improvement in symptoms within 2 to 3 days. Unless you get worse during this time, your doctor usually will not change your treatment for at least 3 days. If there is no improvement or if your symptoms get worse, you may need culture and sensitivity testing. These tests help identify the organism that is causing your symptoms and determine whether the bacteria may be resistant to the antibiotic.
Mycoplasma pneumonias are treated with antibiotics. Even so, recovery may not be immediate. In some cases fatigue may continue long after the infection itself has cleared. Many cases of mycoplasma pneumonia go undiagnosed and untreated. The signs and symptoms mimic those of a bad chest cold, so some people never seek medical attention.
Rest in bed until body core temperature returns to normal (98.6 degrees F or 37 degrees C) and chest pains and breathing problems are gone. Drink six to eight glasses of liquids daily to help keep mucous thin and easy to cough up.
Most patients with mild pneumonia can be treated at home with oral antibiotics. Patients should be sure to drink plenty of liquids. Coughing should not be suppressed, since this is an important reflex for clearing the lungs. Some physicians advise taking expectorants, such as guaifenesin (Breonesin, Glycotuss, Glytuss, Hytuss, Naldecon Senior EX, Robitussin), to loosen sputum. For severe pain, codeine or other stronger pain relievers may be prescribed. It should be noted; however, that codeine and other narcotics suppress coughing, so they should be used with care in pneumonia and often require monitoring.
When the inflammation occurs in the alveoli (microscopic air sacs in the lungs), they fill with fluid. Your lungs become less elastic and cannot take oxygen into the blood or remove carbon dioxide from the blood as efficiently as usual.
Rate this Article:
Current: 5 / 5 stars - 2 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/what-is-pneumonia-how-to-prevent-from-pneumonia-362700.html
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
Pneumonia – Get Proper Information
By: peterhutch | 12/05/2008 | Health
Pneumonia usually starts when you breathe the germs into your lungs. You may be more likely to get the disease after having a cold or the flu. These illnesses make it hard for your lungs to fight infection, so it is easier to get pneumonia. Having a long-term, or chronic, disease like asthma, heart disease, cancer, or diabetes also makes you more likely to get pneumonia.
Information on Pneumonia
By: peterhutch | 08/07/2008 | Alternative Medicine
Pneumonia is a lung disease that can be caused by a variety of viruses, bacteria, and sometimes fungi. Pneumococcal pneumonia is an infection in the lungs caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae
Pneumonia – Symptoms and Treatment
By: peterhutch | 08/07/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
There are a range of bacteria that may cause an infection leading to 'typical pneumonia' including Streptococcus pneumoniae which causes pneumococcal pneumonia. This is the most common cause of pneumonia
Comatose Patients and the Risk of Aspiration Pneumonia
By: Groshan Fabiola | 27/08/2006 | Health
Aspiration pneumonia refers to inflammation of the lungs due to inhalation of foreign matters (food, saliva, nasal secretions). Virtually any fluids or solid irritants (dust particles) that frequently enter the airways can lead
New Vaccine Prevents Ear Infections, Pneumonia and Meningitis
By: Groshan Fabiola | 22/12/2006 | Health
Many people are not informed that there is a new vaccine that prevents ear infections, pneumonia and meningitis. This is the Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
How to Exterminate Pneumonia
By: peterhutch | 12/05/2008 | Health
Pneumonia is a general term which refers to an infection of the lungs, that can be due to variety of microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Pneumonia invades your lungs in two ways. Lobar pneumonia affects a portion (lobe) of a lung.
Eosinophilic Pneumonia - a Severe Atypical Form of Pulmonary Disease
By: Groshan Fabiola | 27/08/2006 | Health
Eosinophilic pneumonia is a very rare, atypical form of pneumonia that generates lung inflammation, pronounced difficulty in breathing and eosinophilic reactions at pulmonary level. Although the actual
What is Pneumonia?
By: Groshan Fabiola | 26/01/2007 | Health
Pneumonia is an infection caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi which affects the human lungs. Pneumonia is a contagious disease and it can spread in the air. By breathing other healthy people bring the germ into their lungs and most of them develop the illness.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Bacterial pneumonia?
By: ashley | 05-06-2008
i have bacterial pneumonia in the hospital, i have a fever (103.7) and it hurts to move. what should i expect? please let me know. im kinda scared.
Pneumonia
By: scrumdidaleeumshis | 01-09-2007
is pneumonia contageous?
Q&A Powered by: 
More from peterhutch
Treatment for Frostbite
By: peterhutch | 18/07/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
Frostbite occurs when skin and other tissues are exposed to very cold temperatures. It can occur within minutes following exposure to extreme temperatures, or even in above-freezing temperatures if there is a strong wind (wind chill)
Travel to Buckingham Palace
By: peterhutch | 18/07/2008 | Destinations
Popularly known as "Buck House", has served as the Monarch`s permanent London residence since the accession of Queen Victoria. It began its days in 1702 as the Duke of Buckingham`s city residence, built on the site of a notorious brothel
Travel to Bahamas
By: peterhutch | 18/07/2008 | Destinations
Newcomers to The Islands of The Bahamas quickly realize that they have stumbled upon not one, but many destinations. Between the "poles" of Grand Bahamas and Great Inagua are 23 inhabited islands and thousands of unpopulated islets and cays (pronounced "keys")
Sunburn – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
By: peterhutch | 18/07/2008 | Skin Care
Sunburn is the result of not using proper skin protection while sunbathing or even from routine sun exposure. The skin becomes red, tender and swollen. You may have a stinging sensation and blistering may occur. Some people even get a low grade fever
How to Get Rid of Panic Attacks
By: peterhutch | 18/07/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
Panic attack is perhaps one of the most frightening experiences a person can go through. During a panic attack, the body reacts in a way similar to a "fight or flight" response.
How to Get Rid of Anxiety Attacks
By: peterhutch | 18/07/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
Anxiety attacks, also known as panic attacks, are episodes of intense panic or fear. Anxiety attacks usually occur suddenly and without warning. Sometimes there's an obvious trigger - getting stuck in an elevator
Home Remedies for Snoring
By: peterhutch | 18/07/2008 | Sleep
Snoring is noisy breathing during sleep that occurs when relaxed structures in the throat vibrate and make noise. Most snoring is harmless, though it can be a nuisance that interferes with the sleep of others
Irritable Bowl Syndrome
By: peterhutch | 18/07/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder characterized most commonly by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. IBS causes a great deal of discomfort and distress, but it does not permanently harm the intestines and does not lead to a serious disease, as cancer
|
|
Health 
