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. Sometimes there appear epidemics inside small collectivities.
Pneumonia generally occurs at those who have a weakened immune system, like children, old people and those who have other diseases (HIV, organ transplanted people, cancer, chemotherapy). Smoking, drinking alcohol, working in cold places are also factors of risk.
The possible viruses to cause pneumonia are: the influenza virus, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Para-influenza virus, adenovirus and herpes or varicella virus.
In spring, usually attack the influenza A and B virus and the respiratory syncytial virus. A flu shot can prevent the infection if it is made out of the virus strain that wants to infect you.
Human influenza virus is also present in winter.
The herpes or varicella pneumonia can occur if you are infected with chickenpox.
If you develop a running nose and conjunctivitis, you could be infected with adenovirus and Para influenza virus.
The symptoms that tell the doctor that you are affected of a viral pneumonia are: low grade fevers (less then 102° F), muscle pain, cough with translucent sputum, fatigue. Sometimes if a healthy person is affected, the disease could not manifest in such obvious ways, and the patient could only have some fever and fatigue.
If you do not go for a check up immediately the virus will continue to multiply inside your lungs and you can develop the following symptoms: chest pain, severe fatigue, you can not breathe properly, your cough is with bloody sputum and you begin to vomit and get dehydrated.
Among the symptoms the doctor can diagnose the pneumonia using a thoracic Rx. The doctor will also perform a test of your sputum to see which virus causes the pneumonia.
Not treated, the viral pneumonia is a severe threat to our lives and can cause pulmonary edema, encephalitis, and even death.
The treatment consists in antiviral drugs, adjuvant drugs (C vitamin). The patient must be hospitalized and rest in bed for at least five days after their fever disappeared. In this case doctors can not use antibiotics because the pneumonia is not caused by a bacteria, it is caused by a virus.
Great resources can be found regarding pneumonia causes, pneumonia symptoms and many more by visiting http://www.pneumonia-center.com/
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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?
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