| Pneumonia |
Pneumonia is a serious infection of the lungs that can be caused by any of a number of different infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, mycoplasma and protozoa. The infection causes tiny air sacs in the lung area to become inflamed and filled with mucus and pus. Although symptoms can vary in intensity, they usually include fever, chills, cough, bloody sputum, muscle aches, fatigue, sore throat, enlarged lymph glands in the neck, cyanosis (bluish tint in skin or nails), pain in the chest, and rapid, difficult respiration. Pneumonia is typically preceded by an upper respiratory infection such as a cold, influenza, or measles Factors that increase the risk of pneumonia include being either under one year or over 60 years of age, a weakened immune system, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV infection, seizure or stroke, aspiration under anesthesia, alcoholism, smoking, kidney failure, sickle cell disease, malnutrition, foreign bodies in the respiratory passages, exposure to chemical irritants, and even allergies. A positive diagnosis of the disease can be made only with a chest x-ray. Bacterial pneumonia is a very dangerous form of the disease and it comes on suddenly, usually as a complication of some other illness Symptoms usually include: chills, high temperature, and shaking. The cough is normally dry at first, and then a rust-colored sputum is produced. Breathing becomes rapid and difficult. Chest pain that will worsen upon inhaling, abdominal pain, and fatigue are also common in people. This form of pneumonia is not likely to spread from one person to another. Fungal pneumonia is much less common than either the bacterial or viral forms, and is often associated with a weakened or suppressed immune system. People with HIV, AIDS, or some type of cancer, or who are taking immunosuppressive drugs following organ transplantation, are the people at most risk. About 2 million cases of pneumonia are diagnosed in the United States each year, and between 35,000 to 75,000 people die of the disease, making it the 6th leading cause of death in just the USA. Pneumonia will affect the sufferer with weakness that lasts between 4 to 8 weeks after the acute phase of the infection has ended. Viral pneumonia is more variable in course and severity. It can come on either very suddenly or gradually, and symptoms range from mild to severe and anywhere in between. It is less serious than bacterial pneumonia, but if not cared for properly then the bacterial infection can result. |
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