Pnömoni

Pnömoni is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus, causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Pneumonia can range in severity from mild to life-threatening.

Common symptoms of pneumonia include chest pain when breathing or coughing, confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults 65 and older), cough, which may bring up phlegm, fatigue, fever, sweating and shaking chills, lower than normal body temperature (in adults older than 65 years and people with weakened immune systems), nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, shortness of breath.

Risk factors for developing pneumonia include being younger than 2 and older than 65, having certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), having a weakened immune system due to HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, organ transplant or long-term use of steroids, smoking, and being in a hospital or nursing home.

Diagnosis of pneumonia is typically made through a physical exam, chest X-ray, and sometimes blood tests or sputum tests. Treatment depends on the cause of pneumonia and can include antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia, antiviral medications for viral pneumonia, or antifungal medications for fungal pneumonia. Severe cases may require hospitalization and intravenous medications. Prevention strategies include vaccination against pneumococcal bacteria and influenza, good hygiene practices, and not smoking.