Pneumonia

Also called: Bronchopneumonia

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pneumonia.html

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by an infection. Three common causes of pneumonia are bacteria, viruses and fungi. Pneumonia may be caused by accidental inhalation a liquid or chemical. Those at risk are:

People older than 65
People younger than 2 years of age,
Those who already have health problems.

If you have pneumonia, you may have difficulty breathing, a cough or a fever. A physical exam and history may help determine if you have pneumonia. Chest x-rays and blood tests can help determine what is wrong. Treatment depends on the cause of the infection. If bacteria are the cause, antibiotics may help. Viral pneumonia may get better with rest and drinking liquids.

Diagnosis/Symptoms

Chest X-Ray (Radiography)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
JAMA Patient Page: Diagnosing and Treating Pneumonia(American Medical Association) – Links to PDF

Prevention/Screening

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine(National Immunization Program) – Links to PDF
Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPV23)(National Immunization Program) – Links to PDF

The best preventive measures include washing your hands frequently, not smoking, and wearing a mask when cleaning dusty or moldy areas. There is a vaccine for pneumococcal pneumonia, a bacterial infection which accounts for up to a quarter of all pneumonias.

Resources

Pneumococcal Pneumonia(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
Pneumonia(American Lung Association)
Pneumonia(Patient Education Institute) – Requires Flash Player Pneumonia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Organizations

Home |