Pneumonia
Created: 3.8.2023
Updated: 19.12.2023
Approved by: General Practitioner, Dr Binita Parmar
Pneumonia is an inflammation or infection of the lung tissue. Young children and the elderly are most often affected, and most often in the winter. The severity varies greatly from a mild cold to the need for hospitalisation.
Causes
Pneumonia can be caused by:
- Bacteria (most commonly Pneumococci or Haemophilus influenzae)
- Virus
- Fungi or parasites (these are very rare).
- Medications can also cause inflammation of the lung tissue.
- Water or food getting into the lungs can also cause inflammation (aspiration pneumonia).
Symptoms
The symptoms can vary from person to person, but you may experience:
- Cough with mucus
- Shortness of breath
- Fever (you can also have pneumonia without fever)
- Chest pain or body ache
- Generally feeling tired, having a loss of energy or loss of appetite
- Confusion (common in older people)
Risk factors
Some groups are more prone than others to getting pneumonia, and factors that increase the risk of an infection are:
- Tobacco use
- Difficulty coughing
- Inflammation/infection of the upper respiratory tract
- Sinusitis
- Other lung diseases
Types of pneumonia
“Typical” pneumonia
Typical pneumonia is an infection with pneumococcal bacteria and gives typical symptoms of pneumonia such as cough, fever, shortness of breath and general malaise. Pneumococcal pneumonia is treated with antibiotics. There is a vaccine against this infection, which is recommended for those over 65 and those who are seriously or chronically ill. The vaccine is reserved for these groups.
"Atypical" pneumonia
Atypical pneumonia, also called "silent pneumonia" or "pneumonia without fever". This is an infection with the lung bacterium mycoplasma or chlamydia and often gives slightly different symptoms that develop more slowly than with 'typical' pneumonia. The symptoms usually creep in over several days, and you are often bothered by headaches, sore throats, prolonged cough, low fever and general malaise.
Examination
The doctor who examines you will measure your temperature, how fast you breathe, and listen over your lungs to hear if there are any "crackling sounds", which are typical of pneumonia. The doctor will also measure how well your body absorbs oxygen via a small clamp on a finger.
If there is a suspicion of another lung disease or other conditions, it may be relevant to refer for an X-ray to have a picture taken or blood tests.
Treatment
Most can be treated at home, only those who are very ill need to be admitted to a hospital for treatment. If the doctor suspects that bacteria is the cause of your infection, you will be prescribed a course of antibiotics.
If a virus is suspected, there are no antibiotics for this, but symptomatic relief is in the form of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen (if no contraindications) for fever and pain. Over the counter medication such as cough syrup and throat lozenges can be used if you are bothered a lot by your symptoms.
FAQs about pneumonia
Is pneumonia dangerous?
In most people, patients make a good recovery, but in certain patient groups such as those with lung disease or the elderly they can be more prone to serious illness. If you are admitted for treatment in the hospital there is a good prognosis for treatment in the hospitals.
Is there a vaccine against pneumonia?
Yes, there is a vaccine which protects against bacterial infections that can cause pneumonia. The vaccine is part of the childhood vaccination programme and there is also a vaccine reserved for those with weakened immune systems and those over 65 years of age.
Is pneumonia contagious?
Pneumonia is contagious and spreads via droplets. If one person is ill and coughs out saliva particles that another breathes in, the other person can become infected. This applies to all respiratory infections.
What can I do to prevent pneumonia?
It is important to have good hand hygiene to avoid getting infected, as well as to avoid touching the face. Avoid smoking as this increases the risk of infection and increases the risk of a more complicated and serious course of the disease.
How Dr.Dropin can help you
If you feel unwell over several days with fever, cough, body aches, headaches, etc., then it is wise to be assessed by a qualified health care professional. Most respiratory infections are caused by viruses and go away on their own, but if you have bacterial pneumonia, a course of antibiotics will be needed. The GPs at Dr. Dropin have good experience with respiratory infections and will be able to assess you to determine whether you are likely to have pneumonia and if you require antibiotics.
