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Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial pneumonia. Complications such as bacteremia can also occur. Fungal pneumonia is typically more common in people with a weakened immune system and these infections can be very serious.
Pneumonia can also be classified by where it is acquired — within the community or within a hospital or healthcare setting. If you or a loved one has the following symptoms, you should make an appointment with a doctor to be evaluated for possible pneumonia:.
You can help to prevent serious or life-threatening pneumonia infection by doing the following:. Be aware of any worrying symptoms, particularly if you have any risk factors.
Avoid smoking cigarettes and be sure to keep your immune system boosted through regular exercise and a healthy diet. Pneumonia is a lung infection that can sometimes lead to severe or life-threatening illness and even death.
If left untreated, the infection can rapidly worsen and become life-threatening. Early diagnosis is key and leads to better outcomes. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses. General symptoms include chest pain, fever, cough, and trouble breathing.
Pneumonia is often more severe in older adults. Prompt medical care is recommended. Learn about common symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention. Print Share Download. What is pneumonia? What causes pneumonia? These are: Bacterial pneumonia. This is caused by bacteria, the most common of which is streptococcus pneumoniae. The pneumonia might just affect one small area of your lung, or it may encompass all of both of your lungs.
Viral pneumonia. Responsible for about one-third of all pneumonia cases, this type is caused by various viruses, including flu influenza. People may be more likely to get bacterial pneumonia if they first have viral pneumonia. Viral pneumonia is usually not as serious as bacterial and typically goes away more quickly. Mycoplasma pneumonia. Also known as walking pneumonia, this type is considered atypical because its symptoms and physical signs may vary.
Also, it causes a milder illness. It most often occurs in older children and young adults. Fungal pneumonia. It is a serious infection in which the air sacs fill with pus and other liquid. The main types of pneumonia are:. Bacterial pneumonia. This type is caused by various bacteria. The most common is Streptococcus pneumoniae. It usually occurs when the body is weakened in some way, such as by illness, poor nutrition, old age, or impaired immunity, and the bacteria are able to work their way into the lungs.
Bacterial pneumonia can affect all ages, but you are at greater risk if you abuse alcohol, smoke cigarettes, are debilitated, have recently had surgery, have a respiratory disease or viral infection, or have a weakened immune system. Viral pneumonia. This type is caused by various viruses, including the flu influenza , and is responsible for about one-third of all pneumonia cases.
You may be more likely to get bacterial pneumonia if you have viral pneumonia. Mycoplasma pneumonia. This type has somewhat different symptoms and physical signs and is referred to as atypical pneumonia. It is caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae. It generally causes a mild, widespread pneumonia that affects all age groups. Other pneumonias. There are other less common pneumonias that may be caused by other infections including fungi.
Early symptoms of viral pneumonia are the same as those of bacterial pneumonia, which may be followed by:. Mycoplasma pneumonia has somewhat different symptoms, which include a severe cough that may produce mucus. Diagnosis is usually made based on your recent health history such as surgery, a cold, or travel exposures and the extent of the illness. Based on these factors, your healthcare provider may diagnose pneumonia simply on a thorough history and physical exam.
The following tests may be used to confirm the diagnosis:. Chest X-ray. This test takes pictures of internal tissues, bones, and organs, including the lungs.
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