Home  ›  Pneumonia Definition Types and Treatment

Pneumonia Definition, Types and Treatment

Pneumonia is the condition that causes inflammation in lungs. Pneumonia is a severe infection of the lungs which is characterized by shortness of breath, high fever and chest pain. It causes the inflammation in the alveoli when the lungs are filled with the fluid. There are many different causes of pneumonia. It can be caused by infection of bacteria, fungi, viruses, or some parasites. Pneumonia is also caused by the physical or chemical injury to lungs. The symptoms of pneumonia may vary depending on the type of cause of pneumonia. If the condition cannot be treated effectively by medicines, antibiotics or rest, hospitalization may be recommended. If a person faces difficulty while breathing, doing breathing exercises can assist in treating the symptoms of pneumonia.

There are many symptoms of pneumonia, and some of them, like a cough or a sore throat, are associated with many other common infections. Often, people get pneumonia after they've had an upper respiratory tract infection like a cold.

Types of Pneumonia

Depending on the type of causes of pneumonia, it is classified as
  • Bacterial pneumonia
  • Viral Pneumonia
  • Fungal Pneumonia
  • Bronchial Pneumonia
  • Mycoplasma Pneumonia
  • Aspiration Pneumonia
  • Hospital Acquired Pneumonia
Symptoms of pneumonia can include:
  • fever
  • chills
  • cough
  • unusually rapid breathing
  • wheezing
  • difficulty breathing
  • chest or abdominal pain
  • loss of appetite
  • exhaustion
  • vomiting
Treatment of Pneumonia

The symptoms of pneumonia vary from person to person, and few people get all of them.

Some people with pneumonia need to be hospitalized to get better — usually babies, young kids, and people older than 65. However, hospital care may be needed for a teen who:

already has immune system problems
has cystic fibrosis
is dangerously dehydrated or is vomiting a lot and can't keep fluids and medicine down
has had pneumonia frequently
has skin that's blue or pale in color, which reflects a lack of oxygen

When pneumonia patients are hospitalized, treatment might include intravenous (IV) antibiotics (delivered through a needle inserted into a vein) and respiratory therapy (breathing treatments).
Back To Top