Pneumonia is a condition associated with inflammation and infection of lung tissue. Pneumonia is sixth most common cause of death in limited states and every year four million people are infected by pneumonia. Pneumonia is common in smokers, old age, patients taking corticosteroids, in persons who have suffered recent influenza attacks and persons taking alcohol.
Pneumonia symptoms vary according to the type of infective agent causing pneumonia. Pneumonia caused by bacteria have abrupt or sudden onset. Patient with pneumonia show tremors, shaking chill, decreased breathe sounds, pain on inspiration, crackles, sore throat, headache and sputum expectorated out into the mouth.
Pneumonia is common in winters. It is seen in all age groups and more frequently in young and middle aged persons. Pneumonia is a contagious disease and can be transferred from one person to another. A patient with headache and long duration of symptoms needs to be hospitalized. There is rapid onset, blood stained or ‘rusty’ sputum, high fever and chest pain is present. Herpes of genitalia can be present in female patient suffering from pneumonia. Pneumonia is accompanied by anemia, inflammation of heart muscles and inflammation of brain and meninges.
Clinical features of pneumonia also include confusion, malaise, myalgia, headache, diarrhea and high fever. There are low levels of sodium and albumin in blood and raised levels of liver enzymes and creatine kinase. In the X-rays There are white infiltrates showing the affect areas.
Pneumonia symptoms are dry cough, conjunctivitis and endocarditis. The upper lobe of lungs is more affected in patients taking alcohol. There can be abdominal infection and pus can be present obstructing the respiratory pathway. Hepatitis, renal failure, heart affections, thrombosis and respiratory distress syndrome are pathological findings in advanced cases of pneumonia.
In hospital acquired pneumonia, the patient will show cyanosis, pain in chest and breathlessness due to greater virulence and rapid spread. The infection can lead to death of patient if the condition is unchecked or not treated properly. In infants, pneumonia is characterized by inability to breathe, bluish nails, lips and pale skin. This occurs due to aspiration of fluids. The purulent sputum with cough is tested to detect the casual organism of pneumonia.
Features like high fever, pain, shivering, chill, headache, pain in chest, muscles and bones and sore throat are characteristic features of bacterial pneumonia whereas viral, mycoplasmal and other types of pneumonia are having slow onset and no abrupt changes.
