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Awareness about Pneumonia

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 Journal of Biotechnology and Biosafety
Volume 3, Issue 3, March-April 2015, 260-264
ISSN 2322-0406
Awareness about Pneumonia
____________________________________
Safila Naveed*1, Madiha Ali1, Nida
Ahmed1, Nimra Islam Tak1, Shahnila
Fayyaz1, SoniyaMansoor1, S.Midhat
1 1
Jafri , Asra Hameed
____________________________________________________
*Corresponding author e-mail:
safila117@yahoo.com, safila117@gmail.com
Key words: Pneumonia, Mortality, Morbidity, Streptococcus pneumonia, Sputum and Blood Culture
____________________________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of
the lung affecting primarily the microscopic air sacs
or alveoli. Pneumonia is an important cause of mortality
and morbidity worldwide. Pneumonia is commonly
caused by bacterial infections, and less commonly caused
by viruses (Pneumonia, National Heart 2015).
CAUSES:
Many germs can cause pneumonia. The most common are
bacteria and viruses in the air we breathe. Usually body
prevents these germs from infecting lungs. But sometimes
these germs can overpower immune system, even if health
is good. It is classified on the base of types of germs that
cause it and the place from where infection is got
(Schauner S, et al., 2013).
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Research article
ABSTRACT
Pneumonia is one of the most common infectious diseases
and is an important cause of mortality and morbidity
worldwide. Pneumococcal disease is caused by the
bacterium Streptococcus pneumonia. Virus and fungi can
also cause pneumonia. It can transmit by coughing or
sneezing. Chest radiography, Sputum and blood culture are
the diagnostic techniques for pneumonia. Common
symptoms of Pneumonia are dry cough, cold and flu, fever
with shivering, chest pain, abdominal pain, muscles ache,
nausea and vomiting. Antibiotics are the curative therapy
for pneumonia. Our survey aims to find out its awareness
among medical students. Data was collected from 200
medical students belonging to different universities of
Karachi, Pakistan, in October to December, 2014.
According to our survey, 58% medical students have basic
information about pneumonia, 41% knows the causes, 81%
have information about its mode of transmission, 52.5%
knows about the symptoms, 73.5% have knowledge about
its diagnosis and 100% medical students have information
about its treatment.
Community-acquired pneumonia: Community-acquired
pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia occurs
outside of hospitals. It may be caused by viruses.
(Schauner S, et al., 2013).
• Bacteria. The most common cause of bacterial
pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae.
• Bacteria-like organisms. Mycoplasma
pneumoniae also can cause pneumonia.
• Viruses. Some of the viruses that cause colds
and the flu can cause pneumonia.
• Fungi. This type of pneumonia is most common
in people with chronic health problems or
weakened immune systems. (Chen, C. J 2007)
 Journal of Biotechnology and Biosafety
Volume 3, Issue 3, March-April 2015, 260-264
ISSN 2322-0406 Journal of Biotechnology and Biosafety

Hospital-acquired pneumonia: Some people catch
pneumonia during a hospital stay for another illness. It is
serious because the bacteria causing it may be more
resistant to antibiotics. People who are on breathing
machines (ventilators) are at increased risk (Chen, C. J
2007).
Health care-acquired pneumonia: Health care-
acquired pneumonia is a bacterial infection that occurs in
people who are living in long-term care facilities or have
been treated in outpatient clinics, including kidney
dialysis centers.
Aspiration pneumonia: Aspiration pneumonia occurs
when inhaled food, drink, vomit or saliva into lungs.
Aspiration disturbs normal gag reflex, such as swallowing
problem or a brain injury, or excessive use of alcohol or
drugs.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION:
Infectious cells can be disseminated via microaerosol
droplets created by coughing or sneezing, or person-
person oral contact (Chen, C. J 2007). Transmission is
common, but infection is infrequent as healthy individuals
carry S. pneumoniae in the nasopharyngeal region without
any presence of infection (Chen, C. J 2007).
SYMPTOMS:
Pneumonia and its symptoms can vary from mild to
severe. Common symptoms of Pneumonia are dry cough,
cold and flu, fever with shivering, muscles ache, chest
pain, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. (Chen, C. J
2007).
DIAGNOSIS
If pneumonia is suspected, an accurate diagnosis can be
madeby following tools and techniques:
Medical History
On Physical Examination Coarse breathing, crackling
sounds, wheezing and reduced breath sounds in a
particular part of the lungs can indicate pneumonia.
Chest X-ray
Blood test: CBC, Blood cultures, detection of antibodies,
C-reactive protein, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Microbiological test
Urine test
Mucus test
HIV test

TREATMENT STRATEGY:
Antibiotics are the drug’s use for the treatment of pneumonia, if it is caused by bacteria. Although the cure rate from
antibiotics much better but still antibiotics are use in combinations.

Cause Treatment
First line choice Alternate Choice
Bacteria Penicillin G, Macrolide, cephalosporin (oral or parenteral), clindamycin,
amoxicillin doxycycline, fluoroquinolone, linezolid, Vancomycin.
Amantadine, rimantadine, zanamivir, oseltamivir, ribavirin, cidofovir, acyclovir,
Virus
ganciclovir, foscarnet

METHODOLOGY
A survey was conducted for the collection of data about the Awareness about Pneumonia, which -is caused by the bacterium
Streptococcus pneumonia. Data were collected between October to December, 2014 from different universities and medical
colleges in Karachi city. Questionnaire was used for data collection. Data from 200 medical students were collected.
Different questions were asked from the medical students belonging to different universities in order to check the awareness
of Pneumonia in medical students like what is Pneumonia? What are the causes of Pneumonia? What is the mode of
transmission of Pneumonia? What are the diagnostic tools and techniques for Pneumonia? What are the symptoms associated
with Pneumonia? And what are the treatment strategies for Pneumonia?

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 Journal of Biotechnology and Biosafety
Volume 3, Issue 3, March-April 2015, 260-264
ISSN 2322-0406
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Pneumonia is one of the most common infectious diseases
and is an important cause of mortality and morbidity
worldwide. Pneumococcal disease is a lung infection
caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumonia. Virus
and fungi can also cause pneumonia. It can transmit by
coughing or sneezing. Chest radiography, Sputum and
blood culture are the diagnostic techniques for
pneumonia. Common symptoms of Pneumonia are dry
cough, cold and flu, fever with shivering, chest pain,
abdominal pain, muscles ache, nausea and vomiting.
Antibiotics are the curative therapy for pneumonia.
The first question was asked in our survey is about the
basic knowledge of pneumonia, “what is pneumonia?”.
This question was asked from 200 medical students of
different universities in Karachi, Pakistan. All the 200
students answered this. 116 medical students out of 200
have basic knowledge about pneumonia. Other 84
medical students have no basic knowledge about
pneumonia (Table 1).
The second question was asked in our survey is about the
causes of pneumonia, and the question was asked from
two hundred 200 medical students of different universities
in Karachi, Pakistan. All the 200 students answered this.
82 medical students out of 200 have knowledge about the
causes of pneumonia. Other 118 medical students have no
basic knowledge about the causes of pneumonia (Table
2).
CONCLUSION
According to our survey on awareness of pneumonia, 58% medical students have basic information about pneumonia, 41%
knows the causes, 81% have information about its mode of transmission, 52.5% knows about the symptoms, 73.5% have
knowledge about its diagnosis and 100% medical students have information about its treatment.
Table 1:What is pneumonia
Frequency Percent
NO 84 42.0
Valid YES 116 58.0
Total 200 100.0
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Journal of Biotechnology and Biosafety
The third question was asked in our survey is about the
mode of transmission of pneumonia, and the question was
asked from two hundred 200 medical students of different
universities in Karachi, Pakistan. All the 200 students
answered this. 162 medical students out of 200 have
knowledge about the mode of transmission of pneumonia.
Other 38 medical students have no basic knowledge about
the mode of transmission of pneumonia (Table 3).
The fourth question was asked in our survey is about the
diagnosis of pneumonia, and the question was asked from
two hundred 200 medical students of different universities
in Karachi, Pakistan. All the 200 students answered this.
147 medical students out of 200 have knowledge about
the diagnostic tools and techniques of pneumonia. Other
53 medical students have no basic knowledge about the
diagnostic tools and techniques of pneumonia (Table 4).
The fifth question was asked in our survey is about the
symptoms of pneumonia, and the question was asked
from two hundred 200 medical students of different
universities in Karachi, Pakistan. All the 200 students
answered this. 105 medical students out of 200 have
knowledge about the symptoms of pneumonia. Other 95
medical students have no basic knowledge about the
symptoms of pneumonia (Table 5).
The last question was asked in our survey is about the
treatment strategies of pneumonia, and the question was
asked from two hundred 200 medical students of different
universities in Karachi, Pakistan. All the 200 medical
students, who actively participated in our survey, have
knowledge about treatment strategies of pneumonia.
Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
42.0 42.0
58.0 100.0
100.0
 Journal of Biotechnology and Biosafety
Volume 3, Issue 3, March-April 2015, 260-264
ISSN 2322-0406 Journal of Biotechnology and Biosafety

Table 2:Cause of pneumonia

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
NO 118 59.0 59.0 59.0
Valid YES 82 41.0 41.0 100.0
Total 200 100.0 100.0

Table 3:Mode of pneumonia

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
NO 38 19.0 19.0 19.0
Valid YES 162 81.0 81.0 100.0
Total 200 100.0 100.0

Table 4:Diagnosis of pneumonia

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
NO 53 26.5 26.5 26.5
Valid YES 147 73.5 73.5 100.0
Total 200 100.0 100.0

Table 5:Symptoms of pneumonia

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
NO 95 47.5 47.5 47.5
Valid YES 105 52.5 52.5 100.0
Total 200 100.0 100.0

Table 6:Treatment of pneumonia

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid YES 200 100.0 100.0 100.0

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 Journal of Biotechnology and Biosafety
Volume 3, Issue 3, March-April 2015, 260-264
ISSN 2322-0406 Journal of Biotechnology and Biosafety

REFERENCES
Pneumonia, National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute. Accessed Jan. 20, 2015.
Schauner S. Community-acquired pneumonia in
children: A look at the IDSA guidelines. Journal
of Family Practice. 2013;62:9.
Chen, C. J., Huang, Y. C., Su, L. H., & Lin, T. Y.
(2007). Nasal carriage of Streptococcus
pneumoniae in healthy children and adults in
northern Taiwan. Diagnostic Microbiology and
Infectious Disease. 59(3):265-269.
doi:10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2007.05.012n

Citation of this article: SafilaNaveed, Madiha Ali, Nida Ahmed, Nimra Islam Tak,
ShahnilaFayyaz, SoniyaMansoor, S.Midhat Jafri, Asra Hmeed. Awareness About Pneumonia.
Journal of Biotechnology and Biosafety. 3(3):260-264

Source of Support: Nil Conflict of Interest: None Declared

www.jobb.co.in International, Peer reviewed, Open access, Bimonthly Online Journal

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