PNEUMONIA

• Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of

the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs
known as alveoli.

• Pneumonia may be caused by viral infections,

bacterial infections, or fungi; less frequently
by other causes. The most common bacterial
type that causes pneumonia is Streptococcus
pneumonia.
 THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF PNEUMONIA
MAY INCLUDE:

• Cough, which may produce greenish, yellow or even bloody mucus

• Fever
• Sharp or stabbing chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply
or cough
• Loss of appetite, low energy
• Confusion, especially in older people
 WHEN TO CALL A DOCTOR

• If you think you or your child has symptoms

of pneumonia, don't wait for the disease to
get even worse before you seek care. Call
your doctor. And see your doctor right away
if you have difficulty breathing, develop a
bluish color in your lips and fingertips, have
chest pain, a high fever, or a cough with
mucus that is severe or is getting worse.
• It's especially important to get medical attention for pneumonia if you
are in a high-risk group, including adults older than age 65, children
age two or younger, people with an underlying health condition or
weakened immune system.
 TREATMENT

• Treatment for pneumonia depends on

the type of pneumonia you have, how
sick you are feeling, your age, and
whether you have other health
conditions. The goals of treatment are
to cure the infection and prevent
complications. It is important to follow
your treatment plan carefully until you
are fully recovered.
• Take any medications as prescribed by your
doctor. If your pneumonia is caused by bacteria,
you will be given an antibiotic. It is important to
take all the antibiotic until it is gone, even
though you will probably start to feel better in a
couple of days. If you stop, you risk having the
infection come back, and you increase the
chances that the germs will be resistant to
treatment in the future
• If you have viral pneumonia, your doctor may
prescribe an antiviral medication to treat it.