Pneumonia
What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a bacterial infection which causes the inflammation of either one or both lungs[1]. Air sacs on the end of the breathing tube swell and can become filled with fluid.
Causes
Pneumonia is usually the result of a pneumococcal infection, caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumonia. Although this is the normal route of infection there are other types of infection other than the bacterial route. These include:
- viral pneumonia
- aspiration pneumonia
- fungal pneumonia
- hospital-acquired pneumonia[1]
Symptoms
Symptoms can develop as quick as 24 hours or can take a few days to develop and become present in the human body. They can vary and affect different parts of the human body, some of these are listed below:
- cough
- difficulties in breathing
- fever
- quickened heart rate
- fever
- increased perspiration
- general loss of appetite
- general chest pain
- wheezing
- joint and muscle pain / fatigue[1]