The Various Types of Pneumonia: What You Need to Know
By: RACHEL FAIRBANK
Edited by: Tu Weiying
In light of recent news about American gymnast Mary Lou Retton’s hospitalization due to a rare form of pneumonia, there has been increased interest in understanding the risks associated with this condition. Many are left wondering about the different types of pneumonia and the potential dangers of contracting the disease.
Pneumonia, characterized by inflammation of the air sacs in the lungs, is a significant health concern for both children and adults. In the United States alone, over 1 million cases are reported annually, with approximately 40,000 resulting in fatalities. Defined by experts as an infection of the lower respiratory tract, pneumonia presents a range of symptoms from mild to life-threatening. Without proper treatment, pneumonia can lead to severe complications, including a lack of oxygen and blood infections.
National Geographic sought insights from medical professionals to shed light on the diverse types of pneumonia and the associated risks.
Diagnosis of Pneumonia
Diagnosing pneumonia involves identifying an infection in the lower respiratory tract that impacts the small air sacs responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. The infection can be triggered by a variety of agents and progress from the upper respiratory tract to deeper lung tissues.
Common symptoms of pneumonia include coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue. Medical professionals listen for specific sounds with a stethoscope to identify the condition and may conduct lung X-rays for confirmation.
The Four Types of Pneumonia
Pneumonia presents in four primary types based on the cause (bacterial, viral, fungal) and the potential for nosocomial infection. Diagnosis is often determined by symptoms and medical history rather than by visual inspection.
- Bacterial pneumonia: The most prevalent type that can be effectively treated with antibiotics.
- Viral pneumonia: Less common, caused by viruses such as influenza, SARS-CoV-2, or RSV.
- Fungal pneumonia: Rare and often affecting individuals with compromised immune systems or specific medical conditions.
- Nosocomial pneumonia: A distinct category associated with infections acquired in healthcare settings.
There are actually four types of pneumonia, and this article tells you the differences.
Written by: RACHEL FAIRBANK
Drawing up: Tu Weiying
In recent weeks, the American gymnast Mary. Many. The news that Mary Lou Retton has been in hospital with a rare type of pneumonia has everyone wondering what the main risks of contracting the disease are.
Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death in children under the age of five worldwide and the leading cause of hospitalization of adults in the United States. There are more than 1 million cases of pneumonia in the United States each year, of which approximately 40,000 of Americans dying of pneumonia. Pneumonia, which can range in severity from mild to life-threatening, is caused by inflammation of the small air sacs in the lungs. If left untreated, pneumonia can have fatal consequences, including lack of oxygen and blood infections.
National Geographic spoke to several experts to learn more about the many types of pneumonia and the risks of catching them.
How is pneumonia diagnosed?
Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that particularly affects the small air sacs called alveoli, which are the exchange points that transport oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the blood. The infection can be caused by a variety of agents, starting in the upper respiratory tract and spreading to deeper parts of the lungs.
Common symptoms of pneumonia include coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and general fatigue. When diagnosing pneumonia, doctors check the patient’s breathing with a stethoscope and listen for special crackles, similar to the sound of crumpling paper, said Tianshi David Wu, a thoracic medicine specialist at Baylor College of Medicine. “That’s all doctors need to diagnose pneumonia,” said Wu Tianxi, adding that if doctors are still unsure, they can also do a lung X-ray to confirm the diagnosis.
Four types of pneumonia?
There are four main types of pneumonia, and their characteristics are described based on the cause (bacterial, viral, fungal) and whether there is nosocomial infection.
For most cases of pneumonia, “we can’t tell if the pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi just by looking at it,” Wu said. “Most pneumonia will not resolve[yr achos]in the end.” Instead, doctors will determine the cause based on the patient’s symptoms and medical history to treat pneumonia and use this information to determine the best treatment plan.
Bacterial pneumonia is the most common type and is caused by bacteria, which means the condition is easily treated with antibiotics. For many patients, antibiotics to treat pneumonia help relieve symptoms and help them feel more comfortable over time within the first few days of treatment. Wu Tianxi said: “The earlier the treatment starts, the better.” There are also vaccines that can prevent the most common strains that cause pneumonia, and they are approved for use in certain groups, including patients over 65 and patients with certain types of pneumonia. pre-existing diseases.
Viral pneumonia is less common and is caused by viruses, such as influenza, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV is a respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Many of these viral infections start in the upper respiratory tract and then spread to the lungs.
Viral infections can also cause bacterial pneumonia by weakening the patient’s immune system, making it unable to fight secondary infections. Although viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics, vaccines are available to help prevent infection: the annual flu shot, the COVID vaccine, and the new RSV vaccine for those who qualify.
Fungal pneumonia is rare and usually occurs in patients with pre-existing medical conditions, such as those with a compromised immune system. Lucas, a pulmonologist at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Fungal pneumonia often affects people with autoimmune abnormalities, patients undergoing chemotherapy, or patients with other chronic conditions that may affect the immune system, says Dr Lucas Kimmig. Fungal pneumonia requires different treatment strategies and is often more severe due to the complications of pneumonia and the patient’s other pre-existing conditions.
Nosocomial pneumonia is a separate category because the hospital environment often exposes patients to different bacteria, including strains that are more likely to be resistant to antibiotics. Cases of pneumonia found in hospitals can affect how doctors treat them. “They may be infected with pathogens that are different than what is commonly seen in the outpatient setting,” Kimmiger said. “This affects the doctor’s choice of antibiotics.”
Why is pneumonia so serious?
The risk with pneumonia is that if left untreated, it can lead to serious complications and can spread to other parts of the body.
“If the lungs are infected with bacteria or viruses, the body can’t really get rid of these pathogens.” Jason., a pulmonologist at Cleveland Medical Center. “Infections are likely to become more serious,” said Jason Turowski, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The main risk of pneumonia is the possibility of damage to the lungs, affecting the patient’s ability to get the oxygen they need. This damage often occurs because inflammation causes inflammatory cells to build up in the small air sacs of the lungs, preventing oxygen from being delivered to the blood and carbon dioxide from being released. “This causes damage and prevents patients from getting the vital oxygen they need and from releasing the carbon dioxide their bodies produce,” said Turowski.
A secondary risk of pneumonia is that the infection can spread to other parts of the body, such as the space between the lungs and chest, or enter the bloodstream. When the infection starts to spread to other parts of the body, it can turn into sepsis, an uncontrollable systemic response to the infection. Sepsis can quickly become a life-threatening condition, often leading to death.
Who is most at risk of pneumonia?
People most at risk of serious complications from pneumonia include children under 5, adults over 65, and people with pre-existing medical conditions, such as those with heart or lung disease , or those with weakened immune systems due to chemotherapy. or an organ transplant.
Other risk factors include poorly controlled diabetes, smoking or alcohol abuse.
“Most forms of pneumonia are actually mild and self-limiting illnesses,” said Wu Tianxi. “If the condition is serious enough to require hospitalization, it may be a sign of other problems.”
Warning that pneumonia is getting worse
For patients who have been diagnosed with pneumonia and are recovering at home, there are some serious warning signs that may indicate that they need to seek additional medical care. This may include worsening of the condition despite treatment, whether persistent fever, inability to relieve chest pain or difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath (which could mean you are not getting enough oxygen) are warning signs.
“If you feel that your condition is changing, make sure to contact your doctor,” says Turowski. “When we intervene early, we can give instructions to the patient. If we get a follow up call and the patient says his condition is his condition. gets worse, then we can do it in hospital. Good preparation for treatment.”
Extended reading: Is it time to wear a mask again? EG.5 COVID variant strains are increasing significantly in the United States / Three major theories about the origin of the Omicron variant strain
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