Many types of fungi, viruses and bacteria can cause pneumonia. The body has devised ways to effectively filter out the pathogens from the air we breathe that might lead to infection. These ways involve the immune system, the physiological shape of the throat and nose, the function of coughing and the role of small body structures called cilia to prevent the pathogens from reaching the lungs.
These ways are not always 100% successful and some germs do reach the lungs and infect them. Germs are likely to succeed in infecting the lungs if:
- The body is unable to filter the air pathogens that you manage to breathe in
- The pathogens are strong and resilient
- You have a weak immune system
When germs reach the lungs, the person’s immune system combats the germs by dispatching antibodies. The antibodies causes the air sacs called alveoli to inflame, turn red and fill up with pus and fluid. They are some of the symptoms of pneumonia.
Bacteria
Bacteria are the type of pathogens that commonly cause pneumonia among adults. Older people are likely to get pneumonia after a cold or flu condition.
Bacterial pneumonia often affects only one lung or lobe, this type pneumonia is termed lobar pneumonia.
The streptococcus bacterium is the number one cause of pneumonia in the United States.
Atypical Pneumonia
This type of pneumonia usually involves three types of bacteria. They are:
- Chlamydophila pneumoniae – This is one kind of pneumonia that anyone can acquire all year round. It often infects people who are 65 to 80 years old.
- Mycoplasma pneumonia – This is another common form of pneumonia that usually strikes individuals 40 years old and younger. It is easily treatable with antibiotics and has mild symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumonia can also be a cause of hemolysis and skin rash.
- Legionella pneumophila – This disease is also known as Legionnaire’s disease and can infect a wide group of people in a short span of time. Areas highly likely to catch this disease can include decorative fountains, whirlpool spas and cooling towers.
Viruses
About a third of pneumonia infections in the United States are caused by viruses each year. Viral pneumonia is the number one cause of pneumonia among children 5 years old and below. Viral pneumonia usually poses mild risks and the patient often gets better in about a week to three weeks although there may be serious cases that may require hospitalization. There is a high risk of acquiring bacterial pneumonia if you have viral pneumonia. Influenza is one very common type of viral pneumonia. Some lesser known kinds of viral pneumonia can include:
- SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome)
- Herpes simplex virus
- Rhinovirus
- Respiratory syncytial virus
Fungi
In the United States, there are three kinds of soil fungi that can cause pneumonia. They include:
- Cryptococcus – Found in soil with bird droppings and in bird droppings themselves.
- Histoplasmosis – Typically found in the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys
- Coccidioidomycosis – This fungus grows in the Southwest desert and in Southern California
These fungi rarely affect people and if they do, those affected may need prompt treatment to avoid any complications. People who get seriously affected by these fungi usually possess weak immune systems which often happen from prolonged use of medications that affect their immune systems or from the AIDS of HIV virus.
Pneumocystis jiroveci – This is a unique type of fungal pneumonia and cannot be addressed using antifungal drugs. This type of pneumonia was formerly called Pneumocystis carinii. People who get infected with this condition are those who:
- Use medications that have an effect on their immune systems
- Underwent marrow blood stem call transplant and/or an organ transplant
- Have AIDS. HIV or cancer
Ni Nan Healing Art Center
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www.ninanhealing.com
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