This book describes Different Pneumonias, Diagnosis and Treatment as seen in a medical practice

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the airspaces in the lungs most often produced by infections.

Bacteria, viruses, or fungi can produce the infection.

There are also a few non-infectious types of pneumonia that are produced by inhaling or aspirating foreign matter or toxic substances into the lungs.

While anyone of any age can be involved, pneumonia is more frequent in elderly people.

Pneumonia often happens when the immune system is weakened through a prior infection or another disorder.

Pneumonia is much more severe when it involves older adults, infants and young children or those with chronic medical conditions.

It is the second highest cause of death in Singapore after cancer.

Types

Many micro-organisms can produce pneumonia.

The most frequent are bacteria and viruses that are inhaled into the lungs.

The body normally stops these micro-organisms from infecting the lungs.

But occasionally these micro-organisms can overpower the immune system, even if the health is normally good.

Pneumonia is classified based on the types of micro-organisms that cause it and where the patient got the infection.

1. Bacterial Pneumonia

Bacterial pneumonia is caused by bacteria instead of a virus, fungi or some other type of germ or foreign substance.

It can be caused by a wide range of bacteria and is treated with antibiotics.

This is a frequent form of pneumonia that can occasionally be very serious, leading to hospitalization or even death in severe cases.

A large number of people that are hospitalized with pneumonia have bacterial pneumonia.

It often occurs when a person has another type of illness such as the flu.

The immune system is weakened due to the first illness and bacteria causes a secondary infection.

2. Viral Pneumonia

It is triggered by viruses such as influenza, chickenpox, adenoviruses or respiratory syncytial virus.

The patient can catch viral pneumonia via coughing, sneezing or touching an object that was contaminated by an infected person.

A patient with viral pneumonia does not just have swollen lungs, but blocked oxygen flow as well.

It is said to be responsible for one-third of all pneumonia cases.

3. Mycoplasma Pneumonia

Mycoplasma pneumonia is often the cause of "walking pneumonia" and gets that name because the symptoms are normally mild.

A person with this type of pneumonia is able to function and "walk around" unlike with more serious types of pneumonia where the patient could end up being in bed or at least at home for a while.

4. Fungal Pneumonia

Fungal pneumonia is caused when spores enter the lungs and widely spread.

It is rare and more often occurs in people with compromised immune systems.

5. Legionellosis (Legionnaire's Disease)

Legionellosis is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory tract produced by the bacillus Legionella pneumophilia, a Gram negative, non-sporulating aerobic micro-organism.

Legionnaires' disease can produce a type of atypical pneumonia.

6. Aspiration Pneumonia

Infections or inhalation of food, liquid, gases or dust into the airway cause this pneumonia.

7. Lipoid pneumonia

Lipoid pneumonia is a rare disorder that happens when fat particles enter the lungs and cause blockage of the airways.

Symptoms may be the same in all pneumonia with cough, shortness of breath and fever.

Diagnosis is by X-ray or CT scan and blood tests

Treatment is with antimicrobials, analgesics, oxygen, hydration,...