Pneumonia Treatment Q&A

Symptoms of pneumonia can depend on your age and overall health, it can develop over several days, they include chest pain when you cough or breathe when coughing you produce phlegm or mucus, you are fatigued and have a loss of appetite, along with fever, chills and sweating vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea.

Some older adults with weak immune systems may experience confusion and a lower-than-normal body temperature. Infants may not show symptoms, and may only show symptoms of fever, vomiting, or cough and will seem restless or tired. you also may have physical aches or stiffness in your joints after contracting pneumonia. Some people develop areas of bluish skin usually the lips and fingertips this would be a sign of a lack of oxygen, and you should seek medical attention so it can be monitored, if this occurs in an infant it will need to be carefully monitored.

Pneumonia is an infection that is very common and can cause severe illness, accumulation of fluid or phlegm filling the lungs. Bacteria is the most common cause of pneumonia and is usually the result of a secondary infection known as streptococcus pneumonia which is due to different bacterial species. Atypical pneumonia is usually only present in the last half of the year summer and winter months, Mycoplasma pneumonia is also another bacterial type of pneumonia. There are a few different types of bacterial pneumonia, but they all have the same effects and symptoms. When you are plagued with viral pneumonia antibiotics generally don’t respond well to it.

Rhinovirus, adenoviruses, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and parainfluenza all have the likelihood of turning into pneumonia depending on the severity of the viral infection. There is also a fungal form of pneumonia where one or both lungs are affected it is usually caused by the inhalation of spores, there are two main types opportunistic and endemic fungi. Fungal pneumonia is rare and usually contacted in regions where endemic fungi are present known as Valley Fever the symptoms are high fever, rash, cough, headaches, and muscle aches. For further assistance and to feel better, you can also visit our walk-in urgent care clinic.

People with compromised immune systems are at a greater risk of developing this type of pneumonia. When you frequently use strong antibiotics leading to the resistance you can develop nosocomial organisms which can find their way into your lungs leading to nosocomial pneumonia, typically this is more common in nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. Another cause of pneumonia is Legionnaires Disease this is caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumonia-pilla which is found in dirty water and air conditioning units when not cleaned or maintained properly. If a doctor believes you have pneumonia, they will order blood tests and do a chest x-ray, they will also do pulse oximetry to measure the amount of oxygen in your blood and a sputum test to check the fluid in your lungs for the cause of the infection.

Reducing the risk of pneumonia can be done by getting vaccinated against influenza as it is a common cause of pneumonia, children under the age of 2 and children between the ages of two to five with chronic conditions such as chronic lung disease and diabetes, adults between 19-64 with chronic health conditions such as COPD, heart disease, and diabetes should all get vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia common bacterial pneumonia. washing your hands frequently especially after coughing, blowing your nose and using the bathroom, and before eating and preparing food.

Being aware of your general health, pneumonia can follow respiratory infections so be aware of your symptoms that linger longer than a few days. Good health habits like healthy eating and regular exercise can help from getting sick and have a faster recovery when you do. Managing other health conditions and making sure that any other symptoms are looked after promptly. No one likes to get sick so making your health a priority will be beneficial in the long run. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Brooklyn NYC, Queens NY, East Harlem NYC, Manhattan NY, Coney Island NYC, Midwood NY, Nostrand NYC, Ridgewood NY, Metropolitan NYC, State Island, Greenwich Village NY, and surrounding areas.