You are more likely to have complications if you are an older adult, a very young child, have a weakened immune system, or have a serious medical problem like diabetes or cirrhosis. Complications may include:. Acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS. This is a severe form of respiratory failure. Lung abscesses. These are pockets of pus that form inside or around the lung. They may need to be drained with surgery. Respiratory failure. This requires the use of a breathing machine or ventilator.
This is when the infection gets into the blood. It may lead to organ failure. The main types of pneumonia are bacterial, viral, and mycoplasma pneumonia. A cough that produces green, yellow, or bloody mucus is the most common symptom of pneumonia. Other symptoms include fever, shaking chills, shortness of breath, low energy, and extreme tiredness.
Pneumonia can often be diagnosed with a thorough history and physical exam. Tests used to look at the lungs, blood tests, and tests done on the sputum you cough up may also be used. It may also speed recovery from mycoplasma pneumonia and some special cases. Other treatment may include a healthy diet, more fluids, rest, oxygen therapy, and medicine for pain, cough, and fever control.
Most people with pneumonia respond well to treatment, but pneumonia can cause serious lung and infection problems. It can even be deadly. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. Lobar pneumonia affects one or more sections lobes of the lungs. Bronchial pneumonia also known as bronchopneumonia affects patches throughout both lungs. Viruses Viruses that infect the upper respiratory tract may also cause pneumonia. Fungi Fungal pneumonia is most common in people with chronic health problems or weakened immune systems, and in people who are exposed to large doses of certain fungi from contaminated soil or bird droppings.
This fungus is found in Southern California and the desert Southwest. It is the cause of valley fever. This fungus is found in the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys. This fungus is found throughout the United States in bird droppings and soil contaminated with bird droppings. Previous: Learn About Pneumonia. Next: Pneumonia Symptoms and Diagnosis. Make a Donation Your tax-deductible donation funds lung disease and lung cancer research, new treatments, lung health education, and more.
Make a Donation. Sign Up for Email Updates Join over , people who receive the latest news about lung health, including COVID, research, air quality, inspiring stories and resources. Please enter a valid email address. Zip Code. For some older adults and people with heart failure or chronic lung problems, pneumonia can quickly become a life-threatening condition. Many germs can cause pneumonia. The most common are bacteria and viruses in the air we breathe.
Your body usually prevents these germs from infecting your lungs. But sometimes these germs can overpower your immune system, even if your health is generally good. Pneumonia is classified according to the types of germs that cause it and where you got the infection.
Community-acquired pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia. It occurs outside of hospitals or other health care facilities. It may be caused by:. Some people catch pneumonia during a hospital stay for another illness. Hospital-acquired pneumonia can be serious because the bacteria causing it may be more resistant to antibiotics and because the people who get it are already sick. People who are on breathing machines ventilators , often used in intensive care units, are at higher risk of this type of pneumonia.
Health care-acquired pneumonia is a bacterial infection that occurs in people who live in long-term care facilities or who receive care in outpatient clinics, including kidney dialysis centers. Like hospital-acquired pneumonia, health care-acquired pneumonia can be caused by bacteria that are more resistant to antibiotics. Aspiration pneumonia occurs when you inhale food, drink, vomit or saliva into your lungs.
Aspiration is more likely if something disturbs your normal gag reflex, such as a brain injury or swallowing problem, or excessive use of alcohol or drugs. Even with treatment, some people with pneumonia, especially those in high-risk groups, may experience complications, including:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Your provider may order another x-ray. This is to make sure your lungs are clear. But it may take many weeks for your x-ray to clear up. You will likely feel better before the x-ray clears up.
Vaccines are even more important for older adults and people with diabetes, asthma, emphysema, HIV, cancer, people with organ transplants, or other long-term conditions. Acute pneumonia. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Musher DM. Overview of pneumonia. Goldman-Cecil Medicine.
Wunderunk RG. Guidelines to manage community-acquired pneumonia. Clin Chest Med. PMID: pubmed. Harron Jr. Editorial team. Community-acquired pneumonia in adults. Pneumonia is a breathing respiratory condition in which there is an infection of the lung.
Ways you can get pneumonia include: Bacteria and viruses living in your nose, sinuses, or mouth may spread to your lungs. You may breathe some of these germs directly into your lungs.
You breathe in inhale food, liquids, vomit, or fluids from the mouth into your lungs aspiration pneumonia. Pneumonia can be caused by many types of germs.
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