Pneumonia
Medical Author (Revision): George Schiffman, MD
Medical Editor (Revision): Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
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Should You Get a Pneumonia Vaccination?
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
 The term pneumonia refers to any infection of the lung. The "pneumonia
vaccine" is given to prevent one specific type of pneumonia--the pneumonia
caused by the Pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae) bacterium. Pneumonia
caused by Pneumococcus is the most common form of infection occurring outside of
a hospital or institutional setting in the U.S. Pneumococcus
infection is responsible for over 6,000 deaths per year in the U.S.--the
highest number for any vaccine-preventable disease. A serious complication of
pneumonia, pneumococcal meningitis, is associated with a particularly high fatality rate.
Certain groups of people are considered to be at
particularly high risk for the development of pneumonia, and the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend vaccination for these groups. Those recommended
groups include:
- People age 65 or older
- People over age two years of age who have problems
with their lungs, heart, liver, or kidneys
- People over age two years of age with health problems
like diabetes, sickle cell disease, alcoholism, or HIV/AIDS
- Persons
over two years of age who are taking any treatments that weaken the body's
immune system
- Alaskan natives and some Native American populations
Top Searched Pneumonia Terms:
vaccine, causes, treatment, signs and symptoms, bacterial, aspiration, viral, Streptococcus pneumoniae, children, mycoplasma, prevention
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What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which is usually caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Prior to the discovery of antibiotics, one-third of all people who developed pneumonia subsequently died from the infection. Currently, over 3 million people develop pneumonia each year in the United States. Over a half a million of these people are admitted to a hospital for treatment. Although most of these people recover, approximately 5% will die from pneumonia. Pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
How do people "catch pneumonia"?
Some cases of pneumonia are contracted by breathing in small droplets that contain the organisms that can cause pneumonia. These droplets get into the air when a person infected with these germs coughs or sneezes. In other cases, pneumonia is caused when bacteria or viruses that are normally present in the mouth, throat, or nose inadvertently enter the lung. During sleep, it is quite common for people to aspirate secretions from the mouth, throat, or nose. Normally, the body's reflex response (coughing back up the secretions) and immune system will prevent the aspirated organisms from causing pneumonia. However, if a person is in a weakened condition from another illness, a severe pneumonia can develop. People with recent viral infections, lung disease, heart disease, and swallowing problems, as well as alcoholics, drug users, and those who have suffered a stroke or seizure are at higher risk for developing pneumonia than the general population.
Once organisms enter the lungs, they usually settle in the air sacs of the lung where they rapidly grow in number. This area of the lung then becomes filled with fluid and pus as the body attempts to fight off the infection.
What are pneumonia symptoms and signs?
Most people who develop pneumonia initially have symptoms of a cold which are then followed by a high fever (sometimes as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit), shaking chills, and a cough with sputum production. The sputum is usually discolored and sometimes bloody. People with pneumonia may become short of breath. The only pain fibers in the lung are on the surface of the lung, in the area known as the pleura. Chest pain may develop if the outer pleural aspects of the lung are involved. This pain is usually sharp and worsens when taking a deep breath, known as pleuritic pain.
In other cases of pneumonia, there can be a slow onset of symptoms. A worsening cough, headaches, and muscle aches may be the only symptoms. In some people with pneumonia, coughing is not a major symptom because the infection is located in areas of the lung away from the larger airways. At times, the individual's skin color may change and become dusky or purplish (a condition known as "cyanosis") due to their blood being poorly oxygenated.
Children and babies who develop pneumonia often do not have any specific signs of a chest infection but develop a fever, appear quite ill, and can become lethargic. Elderly people may also have few symptoms with pneumonia.
Next: How is pneumonia diagnosed? »
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From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com  |
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- Chest X-ray - A chest x-ray is a radiology test that involves exposing the chest briefly to radiation to produce an image of the chest and the internal organs of the chest. chest x-ray can be used to define abnormalities of the lungs such as excessive fluid, pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, cysts, and cancers. Source:MedicineNet
- Bronchoscopy - Read about bronchoscopy, a procedure used to view a patient's lung, airways, voice box, vocal cord, trachea, and many branches of bronchi. There are two types of bronchoscopes, flexible fiberoptic and rigid. Source:MedicineNet
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Last Editorial Review: 4/7/2008
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