Pneumonia Center - Bridgeport, CTBridgeport Internist Doctors for PneumoniaType of Physician: Internist What is a Internist? A certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners provide long-term, comprehensive care in the office and the hospital, managing both common illnesses and complex problems for adolescents, adults, and the elderly. General internists are trained in primary care internal medicine, which incorporates an understanding of disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, mental health and treatment of problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system and reproductive organs. All internists are trained in the subspecialty areas of internal medicine including emergency internal medicine and critical care. Internists consult with surgeons when surgical management is indicated, and often act as consultants to other specialists. Specialty: Internal Medicine Common Name: Internist Doctors in Bridgeport * Optimus Health Care Inc  Optimus Health Care Inc  Optimus Health Care Inc  Park City Primary Care Center  Optimus Health Care Inc  Park City Primary Care Center  Park City Primary Care Center  Nephrology Associates PC  Jose M Baez MD FACP  Medical Specialists of Fairfield LLC  Medical Specialists of Fairfield LLC  Medical Specialists of Fairfield LLC  Medical Specialists of Fairfield LLC  Medical Specialists of Fairfield LLC  Medical Specialists of Fairfield LLC  Santiago Escobar MD  St Vincent Medical Center Outreach  Medical Specialists of Fairfield LLC  Connecticut Heart & Vascular Center PC  Anand & Anand MD  Anand & Anand MD  Rheumatology & Internal Medicine Associates  Bridgeport Internal Medicine  William B Fitzgerald MD  Bridgeport Internal Medicine  Bridgeport Internal Medicine  Bridgeport Internal Medicine  Joao M A Nascimento MD  Bridgeport Internal Medicine  Anton N Chinniah MD  Yousuf S M Ali, MD  Michael J Cavaliere MD  Southwest Community Health Center  Southwest Community Health Center  Southwest Community Health Center  Hana J Clements MD  Anthony G Ciccaglione MD  Jack D Glasser MD  Adrian W Klufas MD  Wayne S Levin MD  PriMed  Optimus Health Care Inc  Primed  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  Charles E Kochan Jr. MD  Fairfield County Internal Medicine & GI Associates  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  Fairfield County Internal Medicine & GI Associates  Primed  Primed  Primed  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  Primed  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  Primed  CT Medical Associates  Pulmonary & Internal Medicine of Fairfield County PC  CT Medical Associates  Bernard J Sherlip MD & Andrew F Chutney MD  Jarir G Nakouzi MD  CardioMed of Connecticut LLC  Physician Home & Health Services  Drs Weicholz & Belkin  Drs Weicholz & Belkin  Medical Specialists of Fairfield LLC  Gastroenterology Associates of Fairfield County  Med Now Family Walk-In & Industrial Medical Center  Med Now Family Walk-In & Industrial Medical Center  Pri Med LLC  Pri Med LLC  Pri Med LLC  Pri Med LLC  Pri Med LLC  Adam J Bard MD  Primed  Primed LLC  David Garrell MD  Houtan Golzari MD  Joseph Herbin MD Jo Anne Passalacqua MD & Genevieve John MD  Drs Hulcher & Napolitano  Joseph Herbin MD Jo Anne Passalacqua MD & Genevieve John MD  Primed LLC  Drs Hulcher & Napolitano  Primed LLC  Joseph Herbin MD Jo Anne Passalacqua MD & Genevieve John MD  Primed LLC  Primary Care Associates  Robert A Sheiman MD  Primed LLC  Primed  GI Health Specialists  Mill Hill Medical Consultants  Mill Hill Medical Consultants Bridgeport, ConnecticutUpcoming Local Events2012-06-03
2012-06-09
2012-06-10
2012-06-24
2012-07-17
2012-07-21
2012-09-23
2012-10-13
2012-11-04
2012-11-25
PneumoniaWhat 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 their 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. As we age, our swallowing mechanism can become impaired as does our immune system. These factors, along with some of the negative side effects of medications, increase the risk for pneumonia in the elderly. Once organisms enter the lungs, they usually settle in the air sacs and passages of the lung where they rapidly grow in number. This area of the lung then becomes fille... Recommended Reading Related to PneumoniaSwine flu (H1N1 influenza virus) facts
What is swine flu (novel H1N1 influenza A swine flu)?Swine flu (swine influenza) is a... Other Related Pneumonia ArticlesEmergency Contact for Bridgeport
Nearby Bridgeport Hospitals *Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center Bridgeport Hospital St Vincent's Medical Center Milford Hospital Hall-Brooke Behavioral Health Services Griffin Hospital Norwalk Hospital VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus Silver Hill Hospital Hospital of St Raphael Connecticut Mental Health Center Yale-New Haven Hospital Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital St Charles Hospital John T Mather Memorial Hospital Stony Brook University Medical Center Danbury Hospital Northport VA Medical Center Stamford Hospital St Catherine of Siena Medical Center Four Winds Hospital Huntington Hospital Greenwich Hospital Gaylord Hospital Masonic Healthcare Center Pilgrim Psychiatric Center St Mary's Hospital Waterbury Hospital Northern Westchester Hospital Center Putnam Hospital Center Sagamore Children's Psychiatric Center New Milford Hospital Rye Hospital Center Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center St Vincent's Hospital Westchester Syosset Hospital Glen Cove Hospital The Hospital of Central Connecticut Bradley Campus New York Presbyterian Westchester Southside Hospital The Burke Rehabilitation Hospital White Plains Hospital Center Peconic Bay Medical Center Plainview Hospital Blythedale Children's Hospital MidState Medical Center Maria Fareri Children's Hospital Westchester Medical Center Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center Stony Lodge Hospital New Island Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Pneumonia by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
50 articles-
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
- HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the cause of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV is a type of virus called a retrovirus, which infects humans when it comes in contact with a break in the skin or tissues such as those that line the vagina, anal area, mouth, or eyes.
-
Fever
- Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal: rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease- producing organisms.
-
Flu (Influenza)
- Influenza (flu) is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. The flu may be prevented with an annual influenza vaccination.
-
Melioidosis
- Melioidosis (Whitmore's disease) is an infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei bacteria. Symptoms include bronchitis, pneumonia, fever, headache, loss of appetite, cough and chest pain. Treatment involves antibiotics or surgical removal of the lung abscess in severe cases.
-
Tuberculosis
- Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. Symptoms include weakness, fever, weight loss, night sweats and in worse cases, chest pain, shortness of breath, and coughing up blood. A person with an active infection (a positive TB skin test, abnormal chest x-ray and TB bacteria in their sputum) requires treatment with izoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and pyrazinaide.
-
Typhoid Fever
- Typhoid fever is an illness caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria. The illness is contracted by ingesting the bacteria in contaminated water or food. Symptoms include headaches, fever, diarrhea, lethargy, aches and pains, and poor appetite. Treatment focuses on killing the Salmonella bacteria with antibiotics.
-
Felty's Syndrome
- Felty's syndrome is a complication of long-term rheumatoid arthritis. Felty's syndrome is defined by the presence of three conditions: rheumatoid arthritis, an enlarged spleen, and an abnormally low white blood count. Treatment of Felty's syndrome is not always required; however, treatment for patients with infections is available.
-
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a disorder that persistently obstructs bronchial airflow. COPD mainly involves three related conditions, chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma, and emphysema. Symptoms of COPD include chronic cough, shortness of breath, frequent respiratory infections, wheezing, morning headaches, and pulmonary hypertension. Treatment of COPD is focused on the related condition(s).
-
Chronic Cough
- Chronic cough is a cough that does not go away and is generally a symptom of another disorder such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus infection, cigarette smoking, GERD, postnasal drip, bronchitis, pneumonia, medications, and less frequently tumors or other lung disease. Treatment of chronic cough is dependant upon the cause.
-
Group B Strep
- Group B strep are bacteria called Streptococcus agalactiae that may sometimes cause infections both in a pregnant woman and her newborn. Symptoms include fever, seizures, heart rate abnormalities, breathing problems, and fussiness. Intravenous antibiotics are used to treat group B strep infections.
-
Staph Infection (Staphylococcus Aureus)
- Staphylococcus or Staph is a group of bacteria that can cause a multitude of diseases. Staph infections can cause illness directly by infection or indirectly by the toxins they produce. Symptoms and signs of a Staph infection include redness, swelling, pain, and drainage of pus. Minor skin infections are treated with an antibiotic ointment, while more serious infections are treated with intravenous antibiotics.
-
Interstitial Lung Disease
- Interstitial lung disease, is a term to describe a certain lung condition. Causes of interstitial lung disease include lung infection, exposure to toxins in the environment (asbestos for example), medications (chemotherapy), radiation therapy, and chronic autoimmune disorders. Common symptoms of interstitial lung disease include a dry cough and shortness of breath. Diagnosis and treatment depend upon the cause of the condition.
-
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a diseases in which blood clots within the capillaries. Causes associated with HUS include E. Coli, birth control pills, pneumonia, medications such as chemotherapy, Ticlid, and quinine. Symptoms of HUS include gastroenteritis, abdominal cramping, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Diagnosis of HUS includes medical history, physical examination, and medical tests. Treatment includes rest, fluids, possible hospitalization for blood transfusion or complications due to kidney failure.
-
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
- Whooping cough (pertussis) is highly contagious respiratory infection that is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. There are an estimated 300,000 plus deaths annually from whooping cough (pertussis). Whopping cough commonly affects infants and young children, but can be prevented with immunization with the vaccine. First stage whooping cough symptoms are a runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever, a mild cough with the cough gradually becoming more severe. After one to two weeks, the second stage of whooping cough begins.
-
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly contagious viral infection. Symptoms include fever and nasal congestion and discharge. Treatment focuses on supportive care.
-
Measles
- Measles (rubeola) is a highly contagious disease that's caused by a virus. Symptoms include a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. Treatment focuses on symptom relief. The disease can be prevented with the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.
-
Dengue Fever
- Dengue fever is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms of dengue include headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, rash, and swollen glands. Since dengue is caused by a virus, there is no specific medicine to treat it. Treatment instead focuses on relieving the symptoms.
-
Post-Polio Syndrome
- Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a group of signs and symptoms that show up two to four decades after the initial polio infection. Symptoms of PPS include fatigue, pain, sleep disorders, muscle twitching, gastrointestinal problems, and weakness. Treatment focuses on slowing down to conserve energy and relieving symptoms with pain relievers.
-
Legionnaires' Disease
- Legionellosis is an infection caused by the Legionella pneumophila bacterium. There are two forms of legionellosis: Pontiac fever and Legionnaires' disease, which is the more severe of the two infections. Symptoms of Pontiac fever include fever, headache, muscle aches, and chills. Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include cough, chills, fever and sometimes muscle aches, headaches, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and severe pneumonia. While Pontiac fever resolves on its own, Legionnaires' disease must be treated with antibiotics.
-
Smoker's Lung: Pathology Photo Essay
- Smoker's lung photo essay is a collection of pictures and microscopic slides of lung disease caused by cigarette smoking. Smoker's lung refers to the diseases and structural abnormalities in the lung caused by cigarette smoking.
-
SARS
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV. Symptoms include fever and shortness of breath. Patients with SARS often require oxygen and severe cases require mechanical ventilation.
-
Antibiotic Resistance (Drug Resistance, Antimicrobial Resistance)
- Drug resistance (antimicrobial resistance) is the ability of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses to grow, even in the presence of a drug that would normally kill it (or limit it's growth). Drug resistance is a growing problem, particularly for infections such as MRSA, VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci), tuberculosis, HIV, STDs, gonorrhea, flu, pneumonia, malaria, E. coli, salmonella, Campylobacter, which causes diarrhea and gastroenteritis. Learn how to protect yourself from resistance to drugs.
-
Bird Flu
- Bird flu (avian flu, avian influenza) infection in humans may result from contact with infected poultry. There is a vaccine to prevent human infection with the H5N1 strain of the avian flu virus.
-
Streptococcal Infections
- Group A streptococcal infections are caused by group A streptococcus, a bacteria that causes a variety of health problems, including strep throat, impetigo, cellulitis, erysipelas, and scarlet fever. There are more than 10 million group A strep infections each year.
-
ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a lung condition in which trauma to the lungs leads to inflammation of the lungs, accumulation of fluid in the alveolar air sacs, low blood oxygen, and respiratory distress. Causes of ARDS include: pneumonia, aspiration, severe blow to the chest, sepsis, severe injury with shock, drug overdose, and/or inflamed pancreas. Treatment for ARDS include extra oxygen, and/or medication.
-
Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE)
- Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection is the most common type of infection acquired by patients while hospitalized. Patients at risk for VRE are those who are already ill, and hospitalized, including individuals with diabetes, elderly, ICU patients, kidney failure patients, or patients requiring catheters. Enterococci can survive for months in the digestive tract and female genital tract. Other risk factors for acquiring VRE include those how have been previously treated with vancomycin and combinations of other antibiotics. Treatment of VRE is generally with other antibiotics other than vancomycin. Prevention of VRE can be achieved by proper hand hygiene.
-
MRSA
- MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria causes skin infections with the following signs and symptoms: cellulitis, abscesses, carbuncles, impetigo, styes, and boils. Normal skin tissue doesn't usually allow MRSA infection to develop. Individuals with depressed immune systems and people with cuts, abrasions, or chronic skin disease are more susceptible to MRSA infection.
-
Shock (Medical)
- Medical shock is a life-threatening medical condition. There are several types of medical shock, septic shock, anaphylactic shock, cardiogenic shock, hypovolemic shock, and neurogenic shock. Causes of shock include heart attack, heart failure, heavy bleeding (internal and external), infection, anaphylaxis, spinal cord injury, severe burns, chronic vomiting or diarrhea. Low blood pressure is the key sign of sock. Treatment is dependant upon the type of shock.
-
Coma
- Coma is the inability to waken or react to the surrounding environment. The Glasgow Coma Scale is frequently used to measure the depth of coma. Causes of coma include trauma, bleeding, edema, lack of oxygen, poisoning, or hypoglycemia. Prognosis for a patient in a coma depends on the cause of the coma.
- See All Related Diseases & Conditions »
-
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
-
Medications
39 articles -
Procedures & Tests
6 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
5 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
20 articles -
Health News
72 articles -
Health Features
20 articles
