Pneumonia is an infection in either one or both of the lungs that is most commonly caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. When the infection takes hold, it causes the lungs’ air sacs, known as the alveoli, to become inflamed and fill up with fluid or pus which can make it hard for the oxygen you breathe in to get into your bloodstream. Without oxygen in the bloodstream, pneumonia can cause long-term degradation of the respiratory system and other systems in the body.

While pneumonia harms the muscular, circulatory, and immune systems, as a lung infection,  the respiratory system is most at risk.

Diagnosing Pneumonia

When it comes to diagnosing pneumonia, medical practitioners have a number of tools available to help them provide a diagnosis. These include a physical exam that includes listening to your lungs for any crackling, rumbling, or bubbling, along with blood tests and X-rays to determine if there is fluid in the lungs. 

Tests to diagnose pneumonia can be completed by either a primary care doctor or a nurse practitioner (NP) who holds the requisite BSN, MSN, or online DNP qualification.

Symptoms of Pneumonia

Some common symptoms of pneumonia include the following;

1. Shortness of breath
2. Chills and/or fever
3. Chest pain, especially when breathing or coughing

These symptoms can vary from mild to serious, and if you or someone you know is suspected to have pneumonia, contact your general practitioner as soon as possible. If symptoms are serious, such as severe chest pain, call 911 or go to the local emergency center. 

Who is Most at Risk?

Anyone can be diagnosed with pneumonia. However, some of us are at more of a risk than others. A number of factors influence your level of risk, including:

1. Whether you have certain medical conditions;
   1. Chronic lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis, or those with recent respiratory infections such as influenza, COVID-19, etc.
   2. HIV, AIDS, or other immunocompromising conditions.
   3. Diabetes.
   4. Other chronic health conditions that affect vital organs like the heart.
2. Adults over the age of 65 or children aged 5 or younger.
3. Cigarette smoking or alcoholism.

The lack of awareness surrounding the infection is a concern for those working in healthcare. Despite 2.5 million deaths in 2019 alone, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 46% of individuals most at risk of developing pneumococcal disease were unfamiliar with pneumonia, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID). Healthcare workers, like nurse practitioners, are now calling for more collective awareness of the symptoms, especially in those who are more at risk of developing an infection. 

Staying up to date with flu vaccinations, keeping fit and healthy, and avoiding smoking and other substances can all help you avoid becoming seriously ill with an infection like pneumonia. 

The Effects of Pneumonia on the Lungs

Pneumonia’s effect on the body’s respiratory system is the catalyst for many of the reasons for pneumonia’s mortality rates. Bacteria, viruses, or fungi enter the body through the airways, meaning the lungs are the first organ impacted. The inflammation caused by this impact can lead to not only a build-up of fluid in the lungs but also collections of fluid called abscesses, which may need to be removed through surgery if severe. An abscess will try to be dissolved with antibiotics as a first resort. 

If the infection or abscesses become severe enough, they may cause the lungs to be unable to breathe oxygen correctly, leading to further complications as the lungs are not only unable to get oxygen, but they are also unable to exert correct amounts of carbon dioxide from the body. This can cause full respiratory failure that can end in death.

Without the lungs pumping oxygen through the bloodstream correctly, organs can fail and deplete rapidly. Hence, emergency medical care is needed to treat respiratory failure immediately. Symptoms of respiratory failure include fast breathing and/or feeling unable to get enough breath, confusion, sleepiness, and bluing of the fingers and toes as less oxygen flows through the bloodstream. 

Treating Pneumonia

Treating pneumonia depends on the severity of the infection. Most commonly, treatment of the lungs includes attempts to reoxygenate the blood through oxygen therapies like using direct oxygen on a patient. If necessary, chest tubes or surgeries can remove excess fluid from the lungs to prevent further infection. Of course, the core is to treat the pneumonic infection while treating the source of the infection simultaneously.

Pneumonia is a severe infection of the lungs that should not be taken lightly. Expert medical care is needed to treat severe and mild cases. Knowledge of the infection’s symptoms and causes is integral to helping prevent more deaths from the infection and in protecting the lungs and body before an infection can take hold.