Pneumonia is swelling (inflammation) of the tissue in one or both lungs. It’s usually caused by a bacterial infection, Dangers of Pneumonia is discussed in this page

At the end of the breathing tubes in your lungs are clusters of tiny air sacs. If you have pneumonia, these tiny sacs become inflamed and fill up with fluid.

Symptoms of pneumonia

The symptoms of pneumonia can develop suddenly over 24 to 48 hours, or they may come on more slowly over several days.

Common symptoms of pneumonia include:

-a cough – which may be dry, or produce thick yellow, green, brown or blood-stained mucus (phlegm)
-difficulty breathing – your breathing may be rapid and shallow, and you may feel breathless, even when resting
-rapid heartbeat
-fever
-feeling generally unwell
-sweating and shivering
-loss of appetite
-chest pain – which gets worse when breathing or coughing

Less common symptoms include:

=coughing up blood (haemoptysis)
-headaches
-fatigue
-nausea or vomiting
-wheezing
-joint and muscle pain
-feeling confused and disorientated, particularly in elderly people

Who’s affected?

Pneumonia can affect people of any age, but it’s more common – and can be more serious – in certain groups of people, such as the very young or the elderly.
People in these groups are more likely to need hospital treatment if they develop pneumonia.

What causes pneumonia?

Pneumonia is usually the result of a pneumococcal infection, caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Many different types of bacteria, including Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus, can also cause pneumonia, as well as viruses and, more rarely, fungi.

As well as bacterial pneumonia, other types include:

viral pneumonia – most commonly caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and sometimes influenza type A or B; viruses are a common cause of pneumonia in young children
aspiration pneumonia – caused by breathing in vomit, a foreign object, such as a peanut, or a harmful substance, such as smoke or a chemical
fungal pneumonia – rare case and more likely to affect people with a weakened immune system
hospital-acquired pneumonia – pneumonia that develops in hospital while being treated for another condition or having an operation; people in intensive care on breathing machines are particularly at risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia

The following groups have an increased risk of developing pneumonia:

-babies and very young children
-elderly people
-smokers
-people with other health conditions, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, or a heart, kidney or liver condition
-people with a weakened immune system – for example, as a result of a recent illness, such as flu, having HIV or AIDS, having chemotherapy, --or taking medication following an organ transplant

Diagnosing pneumonia

Your doctor may be able to diagnose pneumonia by asking about your symptoms and examining your chest. Further tests may be needed in some cases.

Pneumonia can be difficult to diagnose because it shares many symptoms with other conditions, such as the common cold, bronchitis and asthma.

If you have mild pneumonia, you probably won’t need to have a chest X-ray or any other tests.

Treating pneumonia

Mild pneumonia can usually be treated at home by:

getting plenty of rest
taking antibiotics
drinking plenty of fluids
If you don’t have any other health problems, you should respond well to treatment and soon recover, although your cough may last for some time.

As pneumonia isn’t usually passed from one person to another, it’s safe to be around others, including family members.

However, people with a weakened immune system should avoid close contact with a person with pneumonia until they start to get better.

For at-risk groups, pneumonia can be severe and may need to be treated in hospital.

This is because it can lead to serious complications, which in some cases can be fatal, depending on a person’s health and age.

Dangers of Pneumonia

Complications of pneumonia are more common in young children, the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, such as diabetes.

Possible complications of pneumonia include:

pleurisy – where the thin linings between your lungs and ribcage (pleura) become inflamed, which can lead to respiratory failure
a lung abscess – a rare complication that’s mostly seen in people with a serious pre-existing illness or a history of severe alcohol misuse
blood poisoning (septicaemia) – also a rare but serious complication
You’ll be admitted to hospital for treatment if you develop one of these complications.

Preventing pneumonia

Although most cases of pneumonia are bacterial and aren’t passed on from one person to another, ensuring good standards of hygiene will help prevent germs spreading.

For example, you should:

cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief or tissue when you cough or sneeze
throw away used tissues immediately – germs can live for several hours after they leave your nose or mouth
wash your hands regularly to avoid transferring germs to other people or objects
A healthy lifestyle can also help prevent pneumonia. For example, you should avoid smoking as it damages your lungs and increases the chance of infection.

Excessive and prolonged alcohol misuse also weakens your lungs’ natural defences against infections, making you more vulnerable to pneumonia.

source: http://generalhealthinfo.com/2017/11/10/dangers-of-pneumonia/

cc: lalasticlala dominique

i concur

Nice. Also note that CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for toddlers and adults (65 years or older). People 2 through 64 years old with certain medical conditions. Adults 19 through 64 years old who smoke cigarettes.

The cost in Nigeria should be between 10,000 - 25,000 ngn.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/pneumo/index.html

Cool

What about the hiccups? The never ending uncontrollable hiccups when you're recovering.

Those hiccups showed me pepper.

BLA BLA BLA.... SOMETHING MUST KILL A MAN

thanks for that

What about the myth that staying too long in cold weather causes pneumonia?

I been think say na cold dey cause am

bobkezel:
What about the myth that staying too long in cold weather causes pneumonia?

cold provide a favourable environment for the thriving of this bacteria.

DBlackCeazer:
I been think say na cold dey cause am

cold provide a moist environment for this micro-organism.

when we were much younger

Randy100:
cold provide a moist environment for this micro-organism.

OK, and the micro-organisms thrive in moist conditions?

Well I think I developed Pneumonia last two years or so.. just to avoid the unnecessary crazy hospitals bills, A neighbor (NURSE) recommendation- she claimed it was the same thing she did for her own Mom and it went away.

Drink mild Hot water constantly

Find a small thick empty plastic with cover like the " oil fluid plastic used for Generator"

put water on Fire

put the boiled water in the plastic- closed the Lid

Find a thick cloth to hold the plastic cos of the Hotness

Also wrapped the hot oil plastic up in a cloth

Put the " wrapped Hot Plastic" on your chest till you are satisfied- keep repeating this procedure- suck it up



I did it for a while and felt relieved oo then stopped - which i was not supposed to anywais... she said it should be a continuous process- daily life ..

And my mom will tell me not to use my AC for long periods hehehehehe

DBlackCeazer:
OK, and the micro-organisms thrive in moist conditions?

EXACTLY

But iv always heard pneumonia is caused by cold.

Randy100:
cold provide a favourable environment for the thriving of this bacteria.

White race generation would have perished since na.

nice info

Hmmm... Just getting to know about this.

bobkezel:

White race generation would have perished since na.

They protect themselves from this micro-organism so that even if there is cold there is no micro organism to be favoured.

I DON'T AGREE WITH THIS POST 100%, I SUFFERED FROM PNEUMONIA MANY YEARS AGO IN LAGOS. THE DOCTOR MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY USING AC WITHOUT COVERING MY BODY AND THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED .

Randy100:
They protect themselves from this micro-organism so that even if there is cold there is no micro organism to be favoured.

Is that what you think or is that what your mind gave you?

olowobaba10:
I DON'T AGREE WITH THIS POST 100%, I SUFFERED FROM PNEUMONIA MANY YEARS AGO IN LAGOS. THE DOCTOR MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY USING AC WITHOUT COVERING MY BODY AND THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED .

Is there any similarity between Asthma and Pneumonia?

such disease...

tuberculosis is effective... they are all dangerous but tuberculosis is more danger, it's conterminous though.

Natural remedy for pneumonia _ chew Ginger or Garlic ( for those who can't chew because of the pungent smell of garlic, dice it into little pieces and swallow 3 times a day) , plenty of Bell pepper and Tumeric which is found in Curry powder will do...This really helped me Last year when I was diagnosed. Thank me later

bobkezel:
Is that what you think or is that what your mind gave you?

BOTH

olowobaba10:
I DON'T AGREE WITH THIS POST 100%, I SUFFERED FROM PNEUMONIA MANY YEARS AGO IN LAGOS. THE DOCTOR MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY USING AC WITHOUT COVERING MY BODY AND THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED .

Exactly what u think must have happened for me to be having pain in my chest.. M in South Africa n I sleep naked but I make sure my heater is on to heat the room.. So I really am on antibiotics but it's not going

I don't know if mine can still be cured.. I developed it 16 years ago while still at boarding school. Since then, each rainy season every year, it disturbs me., when I went to the hospital about four years ago, I was given an inhaler, so each time the chest tightening occurs, I use inhaler and get relieved. in the absence of inhaler, the symptoms resolve too, but it'll take time. Please who knows what I can do?

ghettochild:

Exactly what u think must have happened for me to be having pain in my chest.. M in South Africa n I sleep naked but I make sure my heater is on to heat the room.. So I really am on antibiotics but it's not going

How are you feeling now