Health and Fitness : Pneumonia - Types and Causes

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria. It is the leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years of age worldwide. Pneumonia infections can often be prevented and can usually be treated.

Every 20 seconds, somewhere in the world, a child dies from pneumonia. Many of these deaths are preventable through vaccination and appropriate treatment.
What Is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause mild to severe illness in people of all ages. Common signs of pneumonia can include cough, fever, and difficulty breathing. Certain people are more likely to become ill with pneumonia.

This includes

-adults 65 years of age or older;
-children younger than 5 years of age;
-people who have underlying medical conditions (like diabetes or heart disease); and
-people who smoke cigarettes or have asthma.

Encourage friends and loved ones with certain health conditions, like diabetes and asthma, to get vaccinated against the flu and bacterial pneumonia.

Causes of Pneumonia
In the United States, common causes of viral pneumonia are influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and a common cause of bacterial pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). In children younger than 1 year of age, RSV is the most common cause of pneumonia.

Types of Pneumonia
When someone develops pneumonia in the community (not in a hospital), it's called community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Pneumonia developed during or following a stay in a healthcare facility (like hospitals, long-term care facilities, and dialysis centers) is called healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP), which includes hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).
Reduce Your Risk

In the United States, there are several vaccines that prevent infection by bacteria or viruses that may cause pneumonia. These vaccines include

-pneumococcal,
-Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib),
-pertussis (whooping cough),
-varicella (chickenpox),
-measles, and
-influenza (flu).

Following good hygiene practices can also help prevent respiratory infections. This includes washing your hands regularly, cleaning hard surfaces that are touched often (like doorknobs and countertops), and coughing or sneezing into a tissue or into your elbow or sleeve. You can also reduce your risk of getting pneumonia by limiting exposure to cigarette smoke and treating and preventing conditions like diabetes.

Contact your Virginia Gay Hospital and Clinics healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns. Click here for a list of clinics.

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NOTICE: Starting in April 2014, the clinics of Virginia Gay Hospital which are Urbana, Atkins, Van Horne and Vinton Family Medical Clinics will be transitioning to electronic health records. You may experience a possible delay in your routine visits.

You may be questioning why the conversion to electronic health records is happening? With the help of electronic health records, your providers will have access to:

1. More accurate and complete information about your health-including your medical history, medications, and test results-to help ensure they can give you the best possible care.
2. Improved ability to share information with other providers you see to better coordinate care they give to you and your family.

During this transition- we appreciate your understanding in possible scheduling delays. We will do our very best to accommodate your health needs and thank you for your continued support.

Source: CDC