What Could Cause Inflammation In The Lungs – Pneumonia is inflammation and fluid accumulation in the lungs caused by a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. It causes difficulty breathing and may cause fever and coughing up yellow, green or bloody mucus. Influenza, COVID-19, and pneumococcal disease are common causes of pneumonia. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of pneumonia.

Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Pneumonia causes swelling (inflammation) of the lung tissue and may cause fluid or pus to appear in the lungs. Bacterial pneumonia is usually more severe than viral pneumonia, which usually resolves on its own.

What Could Cause Inflammation In The Lungs

Pneumonia can affect one or both lungs. Pneumonia in both lungs is called bilateral pneumonia or bilateral pneumonia.

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While all pneumonia is inflammation caused by a lung infection, you may experience different symptoms depending on whether the underlying cause is viral, bacterial, or fungal.

Bacterial pneumonia tends to be more common and more severe than viral pneumonia. Hospitalization is more likely. Providers treat bacterial pneumonia with antibiotics. Viral pneumonia causes flu-like symptoms and is more likely to resolve on its own. You usually don’t need special treatment for viral pneumonia.

We classify pneumonia according to the pathogen that causes it (virus, bacteria, or fungi) and the mode of infection—community-acquired pneumonia, hospital-acquired pneumonia, or ventilator-associated pneumonia.

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You can get hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in a hospital or medical facility for another illness or when you have surgery. HAP is usually more severe than community-acquired pneumonia because it is often caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria (e.g., methicillin-resistant)

You can receive HCAP in a long-term care facility (such as a nursing home) or in an outpatient, long-stay clinic. Like hospital-acquired pneumonia, it is often caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

If you need a respirator or ventilator to help you breathe in the hospital (usually in the ICU), you are at risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). VAP can be caused by the same types of bacteria that cause community-acquired pneumonia, as well as the drug-resistant bacteria that cause hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Aspiration is when solid food, liquid, saliva or vomit travels down the windpipe into the lungs. If you are unable to cough up these substances, your lungs may become infected.

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It can be difficult to differentiate between the symptoms of cold, flu, and pneumonia, and only a health care provider can diagnose you. Because pneumonia can be life-threatening, it is important to seek medical attention for serious symptoms that may be signs of pneumonia, such as:

Anyone can get pneumonia. It is a common disease that is diagnosed in millions of people in the United States each year. Approximately 55, 000 people die from pneumonia each year in the United States. It is the most common cause of death in developing countries.

You may not have all the symptoms of pneumonia. Symptoms may differ in young children and older adults.

The symptoms of pneumonia depend on the cause. Symptoms range from mild to severe. Infants, young children, and older adults may have different symptoms.

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Symptoms of viral pneumonia usually appear within a few days. You may have symptoms similar to those of bacterial pneumonia, or you may also have:

Babies and newborns may not show any symptoms of pneumonia, or their symptoms may be different from adults, including:

Adults over 65 or people with weakened immune systems may experience mild or less noticeable symptoms of pneumonia (such as cough and shortness of breath). Symptoms of ongoing health conditions may worsen. Older adults may experience:

Pneumonia occurs when your immune system attacks an infection in the small sacs (alveoli) in your lungs. This causes your lungs to swell and leak fluid.

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Many bacteria, viruses, and fungi can cause infections that can lead to pneumonia. Bacteria are the most common cause in adults, and viruses are the most common cause in school-age children. Common illnesses that can cause pneumonia include:

Pneumonia itself is not actually contagious, but the bacteria and viruses that cause it are. For example, the flu is contagious and can cause pneumonia, but most people who get the flu don’t get pneumonia.

Pneumonia caused by fungi is not contagious. Fungal infections do not spread from person to person like viruses and bacteria do.

To diagnose pneumonia, a health care provider will ask about your health history and perform a physical exam. They will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope and may perform or order additional tests. These include imaging (such as a chest X-ray), pulse oximetry (which checks the amount of oxygen in the blood), blood tests, or sputum (spit) tests.

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Your provider may perform tests to check your lungs for signs of infection, measure how well your lungs are working, and check blood or other body fluids to determine the cause of pneumonia. These include:

Treatment of pneumonia depends on the cause (bacterial, viral, or fungal) and the severity of the condition. In many cases, the cause cannot be determined and treatment focuses on controlling symptoms and making sure your condition does not get worse.

Viral pneumonia usually goes away on its own, but you should always follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations to treat symptoms and reduce your risk of serious complications.

Over-the-counter medicines and other home treatments can help you feel better and manage pneumonia symptoms, including:

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If you are otherwise healthy, most symptoms of bacterial pneumonia usually begin to improve within 24 to 48 hours after starting treatment. After a few days of treatment for viral pneumonia, you may start to feel better. Some symptoms, such as cough and fatigue, may last for several weeks.

If you have bacterial pneumonia, you are no longer considered contagious when your fever has gone and you have been taking antibiotics for at least two days. If you have viral pneumonia, you are still considered contagious until you feel better and have been fever-free for a few days.

The best way to prevent pneumonia is to get vaccinated against the bacteria and viruses that commonly cause pneumonia. You can also take daily preventive steps to help reduce your risk of pneumonia.

There are two types of vaccines (shots) available to prevent pneumonia caused by pneumococcal bacteria. Similar to the flu shot, these vaccines don’t protect against all types of pneumonia, but if you do get sick, it’s unlikely to be severe.

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In addition to getting vaccinated, you can reduce your risk of getting and spreading pneumonia by adopting some healthy habits:

If you are otherwise healthy, you can recover from pneumonia quickly when you get prompt care. However, if left untreated, pneumonia can be life-threatening, especially if you have underlying health problems.

Even people who have been successfully treated and fully recovered may face long-term health problems. After recovering from pneumonia, you may experience:

If you have severe pneumonia or complications, you may need to stay in the hospital for treatment. You are more likely to be hospitalized with pneumonia if you:

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If you’re hospitalized with pneumonia, it can take six to eight weeks to get back to normal.

As you begin to recover from pneumonia, your body temperature may first return to normal. Afterward, you may notice that you cough up less mucus. Feeling like you’re about to resume some normal activities is a good sign that you’re making progress.

If your symptoms are gone, mild, or improving, and there are no new symptoms or worsening, you can usually return to normal activities:

If you are generally healthy, most people feel fine and can resume their previous activities in about a week. However, it may take about a month to feel completely back to normal.

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Especially if you are sick or have an underlying health problem, call your doctor if a new or worsening condition develops:

Yes, while fever is common in pneumonia, it is also possible to have pneumonia with low or no fever. This is more likely to happen if you:

Treatment of pneumonia in children usually isn’t any different. However, young children are at higher risk for severe illness from pneumonia. They are more likely to be hospitalized than adults.

Pneumonia has a variety of causes and symptoms that can be confusing. It can be worrying to wonder if your symptoms mean something more serious is going on. High fever, bloody or abnormally colored mucus, chest pain, and shortness of breath are symptoms you should not ignore. When your body tells you something is wrong, seek immediate medical attention. Pneumonia is inflammation of lung tissue. Causes include chemicals, irritants such as allergens, and certain treatments for other conditions. Healthcare providers can treat pneumonia, but long-term inflammation can cause irreversible lung damage.

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Pneumonia causes inflammation of the alveoli in the lungs. Causes may include smoke, bacteria, animal dander, dust, or certain treatments.

Pneumonia (noo-MOHN-eye-tus) is a common inflammation of the lungs that can affect your breathing and cause other physical symptoms. This occurs when a foreign object (irritant) inflames the small air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs.

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Using a humidifier at home or soaking in a hot tub also increases the risk

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