Pneumonia Symptom, Treatment, History, Sign, vaccines, picture, Type, Cause of pneumonia in child and infant

Pneumonia is the name given to an infection deep within the lung tissue, which can be life-threatening. It may affect one or both lungs (when it is known as double pneumonia ). Pneumonia refers to acute inflammation of the lungs. It is one of the most serious infectious diseases. The condition becomes complicated if both the lungs are affected. It is called double pneumonia in common parlance. There are two varieties of pneumonia, broncho-pneumonia and lobar pneumonia. The first is the common form seen in children under two years. The second is rare among infants, but is common in older children. Lobar pneumonia is far less fatal in children than in adults. It usually pursues a short and sharp course and terminates generally within a week.

Pneumonia Symptom - sign and symptom of pneumonia

• May follow viral illness
• High fever
• Dry cough
• Pain on deep breathing
• Coughing up of rust-coloured mucus
• Cold sores around the mouth
• Rapid, shallow breathing

Cause of pneumonia

Many types of bacteria may cause pneumonia but the most common bacterium is called Streptococcus pneumoniae. The real cause of pneumonia, however, is the toxic condition of the body, especially of the lungs and air passages resulting from wrong feeding. Occasionally it is caused by a virus. This disease will often follow a flu-like illness. It particularly strikes those whose resistance is low, including the elderly, those who have had their spleen removed, young babies, people with AIDS, those with cancer (especially of the lung), those with long-term lung disease, cigarette smokers and alcoholics. The disease is caused by various types of germs such as streptococcus, staphylococcus and pneu-nococcus varieties. At times, certain viruses are also responsible for the disease. Other causes of this disease are fungal infection, irritation by worms, inhaling foreign matter, irritant dust or noxious gases and vapors such as ammonia, nitrogen dioxide or cadmium.

Type of pneumonia

• walking pneumonia
• bacterial pneumonia
• aspiration pneumonia
• viral pneumonia
• bronchial pneumonia
• community acquired pneumonia
• broncho pneumonia
• pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
• mycoplasma pneumonia
• bilateral pneumonia
• double pneumonia
• klebsiella pneumonia
• strep pneumonia
• microplasma pneumonia
• ventilator associated pneumonia
• atypical pneumonia
• chlamydia pneumonia
• pneumoccal pneumonia
• lobar pneumonia
• bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia
• necrotizing pneumonia
• pneumocystis pneumonia

Pneumonia Treatment

• Appropriate antibiotics will be prescribed, depending on the type of bacterium causing the infection. Sometimes those who are extremely ill may need an injection of antibiotics or have them administered into the bloodstream by intravenous drip.
• Physiotherapy is a very important part of the treatment, to get the sufferer to cough up the infected sputum (a mixture of saliva, mucus and/or pus). The physiotherapist will also encourage ways of coughing and deep breathing. If the disease is recognised and treated early most people will recover. However in those who are very vulnerable there is a considerable death toll.

Tests of Pneumonia

Often a person with pneumonia is so ill that hospitalization is necessary. A chest X-ray will confirm that the disease is pneumonia, as a shadow will be seen where the infection is.

Home remedies for the treatment of pneumonia.

During the early acute stage of this disease, herbal tea made from fenugreek (methi) seeds will help the body to produce perspiration, dispel toxicity and shorten the period of fever. It can be taken by the child-patient up to two cups daily, half a cup each time The quantity can be reduced as condition improves. To improve flavor, a few drops of lemon juice can be mixed in it.

Get lots of rest. For example, have someone else cook and do light work around the house. Drink plenty of fluids to help loosen secretions and bring up phlegm.

Pain in the chest can be relieved by rubbing oil of turpentine over the rib cage and wrapping warm cotton wool over it. Three or four hot fomentations can also be used for the same purpose. Inhalation of steam will be useful for relieving cough.

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