PNEUMONIA

Refers to lung inflammation Pneumonia refers to pneumonitis, usually due to infection but sometimes non infectious, that has the additional feature of pulmonary consolidation. Classification

It is most commonly classified by where or how it was acquired (community-acquired, aspiration, healthcare-associated, hospitalacquired, and ventilator-associated pneumonia), Area of lung affected (lobar pneumonia, bronchial pneumonia and acute interstitial pneumonia),or By the causative organism. Pneumonia in children may additionally be classified based on signs and symptoms as non-severe, severe, or very severe.

Signs and symptoms

Main symptoms of infectious pneumonia cough, fever shaking chills shortness of breath sharp or stabbing chest pain during deep breaths, confusion, In the elderly, confusion may be the most prominent symptom. increased respiratory rate. The typical symptoms in children under five are fever, cough, and fast or difficult breathing. Fever, however, is not

PNEUMONIA
very specific, as it occurs in many other common illnesses, and may be absent in those with severe disease or malnutrition. In addition, a cough is frequently absent in children less than 2 months old.[11] More severe symptoms may include: central cyanosis, decreased thirst, convulsions, persistent vomiting, or a decreased level of consciousness.[11]
Some causes of pneumonia are associated with classic, but non-specific, clinical characteristics. Pneumonia caused by Legionella may occur with abdominal pain,diarrhea, or [13] confusion, while pneumonia caused by Streptococcus [14] pneumoniae is associated with rusty colored sputum, and pneumonia caused by Klebsiellamay have bloody sputum [12] often described as "currant jelly". Symptoms frequency in pneumonia Symptom Cough Fatigue Fever
[12]

Frequency 7991% 90% 7175%

Shortness of breath 6775% Physical examination may sometimes reveal low blood Sputum 6065% pressure, a high heart rate, or a low oxygen saturation. Examination of the chest may be normal, but may show Chest pain 3949% decreased chest expansion on the affected side. Harsh breath sounds from the larger airways that are transmitted through the inflamed lung are termedbronchial breathing, and are heard on auscultation with a stethoscope. Rales (or crackles) may be heard over the affected area during inspiration. Percussion may be dulled over the affected lung, and increased, rather than [10] decreased, vocal resonance distinguishes pneumonia from a pleural effusion. Struggling to breathe, confusion, and blue-tinged skin are signs of a medical emergency.

Cause
Pneumonia is due primarily to infections, with less common causes including irritants and the unknown. Although more than one hundred strains of microorganisms can cause pneumonia, only a few are responsible for most cases. The most common types of infectious are viruses and bacteria, with its being less commonly due to fungi or parasites. Mixed infections with both viruses and [15] bacterial may occur in up to 45% of infections in children and 15% of infections in adults. A [16] causative agent is not isolated in approximately half of cases despite careful testing. The term pneumonia is sometimes more broadly applied to inflammation of the lung (for example caused by autoimmune disease, chemical burns or drug reactions), however this is more accurately referred [17][18] to as pneumonitis.