Why Someone Can Experience Pneumonia

Bumisuka.com – Why Someone Can Experience Pneumonia. Pneumonia includes diseases that occur in the lungs. Pneumonia can infect adults, children, and toddlers. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that pneumonia causes 14 percent of total deaths in toddlers in 2019.

If not diagnosed immediately, pneumonia has the risk of causing a more severe condition. So, why does someone get pneumonia?

1. Get to know pneumonia

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs caused by a bacterial, viral or fungal infection. The symptoms can vary, from mild to serious, depending on age, health condition, and the cause of pneumonia.

The most serious conditions affect infants, children, the elderly over 65 years of age, and those with health problems or weakened immune systems.

According to WebMD, pneumonia can cause air sacs in the lungs to fill with pus or fluid. As a result, sufferers have difficulty breathing due to reduced oxygen in the bloodstream.

2. Causes of pneumonia

Reported by the Mayo Clinic, many types of germs can cause pneumonia. The most common causes of pneumonia are airborne bacteria and viruses. Normally, the body is able to prevent germs from infecting the lungs.

The American Lung Association explains that the bacteria that most often causes pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Meanwhile, viruses that often cause pneumonia in adults are SARS-CoV-2 or viruses that cause COVID-19 to influenza viruses.

Fungi can also cause pneumonia. It’s more common in people with chronic illnesses or have weakened immune systems.

3. Why does someone get pneumonia?

Reported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the body will filter germs from the air that is inhaled. However, germs such as bacteria, viruses or fungi can enter the lungs, causing infection.

When germs enter the lungs, the immune system will fight these germs. Immune cells that fight germs can cause inflammation in the air sacs or alveoli. The presence of inflammation makes the air sacs filled with pus and fluid, causing symptoms of pneumonia.

4. Pneumonia can be treated

Most pneumonia can be treated well. The American Lung Association explains, treatment of pneumonia depends on the cause and other factors. The goal of treatment is to cure the infection and prevent complications. Therefore, it is important to follow the treatment advice given until fully recovered.

Adding to the explanation from WHO, hospitalization is recommended only in cases of severe pneumonia. Adequate rest and meeting fluid needs can help speed up the healing process.

5. Complications of pneumonia

Some people who are at high risk can experience several complications, including:

• Difficulty breathing: If you have severe pneumonia, you may have difficulty breathing, so you need treatment at the hospital.
• Bacteremia: Bacteria in the lungs enter the bloodstream so they can spread to other organs.
• Fluid buildup around the lungs: Pneumonia can cause fluid buildup in the tissues around the lungs.
• Lung abscess: When a pus-filled pocket forms in or around the lung.

Under certain conditions, germs that should be filtered by the body can enter the lungs, causing infection. When germs enter the lungs, the immune system will fight these germs, causing inflammation. The inflammation makes the air sacs fill with fluid, causing symptoms of pneumonia.