Pneumonia

• Pneumonia is usually triggered by a cold or a bout of flu
• Young children are most prone to pneumonia
• The elderly with chronic illnesses, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes and congestive heart failure are also susceptible
• People who have a weakened immune system due to AIDS or cancer are also at high risk of developing pneumonia
• Various microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites can cause pneumonia

Viral pneumonia often affects people living in areas where there are epidemics of respiratory viral infections, such as SARS and flu.

Symptoms associated with pneumonia differ considerably depending on the cause and the health condition of the patient. These may include:

• Blue tinge to skin, lips, tongue and fingertips due to lack of oxygen
• Breathing difficulty and wheezing
• Chest pain when breathing and coughing
• Coughing
• Fever and chills
• Green or yellowish sputum

Treatment of pneumonia depends on the agent that triggered the infection. Your doctor will evaluate your condition and suggest the treatments that suit you best. These may include:

• Antibiotics to treat bacterial pneumonia
• Antiviral medication to treat viral pneumonia
• Hospitalisation may be required for severe cases of pneumonia to receive intravenous antibiotics and oxygen supply
• Medication to alleviate pneumonia symptoms, such as cough, fever, chest pains and muscle aches (given together with aforesaid antibiotics and antiviral medication)
• Plenty of bed rest, a healthy diet and lots of fluid may be enough to treat mild viral pneumonia

• Acute respiratory distress syndrome if pneumonia affects both lungs, leading to gas exchange failure
• Bacteraemia (due to bacteria entering the blood)
• Emphysema (infection of the lung airways)
• Lung abscess (pus build-up)
• Pleural effusion (fluid accumulation between chest wall and the lung)
• Septic shock can trigger circulation failure and lead to kidney failure and blood clotting abnormalities