Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus (purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. A variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, can cause pneumonia.

Pneumonia is an acute infection of the lungs that produces coughing, fever, chills, muscle aches, and difficulty breathing in those who suffer from it.

History of Pnuemonia

The Discovery of the bacteria occurred in 1881 when French microbiologist, Louis Pasteur, and American microbiologist, George Sternberg, each independently identified lancet-shaped bacteria in saliva.

Each researcher injected the saliva into rabbits and was later able to isolate elongated diplococci bacteria, that is, oval-shaped bacteria occurring in pairs.  Later studies determined the pathogenic potential of the bacteria, identifying it as the causative agent in pneumonia infection in humans.In the late 1800s, Christian Gram used S. pneumonia to establish his cell wall staining technique, which is now known as Gram staining and identified the bacterium as gram-positive. Additional studies performed in the early 1900s revealed how the bacteria’s physical structure determined its interaction with the immune system. The cell wall of Streptococcus pneumonia is encapsulated, meaning that it is surrounded by a thick layer of polysaccharides. This protective layer is associated with increased pathogenicity and limits the way in which the immune system can fight off the bacteria. Encapsulated bacteria can only be destroyed by the immune system via B cell production of antibodies, and studies by Heidelberger and Avery in 1923 were instrumental in furthering our understanding of antibody immunity and serotypes.

Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs. The lungs are made up of small sacs called alveoli, which fill with air when a healthy person breathes. When an individual has pneumonia, the alveoli are filled with pus and fluid, which makes breathing painful and limits oxygen intake.

Based on the excellent study conducted by the renowned "WHO",

Pneumonia accounts for 14% of all deaths of children under 5 years old, killing 740 180 children in 2019. Pneumonia is the single largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide. Pneumonia killed 740 180 children under the age of 5 in 2019, accounting for 14% of all deaths of children under five years old but 22% of all deaths in children aged 1 to 5. Pneumonia affects children and families everywhere, but deaths are highest in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Children can be protected from pneumonia, it can be prevented with simple interventions, and treated with low-cost, low-tech medication and care.

Pneumonia is caused by a number of infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria and fungi. The most common are:

• Streptococcus pneumoniae –  the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in children;
  
  
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) – the second most common cause of bacterial pneumonia;
  
  
• respiratory syncytial virus is the most common viral cause of pneumonia;
  
  
• in infants infected with HIV, Pneumocystis jiroveci is one of the most common causes of pneumonia, responsible for at least one quarter of all pneumonia deaths in HIV-infected infants.

 

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of pneumonia vary from mild to severe, depending on factors such as the type of germ causing the infection, and your age and overall health. Mild signs and symptoms often are similar to those of a cold or flu, but they last longer.

Signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include:

·        Chest pain when you breathe or cough

·        Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older)

·        Cough, which may produce phlegm

·        Fatigue

·        Fever, sweating and shaking chills

·        Lower than normal body temperature (in adults older than age 65 and people with weak immune systems)

·        Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

·        Shortness of breath

 

 

 

RISK FACTORDS OF THE PNUEMONIA

 Since the pneumonia is very common and very easy to affect to any person. Why the pneumonia is very risky because:

·        Pneumonia is an infection of one or both of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It is a serious infection in which the air sacs fill with pus and other liquid.

By American Lung Association research

we can reduce the risk of the pneumonia by some following few steps:

•        Wash your hands
  washing hands helps to remove the bacteria and cough particles from your hands.
• ·        Avoid  smoking
  smoking is the major reason for the of causing this disease, as per the studies by the world organization the chemical used tobacco is the real danger, smoking can cause severe problem for the smoker and also to the person who smells the smoke.

Am taking the famous words said by the famous person called “ Denis Waitley

 Time and health are two precious assets that we don’t recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.”  

DON’T WASTE THE HEALTH AND TIME AS IT IS PRECIOUS, ONCE WE LOST IT, IT WILL NEVER GET IT BACK, IT’S AN ONE-TIME GEM.