Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment of Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infectious disease caused by bacteria or fungi that causes inflammation of the alveoli found inside the lungs. The alveoli fill up with puss, causing difficulty in breathing, and it’s generally detected through an x-ray scan of the chest cavity. Some variants of pneumonia are known to infect patients in hospitals, especially those in the intensive care unit; an example is a ventilator-associated pneumonia. More than 1 million people in the USA have been diagnosed with pneumonia, and approximately 20% of those infected die from it, with the highest mortality rate coming from the senior population. With such a huge number of infections in the US alone, it is crucial to stay informed about the causes, symptoms, and immediate care for pneumonia. Causes of Pneumonia Pneumonia can be caused by fungal, bacterial, or viral infections spread through the air. Since pneumonia is contagious, an infected person ca n spread it to a healthy person through a cough or sneeze conta