| Pneumonia refers to lung inflammation. | | | | There are basically three forms of |
| There are 50 such lung inflammatory | | | | pneumonia. They are atypical pneumonia |
| ailments. During such situations, the | | | | caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a mono |
| lungs inevitably experience build up of | | | | cell organism lacking nucleus; the |
| fluids. Several micro-organisms cause | | | | pneumonia caused by the harmless |
| pneumonia. Pneumonic inflammation of the | | | | protozoan Pneumocystis carinii; and |
| lungs occurs due to collection of | | | | Chlamydia pneumoniae. Atypical |
| cellular wastes and blood cells within | | | | pneumonia: This is a common type of |
| the air sacs within the lungs. Such | | | | pneumonia. Outbreaks of such forms of |
| pneumonic inflammation creates breathing | | | | pneumonia are generally witnessed among |
| problems. | | | | students in educational institutions and |
| KNOWING PNEUMONIA | | | | also among soldiers. Normally, atypical |
| Pneumonia refers to lung inflammation. | | | | pneumonia resolves by itself. However, |
| There are 50 such lung inflammatory | | | | antibiotics can also bring about relief. |
| ailments. During such situations, the | | | | It is caused by a minute prokaryotic |
| lungs inevitably experience build up of | | | | organism known as Mycoplasma pneumoniae. |
| fluids. Several micro-organisms cause | | | | This single-celled micro organism is |
| pneumonia. Pneumonic inflammation of the | | | | neither a virus nor a bacterium. |
| lungs occurs due to collection of | | | | Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia: This |
| cellular wastes and blood cells within | | | | form of pneumonia is caused by the |
| the air sacs within the lungs. Such | | | | protozoan Pneumocystis carinii. This |
| pneumonic inflammation creates breathing | | | | micro organism is usually harmless. Such |
| problems. | | | | pneumonic incidences are common among |
| PNEUMONIA CAUSES | | | | people suffering from impaired immune |
| Pneumonia is caused by infections. The | | | | syndromes or also among many leukemia |
| culprits responsible for causing such | | | | patients. This form of pneumonia has |
| pneumonic infections are protozoa or | | | | been the primary cause of deaths among |
| fungi, mycoplasma, rickettsia, and | | | | people suffering from AIDS (Acquired |
| bacteria. Respiratory infections caused | | | | Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). |
| by rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, and | | | | Chlamydia pneumoniae: Chlamydia |
| influenza virus can also lead to | | | | pneumoniae is a contagious ailment |
| pneumonia. Most of the viral pneumonia | | | | caused by the Chlamydia set of bacteria. |
| cases are mild. They also resolve within | | | | Chlamydia pneumoniae affects the upper |
| a week's time with or without any | | | | respiratory tract. Chlamydia pneumoniae |
| particular treatment. | | | | infections can also strike the |
| HOW DANGEROUS CAN PNEUMONIA BE | | | | bronchitis, pneumonitis, and the |
| Every year, 90,000 deaths are reported | | | | pharyngitis. Chlamydia pneumoniae can |
| to be because of pneumonia in the United | | | | also lead to heart attacks and coronary |
| States. What is more, approximately five | | | | heart diseases. Besides Chlamydia |
| million pneumonia cases are registered | | | | pneumoniae, the other two species of |
| in that country. | | | | Chlamydia bacteria are Chlamydia |
| PNEUMONIA CAN BE LIFE THREATENING | | | | psittaci and Chlamydia trachomatis. |
| If detected early, a person with a good | | | | THE SECOND MAIN CAUSE OF DEATH IN USA |
| constitution and proper treatment can | | | | Chlamydia pneumoniae has been identified |
| recover quickly from an influenza bout. | | | | as the second main cause of pneumonia in |
| However, acute pneumonia attacks can be | | | | US. Anybody between the ages of five to |
| life threatening as well. More often | | | | 35 can be affected by Chlamydia |
| than not, pneumonia can prove to be | | | | pneumoniae. The Chlamydia pneumoniae |
| fatal to patients having weak immune | | | | bouts are usually mild in nature. The |
| systems. Even healthy persons can have | | | | Chlamydia pneumoniae symptoms are fever |
| complicacies if pneumonia is not | | | | and cough. At times, there can be more |
| detected early. There can be serious | | | | sputum production. Sputum is a mixture |
| consequences if pneumonia patients fail | | | | of various mucus and saliva. It arises |
| to get effective and prompt treatment. | | | | from the respiratory tracts. |
| LOBAR PNEUMONIA | | | | CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIAE SYMPTOMS |
| Lobar pneumonia is an acute form of | | | | The Chlamydia pneumoniae symptoms may |
| infection. It is caused by the | | | | not be very visible initially. Or, at |
| Pneumococcus bacterium. The generic name | | | | times, the Chlamydia pneumoniae signs |
| of this bacterium is Streptococcus | | | | may also point to the other forms of |
| pneumoniae. Lobar pneumonia usually | | | | Chlamydia dysfunctions. One type is the |
| follows an extreme form of viral | | | | chlamydia type of illnesses caused by |
| respiratory infection, particularly of | | | | various strains of the trachomatis |
| the upper respiratory tract. The | | | | species. Another severe type of |
| symptoms of lobar pneumonia are chest | | | | chlamydia disease is caused by a strain |
| pain during breathing, or cough and | | | | of the fly-borne Chlamydia trachomatis. |
| fever accompanied by chill and shaking. | | | | DIAGNOSING CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIAE |
| The patient's body temperature hovers | | | | To diagnose Chlamydia pneumoniae |
| around 104° F (roughly 40° C). The | | | | infections, patients generally have to |
| sputum is blood streaked. Notably, most | | | | undergo various tests. These include |
| of the deaths before the invention of | | | | cell cultures that exclude other |
| antibiotics were due to lobar pneumonia. | | | | illnesses with similar symptoms. The |
| Lobar pneumonia generally attacks a lung | | | | other ailments having similar symptoms |
| lobe or a portion of it. At times, lobar | | | | are candidiasis, trichomoniasis, herpes, |
| pneumonia strikes both the lungs; then | | | | and gonorrhea. The modern method of |
| it is known as double pneumonia. | | | | diagnosing Chlamydia infections are |
| DIFFERENT TYPES OF BACTERIAL PNEUMONIAS | | | | immunoassays blood tests. These |
| Besides the Streptococcus pneumoniae, | | | | examinations pinpoint the specific |
| the other bacterial pneumonias fall in | | | | antibody that may have been constituted |
| the bronchopneumonias category. | | | | by the patient's immune system against |
| Bronchopneumonias fever is lower | | | | chlamydia infection. In 1939, major |
| compared to the one experienced in | | | | advances were made in pneumonia therapy. |
| Streptococcus pneumoniae. Moreover, | | | | Their wider application lowered |
| bronchopneumonias symptoms appear slower | | | | pneumonia from the third to the fifth |
| than the Streptococcus pneumoniae signs. | | | | leading cause of death in the USA. |
| The bronchopneumonias primarily target | | | | TREATING PNEUMONIA |
| the bronchial tubes known as the | | | | More often than not, antibiotics |
| bronchioles. Since these small tubes are | | | | effectively deal with the majority forms |
| located nearest the lungs, they may | | | | of bacterial pneumonia. For patients |
| become rather dangerous. The bacteria | | | | above 50 years, and for those suffering |
| that can cause bronchopneumonias are | | | | from the most acute types of |
| streptococci, different types of | | | | pneumococcus, physicians generally |
| staphylococci, Haemophilus influenzae, | | | | recommend a vaccine. It also grants the |
| Klebsiella pneumoniae, and pneumococcus | | | | people immunity against these virulent |
| besides the bacterium causing the | | | | pneumonia states. The vaccine is further |
| Legionnaires' disease, namely Legionella | | | | given as an immunity measure to patients |
| pneumophilia. | | | | who have chronic liver, lung or heart |
| PNEUMONIA FORMS | | | | ailments. |