Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. Many kinds of germ can cause it — bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
- Bacteria and viruses are the common causes; fungi and parasites are less common.
- The germs that usually cause pneumonia in the community differ from those in healthcare settings.
- Clinicians cannot always tell which germ caused a case.
- Talk to a healthcare provider if you are worried about pneumonia.
Types, by where it is caught
| Type | When someone develops pneumonia |
|---|---|
| Community-acquired | in the community, not in a hospital |
| Healthcare-acquired | during or after a stay in a healthcare setting |
| Ventilator-associated | after being on a ventilator, a machine that supports breathing |
Symptoms
- chest pain when breathing or coughing;
- confusion (altered mental status);
- cough;
- fatigue;
- fever or chills;
- nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea;
- shortness of breath.
Who is at risk
Some people are more likely to get pneumonia because of their age, other health conditions, or certain behaviours.
The germs behind it
| Common causes | Less common causes | |
|---|---|---|
| Bacteria (community-acquired) | Mycoplasma pneumoniae; pneumococcal disease | Chlamydia pneumoniae; Haemophilus influenzae; Legionella (Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever); pertussis (whooping cough); psittacosis |
| Viruses | COVID-19; human metapneumovirus (HMPV); human parainfluenza virus (HPIV); influenza; respiratory syncytial virus (RSV); rhinovirus | adenovirus; chickenpox; measles |
| Fungi | — | generally a less common cause |
Sometimes the cause is never found.
Prevention
Pneumonia affects millions of people worldwide every year. Vaccination and other healthy habits lower the risk.
World Pneumonia Day is November 12.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "About Pneumonia." https://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/about/index.html
- Rewritten in hubnx's own words.
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Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from www.cdc.gov
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