Causes
There are three main causes:
- Bacterial pneumonia—caused by bacteria, most commonly Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Viral pneumonia—caused by a virus (responsible for half of all pneumonias)
- Atypical bacterial pneumonia
—often called "walking pneumonia but can cause a more serious or potentially fatal pneumonia; caused by:
- Mycoplasmahis
- Chlamydias
- Other tiny infectious agents that have traits of both bacteria and viruses
Other causes of pneumonia include:
- Fungal infections, such as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP)—a fungal infection common in people with AIDS
Pneumonias are sometimes described by where it was acquired and how you were exposed to it:
- Community-acquired pneumonia—acquired in the community (eg, at school, work, gym)
-
Nosocomial pneumonia—acquired during a hospitalization
- Can be very dangerous, especially for patients on a ventilator
- Aspiration pneumonia —happens when a foreign matter (often stomach content) is inhaled
Aspiration
Risk Factors
Factors that increase your chance of pneumonia include:
- Age: 65 or older
- Flu or other respiratory illness
- Chronic illness, such as heart or lung disease
- Stroke (aspiration pneumonia due to difficult swallowing)
- Weakened immune system caused by AIDS or chemotherapy treatment
- Chronic bronchitis
- Malnutrition
- Pregnancy
- Infants and very young children
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Smoking
- Chronic exposure to certain chemicals (eg, work in construction or agriculture)
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