Community Acquired Pneumonia
Community Acquired Pneumonia
Community acquired pneumonia or CAP is the most common infectious disease that may lead to mortality if not controlled on time. It is most commonly observed in the people of all age groups. Community acquired pneumonia will cause the problems like difficulty in breathing, chest pains, fever and cough. The alveolar sacs in the lungs that are responsible for air exchange in lungs absorb oxygen and get filled with fluid and cannot work properly. This condition is called as community acquired pneumonia. The article discusses the pneumonia symptoms, causes of CAP and treatments for it.
Community Acquired Pneumonia Symptoms:
The community acquired pneumonia results after the occurrence of cold, flu or any such condition that will allow bacteria to enter the airway. The symptoms of CAP are similar to those of common cold and flu. This is why it is sometimes difficult to identify it in the initial stages of occurrence. If this type of pneumonia is not treated on time, it could be fatal. Some important symptoms observed during CAP are listed below:
Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a serious disease that causes inflammation of lungs. The infection will affect the air sacs present in the lungs and fill them with the pus making it difficult for oxygen exchange in the lungs. It has to be treated promptly with antibiotics. If it is not treated, it will spread in the whole body and attack the immune system and weaken it.
CAP generally occurs in children or older people. CAP is mainly caused by the streptococcus bacteria. There are also some other organisms like Legionella, mycoplasma, haemophilus influenza, etc. that may cause CAP.
The older patients show non-specific symptoms of this type of pneumonia. These symptoms include diarrhea, headache, malaise, and decrease of appetite. This type of pneumonia is diagnosed with the help o chest X-ray.
The community acquired pneumonia is acquired outside hospital. It is the infection of parenchyma of lungs. After the initial flu like signs are observed in patient, it may take few weeks to develop acute pneumonia.
The community acquired pneumonia refers to the pneumonia that is caused in the people who are not hospitalized recently. The common causes of pneumonia are:
The community acquired pneumonia is the leading death cause all over the world. It can be treated with medicines. There are numerous vaccines available for prevention of pneumonia.
Risk Factors that may Cause CAP:
If you are suffering from following conditions, you are likely to get CAP.
You are most likely prone to community acquired pneumonia if you experience any of the conditions. Community acquired pneumonia is often mistaken for common cold and flu and not treated. If left untreated, it may lead to death of the patient. Hence, it is important to make necessary tests even for the single symptom of CAP.
Community acquired pneumonia or CAP is the most common infectious disease that may lead to mortality if not controlled on time. It is most commonly observed in the people of all age groups. Community acquired pneumonia will cause the problems like difficulty in breathing, chest pains, fever and cough. The alveolar sacs in the lungs that are responsible for air exchange in lungs absorb oxygen and get filled with fluid and cannot work properly. This condition is called as community acquired pneumonia. The article discusses the pneumonia symptoms, causes of CAP and treatments for it.
Community Acquired Pneumonia Symptoms:
The community acquired pneumonia results after the occurrence of cold, flu or any such condition that will allow bacteria to enter the airway. The symptoms of CAP are similar to those of common cold and flu. This is why it is sometimes difficult to identify it in the initial stages of occurrence. If this type of pneumonia is not treated on time, it could be fatal. Some important symptoms observed during CAP are listed below:
- Sweating during night
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain followed by deep breathing and coughing
- Fever
- Cough that expels sputum
- Shaking and sudden chills
- Excessive fatigue
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a serious disease that causes inflammation of lungs. The infection will affect the air sacs present in the lungs and fill them with the pus making it difficult for oxygen exchange in the lungs. It has to be treated promptly with antibiotics. If it is not treated, it will spread in the whole body and attack the immune system and weaken it.
CAP generally occurs in children or older people. CAP is mainly caused by the streptococcus bacteria. There are also some other organisms like Legionella, mycoplasma, haemophilus influenza, etc. that may cause CAP.
The older patients show non-specific symptoms of this type of pneumonia. These symptoms include diarrhea, headache, malaise, and decrease of appetite. This type of pneumonia is diagnosed with the help o chest X-ray.
The community acquired pneumonia is acquired outside hospital. It is the infection of parenchyma of lungs. After the initial flu like signs are observed in patient, it may take few weeks to develop acute pneumonia.
The community acquired pneumonia refers to the pneumonia that is caused in the people who are not hospitalized recently. The common causes of pneumonia are:
- Fungi
- Parasites
- Bacteria
- Viruses
The community acquired pneumonia is the leading death cause all over the world. It can be treated with medicines. There are numerous vaccines available for prevention of pneumonia.
Risk Factors that may Cause CAP:
If you are suffering from following conditions, you are likely to get CAP.
- Suffered trauma or surgery recently
- Problems in immune system
- Lived in the nursing facility for long time recently
- Weakened consciousness
- Suffering from liver cirrhosis, diabetes or heart disease
- Suffering from chronic lung diseases like bronchitis or fibrosis
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Cerebral palsy
- Cigarette smoking
- Infection in the respiratory tract
You are most likely prone to community acquired pneumonia if you experience any of the conditions. Community acquired pneumonia is often mistaken for common cold and flu and not treated. If left untreated, it may lead to death of the patient. Hence, it is important to make necessary tests even for the single symptom of CAP.
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