World Pneumonia Day is observed annually on November 12 to raise awareness about this potentially serious lung infection and the importance of prevention and treatment. Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of your lungs that causes inflammation and fluid build-up. It is a common cause of hospital admissions in the United States, with around 1.4 million people visiting the emergency department and 41,000 people dying from the disease each year. To help you better understand the disease, we gathered the top nine things doctors say you need to know about pneumonia.
1. There are three types of pneumonia.
- Community-acquired pneumonia is when someone is infected in a community setting. Most of this blog will explore this type as it is the most common.
- Healthcare-acquired pneumonia is when someone develops pneumonia during or after a stay in a healthcare setting like a hospital.
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia is when someone gets pneumonia after being on a ventilator, a machine to support breathing.
2. Pneumonia can be caused by a wide variety of bacteria, viruses and fungi.
The most common causes of bacterial pneumonia are pneumococcal disease and mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. A wide range of viral infections can lead to pneumonia, but the most common are COVID-19, flu, RSV and human metapneumovirus. Fungal pneumonia is most common in people with weakened immune systems.
3. Pneumococcal pneumonia is the most common type of bacterial pneumonia
Pneumococcal pneumonia is caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, that normally lives in the upper respiratory tract. It can occur on its own or develop after you have had a virus like RSV or the flu. Pneumococcal pneumonia is contagious and can be spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Pneumococcal pneumonia infects over 900,000 individuals in the U.S. every year and causes an estimated 150,000 hospitalizations.
4. Pneumonia can affect anyone at any age, but certain people are at increased risk.
Specific risk factors increase a person’s chances of severe symptoms from pneumonia including:
- Adults 50 and older. Risk increases as we age because the body’s immune system naturally weakens with age.
- Children younger than 5. The younger the child, the higher the risk. Their immune systems aren’t fully developed, and they may not have developed immunity due to prior infection.
- People with chronic (long-term) medical conditions like chronic lung, heart or liver disease and diabetes.
- People with weakened immune systems.
- People who smoke cigarettes.
5. Pneumonia symptoms vary depending on severity.
Most people who contract pneumonia may experience a cough, feeling tired, fever or chills, chest pain when coughing or breathing and shortness of breath. However, if the infection is more severe the individual may also experience nausea and vomiting, confusion, or a fever. If you begin to experience these symptoms or are in a high-risk group, you should seek medical attention right away.
6. You can get pneumonia anytime of the year
Often more cases are seen in the fall and winter because this is a common time for the spread of germs that cause infectious respiratory diseases.
7. Most bacterial pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics
This includes pneumococcal disease or mycoplasma pneumoniae. It is important to follow the advice of a healthcare provider when taking antibiotics, like taking the entire course of medication even if you start feeling better before you finish the medicine. If you don’t follow the prescribed course of medication, you run the risk of the infection coming back which can increase the chances of that germ becoming resistant to treatment in the future. Appropriate treatment is an important tool to help prevent pneumonia deaths. When prescribing treatment your healthcare provider will look at your age, health history, type of infection, past interactions with antibiotics and what antibiotics work against the bacteria you have to determine the best option(s) for you.
8. Viral pneumonia cannot be treated with antibiotics.
Viral pneumonia often goes away on its own. Most people can manage their symptoms at home by following simple steps and advice from their healthcare provider. Typically drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, getting a lot of rest and taking over the counter medication will help you on your way to feeling better. If you have COVID-19 or flu, your healthcare provider may prescribe an antiviral to reduce your symptoms, length of symptoms and likelihood of complications.
9. Vaccinations can help prevent severe pneumonia
For people who are at high risk for pneumococcal pneumonia, vaccination is recommended. This includes young children, older adults and those with certain chronic medical conditions or risk factors. If you are not at high-risk, being up to date on other recommended vaccines like Tdap or DTaP, RSV and more can also help lower individual risk for pneumonia. Talk to your healthcare provider to be sure you are up to date on vaccinations you are eligible for.
Learn more about pneumonia at Lung.org/pneumonia.
Developed by the American Lung Association with an educational grant from Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Blog last updated: November 12, 2024
