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Pneumonia is a common respiratory infection, [2] affecting approximately 450 million people a year and occurring in all parts of the world. [3] It is a major cause of death among all age groups, resulting in 1.4 million deaths in 2010 (7% of the world's yearly total) and 3.0 million deaths in 2016 (the 4th leading cause of death in the world).
The disease may be classified by where it was acquired, such as community- or hospital-acquired or healthcare-associated pneumonia. [18] Risk factors for pneumonia include cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sickle cell disease, asthma, diabetes, heart failure, a history of smoking, a poor ability to cough (such as ...
Health professionals consider a person's risk factors for various organisms when choosing an initial antibiotic. Additional consideration is given to the treatment setting; most patients are cured by oral medication, while others must be hospitalized for intravenous therapy or intensive care .
There is an association between pneumococcal pneumonia and influenza. [6] Damage to the lining of the airways (respiratory epithelium) and upper respiratory system caused by influenza may facilitate pneumococcal entry and infection. Other risk factors include smoking, injection drug use, hepatitis C, and COPD. [5]
Both doctors say that the people most at risk for pneumonia include those over the age of 65, those with weakened immune systems, and those with other medical conditions, including lung disease ...
Up to 5% of patients admitted to a hospital for other causes subsequently develop pneumonia. Hospitalized patients may have many risk factors for pneumonia, including mechanical ventilation, prolonged malnutrition, underlying heart and lung diseases, decreased amounts of stomach acid, and immune disturbances. Additionally, the microorganisms a ...
Patient history is obtained, including the symptoms and their duration, as well as exposure to any risk factors of the disease. A chest X-ray may be performed to check for signs of inflammation [5] and a complete blood count will also be obtained. A sputum sample will also be obtained to ascertain the causative bacteria. This also plays a role ...
Walking pneumonia, a lung infection caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae, tends to be most common among older children and adolescents but in 2024 has been rampant among young children.