Pneumonia is an acute or chronic disease of the lung marked by inflammation of one or both lungs. It may be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi or other microorganisms and sometimes by physical and chemical irritants. The Viral, Bacterial and Mycoplasmal Pneumonia are contagious and are usually found in fluid from the mouth or nose of an infected person.

The most common types of Pneumonia are bacterial Pneumonia,viral Pneumonia,mycoplasma Pneumonia (walking pneumonia.) and aspiration Pneumonia.

The bacteria that cause bacterial pneumonia are streptococcus pneumonia,hemophilus influenza,legionella pneumophilia and staphylococcus aureus.common causes of Viral pneumonia
are influenza (flu), adenovirus, coxsackievirus, chickenpox, measles, cytomegalovirus and respiratory syncytial virus. Mycoplasmal pneumonia ("walking pneumonia")is caused by the mycoplasma pneumoniae organism and Aspiration Pneumonia due to the inhalation of food, drinks or other foreign matter into the lungs.

Symptoms of Pneumonia
* In Bacterial pneumonia,shaking, chills, chattering teeth, severe chest pain, cough that produces rust-colored or greenish mucus, very high fever, sweating, rapid breathing and rapid pulse rate.
* In Viral pneumonia,fever, a dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. Within 12 to 36 hours, there is increasing breathlessness; the cough becomes worse and produces a small amount of mucus. There is a high fever and there may be blueness of the lips.
* In Mycoplasma pneumonia,violent coughing attacks,chills,fever,nausea, vomiting, slow heartbeat, breathlessness, bluish color to lips and nailbeds, diarrhea, rash, muscle aches, abdominal pain and headaches.
* In Aspiration pneumonia, fever, cough, fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, cyanosis of the skin, rapid heart Rate and wheezing.Other symptoms such as excessive sweating,difficulty swallowing, and foul-smelling breath may occur.

Treatment of Pneumonia
* Bacterial pneumonia (caused by the streptococcus pneumonia bacteria) is often treated with penicillin, ampicillin-clavulanate and erythromycin. Bacterial pneumonia (caused by the hemophilus influenza bacteria) is treated with antibiotics, such as cefuroxime, ampicillin-clavulanate, ofloxacin, and trimethoprim-sulfanethoxazole. Bacterial pneumonia (caused by legionella pneumophilia and staphylococcus aureus bacteria) are treated with antibiotics, such as erythromycin.
* Viral pneumonia does not respond to antibiotic treatment. Amantadine and acyclovir are two exceptions. They are sometimes helpful in treating some forms of viral pneumonia.If the lungs become infected with a secondary bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe an appropriate antibiotic to eliminate the bacterial infection.
* Mycoplasma pneumonia is often treated with antibiotics, such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, tetracycline or azithromycin.
* Aspiration pneumonia should be treated with Antibiotic, such as Ceftriaxone plus azithromycin, levofloxacin, or moxifloxacin. Piperacillin/tazobactam or imipenem/cilastatin plus vancomycin are helpful in some cases.

Supportive measures include humidified oxygen therapy,mechanical ventilation,a high-calorie diet and adequate fluid intake, bed rest, and an analgesic to relieve pleuritic chest pain.

How can parents protect their children?
* Get your child an influenza shot each fall.
* Get your child a pneumonococcal vaccine.
* The flu vaccine is strongly recommended for children with chronic illnesses.
* Prophylactic (disease-preventing) antibiotics.
* Proper diet,regular exercise and plenty of sleep.

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