Who is at Risk for Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. Your lungs have 2 main parts: airways (also called bronchial tubes) and alveoli (also called air sacs). When you breathe, the air moves down through your airways and into your alveoli (say: "al-vee-oh-lie"). From the alveoli, oxygen goes into your blood while carbon dioxide moves out of your blood. When you have pneumonia, your alveoli get inflamed (irritated and swollen) and fill with fluid. This makes it difficult for you to breathe.

Pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria or a virus. It can also be caused by fungi or irritants that you breathe into your lungs.

You are more at risk of developing pneumonia if:

You are older than 65 years of age. As you get older, your immune system becomes less able to fight off infections like pneumonia. Babies and young children are also at increased risk because their immune systems are not yet fully developed.

You have a disease or condition that weakens your immune system. When your immune system is weakened, it’s easier for you to get pneumonia because your body can’t fight off the infection. People who have weakened immune systems are also more likely to develop pneumonia from bacteria, viruses and germs that don’t cause pneumonia in healthy people.

People who have any of the following are at increased risk:

People who have recently had an organ transplant and people who are receiving chemotherapy are also at increased risk.

You work in construction or agriculture. Working in environments where you breathe in dust, chemicals, air pollution or toxic fumes can damage your lungs and make them more vulnerable to infections like pneumonia.

You smoke or abuse alcohol. Smoking damages the tiny hairs in the lungs that help remove germs and bacteria. Alcohol abuse can put you at increased risk of aspiration pneumonia, a type of pneumonia which develops after you inhale particles into your lungs. This occurs most often when you vomit and small particles enter your lungs because you are not strong enough to cough the particles out. Alcohol abuse also interferes with the way your white blood cells (which are responsible for fighting infection) work.

You are hospitalized, especially in an intensive care unit (ICU). Pneumonia that you catch in a hospital (called hospital-acquired pneumonia) can be more serious than other types of pneumonia. Your risk increases if you are using a ventilator to help you breathe. Ventilators make it hard for you to cough and can trap germs that cause infection in your lungs.

You have recently had major surgery or a serious injury. Recovering from major surgery or a serious injury often makes you weak. It can also make it difficult for you to cough, which is the body’s quickest defense for getting particles out of the lungs. Recovery also typically requires a lot of bed rest. Lying down on your back for an extended period of time can allow fluid or mucus to gather in your lungs, giving bacteria a place to grow.

You are of Native Alaskan or Native American descent. For reasons unknown to doctors, people of these ethnic groups are at increased risk for pneumonia.

The symptoms of pneumonia can range from mild to severe, depending on your risk factors and the type of pneumonia you have. Common symptoms are similar to the symptoms caused by a cold or the flu. They include the following:

If you have any of these symptoms, or if you suddenly start getting worse after having a cold or the flu, see your family doctor.

Your doctor will diagnose pneumonia based on your medical history and the results from a physical exam. He or she may also need to do some tests, such as a chest X-ray or a blood test.

Treatment depends on the type of pneumonia you have, how severe your symptoms are, how healthy you are overall and your age.

For bacterial pneumonia, your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics. Most of your symptoms should improve within a few days, although a cough can last for several weeks. Be sure to follow your doctor's directions carefully. Take all the antibiotic medicine that your doctor prescribes. If you don't, some bacteria may stay in your body. This can cause your pneumonia to come back. It can also increase your risk of antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotics don't work to treat viral infections. If you have viral pneumonia, your doctor will likely talk to you about ways to treat your symptoms. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are available to lower fever, relieve pain and ease your cough. However, some coughing is okay because it can help clear your lungs. Be sure to talk to your doctor before you take a cough suppressant.

When you have any type of pneumonia, it's important to get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids.