Pneumonia is an infectious disease that directly attacks the lungs. Those most at risk are people with a fairly weak immune system, such as young children and the elderly....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
The development of pneumonia can lead to various health problems in the affected person, so it is important to diagnose it as early as possible.
If you would like to know its causes and symptoms, this article will satisfy all your curiosities. Don’t miss it!
What exactly is pneumonia?
The lungs perform one of the most important tasks in the human body, breathing, by distributing oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide from inside the body.
Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs, which fill with fluid and pus, making it particularly difficult to breathe and endangering the lives of those affected.
The causes of this danger are attributed to:
Decrease in oxygen;
Accumulation of carbon dioxide in the body.
What are the causes of pneumonia?
Chronic cough among symptoms of pneumonia
Pneumonia is usually caused by microbes, bacteria, viruses and fungi that can be contracted in various ways, such as:
Bacteria and viruses that, after accumulating in the nose, mouth or sinuses, travel to the lungs;
Inhalation of microbes;
Inhalation of food, liquids or chemicals;
Pneumococcal infections;
Complications of influenza;
Infections caused by fungi.
What are the symptoms of pneumonia?
According to reports from experts at Healthline – The symptoms of pneumonia can vary in people depending on the case and the level of infection. The most common include:
1. Cold chills
People with pneumonia usually experience cold chills several times a day, and these can last from thirty to sixty minutes.
2. Fever and cough
These are frequent symptoms in people suffering from pneumonia. There is a constant fever of up to 40 degrees, general malaise and coughing.
The cough may be accompanied by phlegm and mucus that is reddish-brown or greenish-yellow in colour and, in some cases, also streaked with blood.
In turn, the fever and cough may be preceded by a throat infection.
3. Difficulty in breathing
This is due to the little oxygen the body receives when suffering from a disease such as pneumonia.
The difficulty in breathing is most noticeable when carrying out certain activities that require more effort, such as:
Climbing stairs;
Walking fast;
Lifting weights;
Breathing difficulties also include shortness of breath.
4. Pain on inhalation
Usually, people who suffer from pneumonia may experience pain when breathing in. This is caused by inflammation of the pleura, known as pleurisy.
5. Tingling and change of skin colour in the extremities of the body
Lack of oxygen can cause cold, inflammation and tingling in certain parts of the body, such as:
Lips;
Tongue;
Extremities of the body;
Fingers;
Nose.
In addition, there may be a change in the colour of the skin, which may become cyanotic.
6. Joint pain
People suffering from pneumonia may experience constant joint pain due to the low oxygen circulation in the body.
7. Confusion
In some cases, pneumonia manifests itself in the elderly with prostration and mental changes, such as confusion and disorientation.
8. Leuconychia
Leuconia can be caused by contact with chemicals, heart disease, pneumonia and hypoalbuminemia.
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