How do they get pneumonia and can it get infected?

Pneumonia is an acute inflammation of the lower respiratory tract caused by infection. In the course of the disease, the lung tissue is often affected. In our country, according to official statistics, more than a million people get pneumonia every year. And no matter how the medicine progresses today, the death rate from pneumonia is still within five percent.

Species features of pneumonia

In order to unequivocally answer the question of how you can get pneumonia, you need to understand that this disease, depending on various factors, is divided into species.

The first type is the so-called stagnant pneumonia. It occurs due to blood stagnation in the lungs, upper parts, or bronchial tubes. It is considered a disease accompanying complications, therefore this type of pneumonia is not contagious.

The second type is focal. This is an acute disease, the focal zone of which is located in one, rarely a few places in the lungs. Doctors divide bilateral, left- or right-sided focal pneumonia. This species is especially dangerous. First, it is definitely contagious. Secondly, the disease proceeds without manifesting itself either externally or internally.

The third type is community-acquired pneumonia (atypical). Sometimes it's called viral. It arises because of the defeat of lung tissue by an infectious-bacterial route. The causative agents are multiple viruses, chlamydia, salmonella, legionella, mycoplasma and other atypical types of pathogens.

Is this type of pneumonia dangerous? Yes. But the infected begins a completely different inflammatory disease, caused by the pathogen found in the respiratory tract.

The fourth type is basilar pneumonia. An acute infectious-inflammatory disease, which is difficult to diagnose. How do they get pneumonia of this kind? Air-drop method. It is easy enough to pick up a radical species, especially for children.

The fifth type is chronic pneumonia. Absolutely natural form of neglected disease. Custom acute form without exposure to her medicines goes into a chronic. Extremely contagious.

The sixth type is bronchial pneumonia. The disease begins with the entry into the respiratory tract of bacteria and specific viruses. It differs from the atypical type of pneumonia by localization of the foci of the inflammatory process. Only the alveoli of the bronchi are affected. How do they get pneumonia of this type? Easier than simple: airborne droplets. Just breathing in air, infected with specific viruses or bacteria. But the disease does not always develop.

The seventh type is caseous pneumonia. Deservedly is considered the most dangerous and serious type of tuberculosis. The initial stage of the disease is very transient. Then complications begin. This species is very dangerous for others.

The eighth kind is hospital pneumonia. No less dangerous than the previous species. A considerable part of the causative agents of this disease developed resistance to the majority of medications. Therefore, the healing process is complex and protracted. This species is also very dangerous. It is easiest to "pick up" it in the pulmonological or therapeutic departments of clinical hospitals or in polyclinics. Here's how you can get sick with severe pneumonia.

How long does the contagious period last?

Until now, medical experts consider this question controversial. There is no unequivocal answer to the question of how long it takes to get pneumonia. There is some dependence on the subspecies of the disease, the patient's age and other reasons.

If averaged, then the adult incubation period can last from a few days to a week. In children up to a month and babies this period may take several weeks.

Be sure to note that the absence of symptoms of the disease does not mean that the patient is not contagious. While pathogens continue to develop in the human body, it is considered potentially dangerous.

How to get pneumonia

Symptoms such as coughing and sneezing, carry a large number of microbes and viruses, potentially dangerous to others. A single person is enough for a healthy person to get the dose necessary for the disease. For the next 4-6 days, already a sick person does not feel any changes. Sometimes a slight increase in body temperature is recorded. This way, called airborne, is the most common.

There is a household way of spreading this pathology. How do they get pneumonia in this case? A sick person, sneezing and coughing, spreads into the air mixture viruses and bacteria that "fall" on clothing, furniture, etc. In such conditions, the bacteria will be vitally active for about four hours. Therefore, it is worth tackling something "infected" and touching the mucous eye, nose - and we can assume that the disease began its development.

Assumed risk group

Any infectious form of pneumonia will probably be dangerous for:

- people with a low level of immunity;

- women in position;

- children;

- People who have a drug or alcohol dependence;

- patients who undergo hormonal therapy;

- people who are depressed or physically exhausted;

- only having recovered from catarrhal diseases, including ARVI or ARI;

- Patients with chronic diseases: various types of deficiencies, diabetes, etc.

Disease tolerance

The viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia are so strong that even a healthy person can not cope with them. Modern children are at constant risk. In an unfavorable ecological situation, children, especially those of a kindergarten age, have weakened immunity, which undoubtedly gives pneumonia a head start.

Ladies in the position doctors warn about this threat from the first days of pregnancy. And strongly recommend not to neglect even the slightest suspicion of pneumonia. Immediately you need to see a doctor. Pneumonia for pregnant women is dangerous not only the birth of a sick kid and the complications of the birth process.

Symptoms giving an excuse to go to the doctor

How do I know if I have pneumonia? It is enough to listen to yourself. First, there is causeless weakness and significantly reduced performance. Then a fever may begin, with a temperature close to 40 ^° C. A cough with an abundance of sputum may occur a day later. It will provoke shortness of breath (even at rest), burning or pain in the chest.

Almost all of them have insomnia, decreased appetite, and fatigue.

With a physical method of diagnosis, the patient can hear rattles (usually small bubbles) and in the area of inflammation the sound is dulled. Although, according to statistics, one in five does not have local symptoms.

Summer pneumonia: myth or reality

It was always believed that pneumonia is a disease of the off-season. Its occurrence provokes temperature changes, causing the body to rebuild. And while adaptation takes place, the immunity is lowered and the person is ready for the adoption and development of the virus.

Today, doctors with horror state that it is possible to get pneumonia in the summer, and with a high degree of probability. The high atmospheric temperature and human carelessness contribute to this. Most of the families of our country use air conditioners, which, by cooling the air in the room, greatly overdry it. Such air is an excellent environment for the development of pathogenic microbes, and in particular legionella. And further on as rolled. Intoxication of the body, sleep disturbance, apathy, loss of appetite, dyspnea, excruciating expectorant cough with purulent discharge ...

Post scriptum

Kiss in pneumonia is not as terrible as a handshake!