Pneumonia - Find a doctor and information

Leading Medicine Guide Editors
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Leading Medicine Guide Editors
Pneumonia is an acute or chronic disease of the lung tissue. In the medical field, the disease is also known as pneumonia. If it is not treated in time, it can even lead to death. Due to its serious course, pneumonia is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases.

Which doctor treats pneumonia and further information on pneumonia can be found below.
ICD codes for this diseases: J12, J13, J14, J15, J16, J17, J18

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Article overview

Pneumonia: causes, forms & treatment

Pneumonia is an infectious disease of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. After two weeks of treatment, pneumonia is usually over. Nevertheless, there are still patients who die from this serious infection. This article shows the different forms and treatment options available.

What actually is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a disease of the lung tissue caused by viruses, fungi and bacteria. In Germany alone, over 500,000 people contract pneumonia every year. Most of those affected are usually not even aware that they are suffering from pneumonia, which is why the infection is often treated incorrectly.

While most patients cure their illness at home, 30 percent of those affected are treated in hospital. Currently, far more people suffer pneumonia than a stroke or heart attack.

If treatment is given in time, the inflammation disappears after two weeks. However, certain concomitant diseases can delay recovery. These concomitant diseases include

  • Inflammation of the pleura (pleurisy)
  • Formation of abscesses
  • Accumulation of fluid between the pleura and pleura (pleural effusion)
  • Blood poisoning (sepsis)

Statistically, significantly more older people and children fall ill with pneumonia because their immune system is weakened.

Symptoms of pneumonia

The most common symptoms of pneumonia include

  • Chills
  • Difficulty breathing
  • fever

Depending on the severity of the illness, doctors speak of typical and atypical pneumonia. While typical pneumonia is caused by bacteria (pneumococci), viruses and other pathogens are responsible for atypical pneumonia.

Typical pneumonia is characterized by an acute course of the disease, which is accompanied by the symptoms just mentioned. The symptoms are often accompanied by

  • acute breathing difficulties
  • an increased pulse rate
  • a strong cough
  • sputum production
  • confusion
  • a general physical weakness

accompanied. If the pneumonia is treated without antibiotics, the fever will subside after a week, but the cardiovascular system will be under extreme strain. In addition, shortness of breath can increase. In the worst case, cyanosis (oxygen deficiency) occurs, which is why the nail bed and lips often turn blue. Even though there are now many treatment options, pneumonia is still one of the diseases that can lead to death.

Atypical pneumonia progresses much more slowly. The cough is usually dry and there is also a slight rise in body temperature. Doctors refer to this as "cold pneumonia".

Causes of pneumonia

The most common cause of pneumonia is bacteria (pneumococci) that infect the lung tissue or alveoli. However, pneumonia can also be caused by

  • Viruses, fungi and other pathogens (e.g. parasites)
  • gases
  • radiation
  • dust

can be caused.

Another possible cause is a circulatory disorder that affects certain parts of the lungs. Furthermore, tumor diseases, foreign bodies or inhaled food particles, which are a breeding ground for bacteria, can be responsible for pneumonia.

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Duration of pneumonia

If pneumonia is treated in good time, the symptoms of the disease subside after just two weeks. However, complications (inflammation of the pleura, accumulation of fluid between the pleura and the lungs), alcohol and nicotine can delay the recovery process. In this case, pneumonia can last up to 12 weeks.

Is pneumonia contagious?

As pneumonia is primarily caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi, the inflammation is also contagious. It becomes dangerous when many people are together in a small space. The germs can then be passed on by droplet infection. Doctors also like to refer to this as infectious pneumonia.

The transmission is referred to as droplet infection because the pathogens are actually bound to droplets (saliva, nasal secretions). For this reason, they can be transmitted by a simple sneeze or cough. The pathogens primarily affect people whose immune system is weakened.

Non-infectious pneumonia is caused not only by bacteria and other germs, but also by radiation, gases (metal fumes) and dust. In addition, circulatory disorders(pulmonary embolisms), which promote cardiac insufficiency and blood congestion in the lungs, can be responsible for pneumonia.

Treatment of pneumonia

Treatment depends on the type and severity of the infection. Most patients develop infectious pneumonia, which is accompanied by the typical symptoms of pneumonia. The disease is treated with antibiotics, but the doctor must take certain aspects into account. Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers and people with intolerances must not take the medication. Even if the symptoms disappear after a few days, the antibiotics must not be stopped prematurely under any circumstances.

Although antibiotics are among the most effective medications, it is quite possible for patients to develop what is known as antibiotic resistance. In this case, the medication remains ineffective. Antibiotics should therefore only be taken if treatment is really necessary.

Furthermore

  • bed rest
  • antipyretics
  • respiratory gymnastics
  • Tapping massages
  • saline inhalations

help to speed up the recovery process.

In the case of non-infectious pneumonia, medical intervention may sometimes be necessary to remove foreign bodies or a blood clot.

Preventing pneumonia

Exercise in the fresh air and a healthy diet and lifestyle are still the best way to prevent pneumonia. Smoking should be completely avoided in this regard.

Older and sick people as well as people with chronic lung and heart disease can also be vaccinated against influenza to protect themselves against pneumonia caused by pneumococci. If you get vaccinated regularly, you can significantly mitigate the course of the disease and considerably reduce the risk of possible complications or side effects.

How can I best protect myself?

Although vaccination does not always protect against an outbreak of the disease, it can significantly reduce the symptoms of the disease. Nevertheless, you can protect yourself against pneumonia by strengthening your immune system.

The following are particularly helpful

  • adequate fluid intake
  • frequent hand washing
  • plenty of vitamin C
  • Exercise in the fresh air (walks, Nordic walking, jogging)

What is protracted pneumonia?

If the infection is not treated adequately or treatment starts too late, doctors refer to it as protracted pneumonia. Disseminated pneumonia is dangerous because the pathogens can spread throughout the entire body. As a result, other organs are affected, which is why serious complications can occur.

These include

  • Pleuritis (inflammation of the pleura)
  • Pleural effusion (accumulation of fluid between the pleura and pleura)
  • Lung abscess (formation of cavities filled with pus)
  • Sepsis (blood poisoning)
  • Meningitis (inflammation of the meninges)

In the case of protracted pneumonia, the fever subsides after a week. If the affected person has a strong immune system, the typical symptoms of pneumonia (cough, weakness, shortness of breath) can persist for a week before they disappear.

If those affected go back to work during this time, the pathogens can spread to the heart muscle. In extreme cases, this can lead to inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis), which is life-threatening.

Which doctor treats pneumonia?

As a rule, it is internists specializing in pneumology or bronchology (lung and bronchial medicine) who treat pneumonia. Thanks to their specialist knowledge, doctors can distinguish pneumonia from ordinary flu and treat it accordingly.

If you also suffer from pneumonia, you should not hesitate to contact one of our specialists in order to avoid secondary diseases.

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