The most common complications of pneumonia are infection of the lungs, sepsis, trouble breathing, internal abscess, and fluid buildup in the area between the lungs and the chest wall. The severity of these complications and the overall impact they have will depend on the health and age of the patient and whether or not additional health issues are present. Occasionally pneumonia can lead to severe infection and even death if not treated immediately.
Complications of pneumonia are more likely to occur in the elderly and in those with other health conditions such as emphysema or lung cancer. Certain heart conditions may make recovery from certain complications more complex as well. These individuals may have a longer recovery time than those who are young and in relatively good health.
Most of the time, complications of pneumonia involve infection of some sort. This generally occurs in the lungs themselves at first, but sometimes bacteria can spread throughout the body and infect the blood and other organ systems. This can cause serious problems if not treated promptly. Signs of infection may include pain, fever, nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. Infection that occurs solely in the lungs may also cause issues with breathing.
Many patients with pneumonia will experience excessive fluid buildup in the area between the lungs and the chest cavity. If this occurs in both lungs, breathing may become very difficult and almost impossible without intervention. Patients may be put on a ventilator to aid with breathing until the fluid can be cleared. Infection is most likely to occur if excessive fluid is present in both lungs.
Additional complications of pneumonia include abscesses on the lungs and heart failure in those with an underlying heart condition. An abscess is a pus-filled wound which grows and eventually bursts. They are generally drained by using a catheter which is inserted directly into the growth. This is a delicate procedure when the abscess occurs on a lung because the lungs are fragile and are prone to collapse if not handled carefully.
Sometimes pneumonia can lead to a strain on the heart because the body cannot get enough oxygen due to impaired breathing. This is generally most likely in those with underlying heart conditions or long-term breathing problems due to an additional lung illness. Special care must be taken for patients who are thought to have an underlying heart or lung condition, since they are most susceptible to severe complications of pneumonia.
