We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Community-Acquired Pneumonia?

By D. Jeffress
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 4,110
Share

Community-acquired pneumonia is a very common type of lung infection that can be caused by many different bacteria, viruses, and fungi. By definition, the infection is caught somewhere outside of hospitals and other health-care settings. Cases of community-acquired pneumonia are generally less likely to cause major outbreaks among a population than infections acquired at hospitals, where many people are exposed to contagious patients. Pneumonia can cause a wet cough, fever, fatigue, and breathing difficulties that usually get better in a couple weeks with medications and rest. A very serious infection may require hospitalization and critical care to prevent life-threatening problems.

Pneumonia can affect people of all ages, but infants, young children, and the elderly are at the highest risk. The main risk factors for adults include smoking, drinking in excess, and having a weakened immune system due to chronic illness. The bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae is responsible for most cases of community-acquired pneumonia worldwide. Respiratory syncytial virus and adenovirus are common sources of viral illness, especially in children. Several other bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infestations can lead to lung infection as well.

The symptoms of community-acquired pneumonia can vary, depending on the nature of the infection and a person's age and health. Most people first experience a dry cough that becomes productive over several hours or days. Headaches, muscle pains, fever, and chills are common. A person may also sweat excessively and have trouble taking deep breaths. In severe cases, breathing and heart rate can slow to dangerous levels and a person may pass out due to lack of oxygen. Without treatment, there is also a risk of pathogens spreading from the lungs to the bloodstream and causing a systemic infection.

A person who has signs of pneumonia should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. A physician can listen to breathing with a stethoscope and ask questions about symptoms to make a basic diagnosis. Blood and mucus samples are usually collected and tested in a laboratory to determine what type of bacteria, virus, or other pathogen is responsible for infection. If a patient has significant breathing difficulties, x-rays of the lungs may be taken to gauge the seriousness of lung damage.

Mild bacterial infections tend to respond well to prescription antibiotics. Patients are generally instructed to take their medications daily for about three to four weeks and schedule follow-up visits to make sure they are fully cured. Viral pneumonia is difficult to treat with drugs, and people simply need to rest, stay hydrated, and wait for infection to run its two- to four-week course. If breathing problems and other symptoms become debilitating, oxygen therapy, intravenous drugs, and other treatment measures in a hospital are needed. Most otherwise healthy children and adults are able to recover from community-acquired pneumonia when quality health care is available.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-community-acquired-pneumonia.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.