Pneumonia Signs and Symptoms

- is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air  Chest pain when you breathe or cough
sacs may fill with fluid or pus (purulent material), causing cough with
 Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and
phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. A variety of
organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, can cause older)
pneumonia.
 Cough, which may produce phlegm
- can range in seriousness from mild to life-threatening. It is most
 Fatigue
serious for infants and young children, people older than age 65,
and people with health problems or weakened immune systems.  Fever, sweating and shaking chills

 Lower than normal body temperature (in adults immune systems)

Causes
 Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
 Bacteria, viruses, or fungi can cause pneumonia.
Top causes include:  Shortness of breath

 Flu viruses Risk factors

 Cold viruses Pneumonia can affect anyone. But the two age groups at highest risk are:
 RSV virus (the top cause of pneumonia in babies age 1 or younger
 Bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycoplasma > Children who are 2 years old or younger
pneumonia > People who are age 65 or older

- Some people get “ventilator-associated pneumonia” if they got the

Other risk factors include:
infection while on a ventilator, which is a machine at a hospital that
helps you breathe.
 Being hospitalized. You're at greater risk of pneumonia if you're
- If you got your pneumonia while you were in a hospital and not on a in a hospital intensive care unit, especially if you're on a machine
ventilator, that’s called “hospital-acquired” pneumonia. But most that helps you breathe (a ventilator).
people get “community-acquired pneumonia,” which means they
 Chronic disease. You're more likely to get pneumonia if you have
didn’t get it in a hospital. asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart
 disease.
Smoking. Smoking damages your body's natural defenses against
the bacteria and viruses that cause pneumonia.
Weakened or suppressed immune system. People who have
HIV/AIDS, who've had an organ transplant, or who receive
chemotherapy or long-term steroids are at risk.
Prevention
Get vaccinated. Vaccines are available to prevent some types of
pneumonia and the flu. Talk with your doctor about getting these
shots. The vaccination guidelines have changed over time so
make sure to review your vaccination status with your doctor
even if you recall previously receiving a pneumonia vaccine.
Make sure children get vaccinated. Doctors recommend a
different pneumonia vaccine for children younger than age 2 and
for children ages 2 to 5 years who are at particular risk of
pneumococcal disease. Children who attend a group child care
center should also get the vaccine. Doctors also recommend flu
shots for children older than 6 months.
Practice good hygiene. To protect yourself against respiratory
infections that sometimes lead to pneumonia, wash your hands
regularly or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Don't smoke. Smoking damages your lungs' natural defenses
against respiratory infections.
Keep your immune system strong. Get enough sleep,
Treatment
Specific treatments depend on the type and severity of your pneumonia,
your age and your overall health. The options include:
Antibiotics. These medicines are used to treat bacterial
pneumonia. It may take time to identify the type of bacteria
causing your pneumonia and to choose the best antibiotic to treat
it. If your symptoms don't improve, your doctor may recommend a
different antibiotic.
Cough medicine. This medicine may be used to calm your cough
so that you can rest. Because coughing helps loosen and move
fluid from your lungs, it's a good idea not to eliminate your cough
completely. In addition, you should know that very few studies
have looked at whether over-the-counter cough medicines lessen
coughing caused by pneumonia. If you want to try a cough
suppressant, use the lowest dose that helps you rest.
Fever reducers/pain relievers. You may take these as needed for
fever and discomfort. These include drugs such as aspirin,
ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and acetaminophen (Tylenol,
others).
Lifestyle and home remedies
-> These tips can help you recover more quickly and decrease your risk of
complications:
Get plenty of rest. Don't go back to school or work until after your
temperature returns to normal and you stop coughing up mucus.
Even when you start to feel better, be careful not to overdo it.
Because pneumonia can recur, it's better not to jump back into
your routine until you are fully recovered. Ask your doctor if
exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet you're not sure.

Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, to help Signs and Symptoms
loosen mucus in your lungs.
Fatigue
Take your medicine as prescribed. Take the entire course of any
medications your doctor prescribed for you. If you stop taking Weakness
medication too soon, your lungs may continue to harbor bacteria
that can multiply and cause your pneumonia to recur. Pale or yellowish skin

Anemia Irregular heartbeats

is a condition in which you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry Shortness of breath
adequate oxygen to your body's tissues. Having anemia can make you
feel tired and weak. Dizziness or lightheadedness

There are many forms of anemia, each with its own cause. Anemia can Chest pain
be temporary or long term, and it can range from mild to severe. See
your doctor if you suspect that you have anemia. It can be a warning sign Cold hands and feet
of serious illness.
Headaches
Treatments for anemia range from taking supplements to undergoing
medical procedures. You might be able to prevent some types of anemia Risk factors
by eating a healthy, varied diet. - These factors place you at increased risk of anemia:

Some forms of anemia can have specific symptoms: A diet lacking in certain vitamins and minerals. A diet consistently
low in iron, vitamin B-12 and folate increases your risk of anemia.

Aplastic anemia: fever frequent infections, and skin rashes
Folic acid deficiency anemia: irritability, diarrhea and a smooth
tongue
Hemolytic anemia: jaundice, dark colored urine, fever, and abdominal
pains
Intestinal disorders. Having an intestinal disorder that affects the
absorption of nutrients in your small intestine — such as Crohn's
disease and celiac disease — puts you at risk of anemia.
Menstruation. In general, women who haven't had menopause
have a greater risk of iron deficiency anemia than do men and
postmenopausal women. Menstruation causes the loss of red
 blood cells.
Sickle cell anemia: painful swelling of the feet and hands, fatigue, and
jaundice Pregnancy. If you're pregnant and aren't taking a multivitamin with
folic acid and iron, you're at an increased risk of anemia.

Diagnosis
> To diagnose anemia, your doctor is likely to ask you about your medical
Causes and family history, perform a physical exam, and run the following tests:
- Anemia occurs when your blood doesn't have enough red blood cells.
Complete blood count (CBC). A CBC is used to count the number of
This can happen if: blood cells in a sample of your blood. For anemia, your doctor will
be interested in the levels of the red blood cells contained in your
blood (hematocrit) and the hemoglobin in your blood.
Your body doesn't make enough red blood cells
A test to determine the size and shape of your red blood cells.
Bleeding causes you to lose red blood cells more quickly than they Some of your red blood cells might also be examined for unusual
can be replaced size, shape and color.
Your body destroys red blood cells Treatment

Iron deficiency anemia. Treatment for this form of anemia

Chronic conditions. If you have cancer, kidney failure, diabetes or usually involves taking iron supplements and changing your diet.
another chronic condition, you could be at risk of anemia of chronic
disease. These conditions can lead to a shortage of red blood cells. If the cause of iron deficiency is loss of blood — other than from
menstruation — the source of the bleeding must be located and
Slow, chronic blood loss from an ulcer or other source within your body
can deplete your body's store of iron, leading to iron deficiency anemia.
the bleeding stopped. This might involve surgery.

Vitamin deficiency anemias. Treatment for folic acid and vitamin C

Family history. If your family has a history of an inherited anemia, such
deficiency involves dietary supplements and increasing these
as sickle cell anemia, you also might be at increased risk of the condition.
nutrients in your diet.
Other factors. A history of certain infections, blood diseases and If your digestive system has trouble absorbing vitamin B-12 from
autoimmune disorders increases your risk of anemia. Alcoholism, the food you eat, you might need vitamin B-12 shots. At first, you
exposure to toxic chemicals, and the use of some medications can affect
might have the shots every other day. Eventually, you'll need shots
red blood cell production and lead to anemia.
just once a month, possibly for life, depending on your situation.
Age. People over age 65 are at increased risk of anemia.
Anemia of chronic disease. There's no specific treatment for this type of
Prevention anemia. Doctors focus on treating the underlying disease. If symptoms become
severe, a blood transfusion or injections of a synthetic hormone normally
produced by your kidneys (erythropoietin) might help stimulate red blood cell
Many types of anemia can't be prevented. But you can avoid iron deficiency
production
anemia and vitamin deficiency anemias by eating a diet that includes a variety
of vitamins and minerals, including:

Iron. Iron-rich foods include beef and other meats, beans, lentils, iron-
fortified cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, and dried fruit.

Folate. This nutrient, and its synthetic form folic acid, can be found in
fruits and fruit juices, dark green leafy vegetables, green peas, kidney
beans, peanuts, and enriched grain products, such as bread, cereal, pasta
and rice.

Vitamin B-12. Foods rich in vitamin B-12 include meat, dairy products,
and fortified cereal and soy products.

Vitamin C. Foods rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits and juices,

peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, melons and strawberries. These also help
increase iron absorption.

and ease fatigue.

Aplastic anemia. Treatment for this anemia can include blood

transfusions to boost levels of red blood cells. You might need a
bone marrow transplant if your bone marrow can't make healthy
blood cells.

Anemias associated with bone marrow disease. Treatment of

these various diseases can include medication, chemotherapy or
bone marrow transplantation.

Hemolytic anemias. Managing hemolytic anemias includes

avoiding suspect medications, treating infections and taking drugs
that suppress your immune system, which could be attacking your
red blood cells.

Depending on the cause or your hemolytic anemia, you might be

referred to a heart or vascular specialist.

Sickle cell anemia. Treatment might include oxygen, pain relievers,

and oral and intravenous fluids to reduce pain and prevent
complications. Doctors might also recommend blood transfusions,
folic acid supplements and antibiotics.

A cancer drug called hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea, Siklos) also is

used to treat sickle cell anemia.

Thalassemia. Most forms of thalassemia are mild and require no

treatment. More severe forms of thalassemia generally require
blood transfusions, folic acid supplements, medication, removal of
the spleen, or a blood and bone marrow stem cell transplant.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pneumonia/symptoms-
causes/syc-20354204

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pneumonia/symptoms-
causes/syc-20354204

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-
causes/syc-20351360