PNEUMONIA: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT, AND HOW SERIOUS IT CAN BE 

Every year, pneumonia affects more than 450 million people worldwide and causes around 4 million deaths, making it one of the leading infectious causes of death globally. Despite its seriousness, many people confuse pneumonia with other respiratory illnesses in pulmonology that share similar symptoms, such as bronchitis and tuberculosis. 

In this blog, you’ll discover: 

• What pneumonia is and the main causes behind it 
• Symptoms to watch out for and when to seek urgent help 
• Treatment options and how doctors decide if hospital admission is needed 
• The difference between pneumonia, bronchitis, and tuberculosis 
• Prevention tips to protect yourself and your loved ones 

What is Pneumonia? 

Pneumonia is a lung infection that causes inflammation in the air sacs (alveoli), which may fill with fluid or pus. This compromises breathing, leading to symptoms such as coughing, fever, chest pain, and shortness of breath. It remains a significant health threat, particularly for young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. 

Causes of Pneumonia 

Pneumonia can be triggered by various organisms, including: 

1. Bacteria: These are different kinds of bacteria that can move into your lungs and cause inflammation, making it hard to breathe and leading to symptoms like cough, fever, and chest pain. Some of the most common germs that cause pneumonia are:
   • Streptococcus pneumoniae (a type of bacteria that often lives harmlessly in the nose and throat but can cause serious lung infections if it spreads to the lungs) 
   • Haemophilus influenzae (different from the flu virus — this bacterium can infect the lungs, especially in people with weakened immune systems or other health problems) 
   • Mycoplasma pneumoniae (a smaller type of bacteria that causes a milder form of pneumonia, sometimes called “walking pneumonia,” where symptoms are less severe but still need treatment) 
2. Viruses: Respiratory viruses like influenza, RSV, coronaviruses, and others are frequent causes. 
3. Fungi: Less common, but often seen in immunocompromised individuals. 

Pneumonia can also be classified by where it was caught: 

• Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) 
• Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) 
• Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) 

Type of Pneumonia	Typical Setting
Community-acquired (CAP)	Outside medical/institutional care
Hospital-acquired (HAP)	Contracted during hospital stay
Ventilator-associated (VAP)	Occurs in patients on mechanical ventilators

Symptoms of Pneumonia 

Common symptoms include continuous cough, fever, chills, chest pain when breathing or coughing, and difficulty breathing. 

Symptom	Details
Cough	Often produces greenish or yellow sputum
Fever	High temperature, may include sweating/chills
Breathlessness	Rapid, shallow, or painful breathing
Chest Pain	Sharp or stabbing with breaths or cough
General Weakness	Fatigue, loss of appetite

Older adults may exhibit confusion or hypothermia, while infants may show sleepiness or feeding difficulties. 

Pneumonia and other lung diseases: What’s the difference? 

Pneumonia vs. Bronchitis: 

It’s easy to confuse pneumonia with bronchitis, since both involve coughing and affect the lungs, but they are different conditions. 

Feature	Pneumonia	Bronchitis
Location of infection	Air sacs (alveoli) deep inside the lungs	Bronchial tubes (airways that carry air to the lungs)
Cause	Bacteria, viruses, fungi	Usually viruses, sometimes bacteria, or irritants like smoke
Onset	Can be sudden or gradual	Often develops after a cold or flu
Main symptoms	High fever, chills, productive cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing	Persistent cough (dry or with mucus), mild fever, chest discomfort
Severity	Can be life-threatening, especially in vulnerable people	Usually milder, rarely life-threatening
Treatment	Antibiotics (if bacterial), antivirals, hospital care if severe	Often self-limiting, rest, fluids, sometimes inhalers or antibiotics
Recovery time	1–3 weeks or longer if severe	Usually within 1–2 weeks

Pneumonia vs. Tuberculosis:  

While pneumonia and tuberculosis (TB) are both lung infections, they differ in causes, progression, symptoms, and treatment. 

Feature	Pneumonia	Tuberculosis (TB)
Cause	Usually caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi	Caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria
Onset	Sudden onset — develops over hours to a few days	Slow onset — develops over weeks or months
Transmission	Spread via droplets from coughing, sneezing, or close contact	Spread via airborne droplets from coughing, sneezing, speaking
Common Symptoms	High fever, productive cough, chest pain, shortness of breath	Persistent cough (≥3 weeks), coughing blood, weight loss, night sweats
Contagiousness	Contagious, depending on cause	Highly contagious in active form
Treatment	Short course of antibiotics/antivirals/antifungals	Long-term antibiotic combination (6–9 months)
Duration	Usually resolves in 1–3 weeks with treatment	Requires months of treatment; untreated can be fatal
Prevention	Pneumococcal and flu vaccines, hygiene	BCG vaccine, avoiding exposure to TB cases

How Serious Can Pneumonia Be? Is Pneumonia Deadly? 

Yes, pneumonia can be deadly—especially for high-risk individuals like infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immunity. Risk increases with age—mortality rates climb from 7.3% (ages 18–64) to nearly 30% (85+). 

Pneumonia Complications: 

Pneumonia can sometimes lead to serious problems beyond the lungs: 

• Sepsis (a life-threatening reaction where the infection spreads into the bloodstream, causing the body’s immune system to go into overdrive and potentially leading to organ failure) 

• Lung abscesses (pockets of pus that form inside the lungs when the infection doesn’t clear completely, making it harder to breathe and often requiring more intensive treatment) 

• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) (a severe condition where the lungs become so inflamed and filled with fluid that they can no longer provide enough oxygen to the body, often requiring intensive care and breathing support) 

Treatment of Pneumonia 

Treatment varies based on severity and cause: 

• Bacterial pneumonia: Treated with antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin, doxycycline, macrolides). Early treatment improves outcomes. 

• Viral pneumonia: Often self-limiting; treatment focuses on rest, fluids, and antiviral medications when applicable. 

• Severe cases: May require hospitalization, oxygen therapy, IV antibiotics, and supportive care. 

• Complications (like effusion or abscesses) may need drainage or surgical intervention. 

When Does Pneumonia Need Hospital Admission? 

Not everyone with pneumonia needs to stay in the hospital — many cases can be treated at home. However, some situations are more serious and require close medical monitoring, oxygen support, or even intensive care. 

Reason for Admission	What It Means in Simple Terms
Severe breathing problems	You’re struggling to breathe, breathing very fast, or your oxygen levels are low.
Very high or very low blood pressure	Signs that your body is under stress and needs hospital monitoring.
Confusion or drowsiness	Your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen or your infection is affecting your alertness.
High fever that won’t come down	Despite taking medication, your temperature stays high and symptoms worsen.
Older age or frailty	People over 65 may not fight infection as well and can become sick quickly.
Other serious health problems	Conditions like heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or weakened immunity make pneumonia riskier.
Spreading infection or complications	The infection is spreading in the blood (sepsis) or causing fluid buildup in the lungs (pleural effusion).

When to Seek Help 

Immediate medical care is essential if symptoms worsen or persist, especially for high-risk groups. Symptoms requiring attention include chest pain, trouble breathing, persistent cough, or confusion in the elderly. 

Early treatment can prevent escalation to severe complications and improve recovery outcomes. 

Monitoring Severity: Pneumonia Scores 

Clinicians use severity tools like CURB‑65 and PSI/PORT to determine treatment settings and predict outcomes. 

CURB-65 Factors: 

• Confusion 

• Urea levels in the blood > 7 mmol/L 

• Respiratory rate ≥ 30/min 

• Blood pressure (Sys < 90 / Dia ≤ 60) 

• Age ≥ 65 

Higher scores indicate higher mortality risk and may necessitate hospitalization. 

Prevention and Vaccination 

Prevention is key; vaccines have made a significant impact in reducing pneumonia burden. Vaccines to consider include: 

• Pneumococcal 

• Influenza 

• Pertussis 

• Varicella  

Practicing good hygiene—handwashing, avoiding crowded places when sick—also helps. 

Conclusion 

Pneumonia is a serious, potentially life-threatening lung infection. Understanding pneumonia causes, recognizing pneumonia symptoms in adults, knowing pneumonia treatment options, and being aware of how deadly it can be is critical. 

Timely intervention makes all the difference.