Can You Die From Pneumonia in Your Sleep

Overview

In a person with pneumonia, the airways (bronchi) dandy and the air spaces (alveoli) make full with mucus and other fluids.

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of your lungs caused by leaner, viruses or fungi. When there is an infection in the lungs, several things happen, including:

• Your airways cracking (become inflamed)
• The air sacs in the lungs fill with mucus and other fluids

How do the lungs work?

Your lungs' main job is to go oxygen into your blood and remove carbon dioxide. This happens during animate. You breathe 12 to 20 times per minute when yous are not ill. When you breathe in, air travels downward the back of your throat and passes through your voice box and into your windpipe (trachea). Your trachea splits into 2 air passages (bronchial tubes). One bronchial tube leads to the left lung, the other to the correct lung. For the lungs to perform their best, the airways need to be open up every bit yous breathe in and out. Swelling (inflammation) and mucus tin can make it harder to move air through the airways, making it harder to breathe. This leads to shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and feeling more tired than normal.

How common is pneumonia?

Approximately 1 meg adults in the United States are hospitalized each year for pneumonia and l,000 die from the disease. It is the 2d nearly common reason for being admitted to the hospital -- childbirth is number one. Pneumonia is the almost common reason children are admitted to the hospital in the Us. Seniors who are hospitalized for pneumonia confront a higher hazard of decease compared to any of the top 10 other reasons for hospitalization.

Is pneumonia contagious?

Certain types of pneumonia are contagious (spread from person to person). Pneumonia caused by leaner or viruses tin be contagious when the affliction-carrying organisms are breathed into your lungs. Withal, not anybody who is exposed to the germs that cause pneumonia will develop it.

Pneumonia caused by fungi are not contagious. The fungi are in soil, which becomes airborne and inhaled, but it is not spread from person to person.

How is pneumonia spread from person to person?

Pneumonia is spread when droplets of fluid containing the pneumonia bacteria or virus are launched in the air when someone coughs or sneezes and then inhaled by others. You can besides get pneumonia from touching an object previously touched by the person with pneumonia (transferring the germs) or touching a tissue used past the infected person and then touching your mouth or olfactory organ.

How long practice I remain contagious if I accept pneumonia?

If you have bacterial pneumonia, you are even so considered contagious until about the 2nd day after starting to take antibiotics and you no longer accept a fever (if you lot had i). If you take viral pneumonia, yous are still considered contagious until yous feel meliorate and have been gratuitous of fever for several days.

Who is nearly at risk for getting pneumonia?

People who have an increased risk of pneumonia include:

• People over the age of 65 and infants under historic period ii. The weakening immune organization of older people makes them less able to fight off illnesses. Similarly, the allowed system of infants is still developing and not at full-strength, making them more susceptible to infection.
• People with a health-caused weakened allowed system. Examples include:
  • People who are receiving chemotherapy
  • Transplanted organ recipients
  • People who have HIV/AIDS
  • People with autoimmune disease (such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis) and who are taking medications that suppress the immune system.
• People who have health weather condition that touch on the lungs or eye. Examples include:
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Asthma
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Emphysema
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Pulmonary fibrosis
  • Interstitial pneumonia
  • Uncontrolled diabetes
  • Middle disease
  • Sarcoidosis
• People who accept neurological weather condition that make swallowing hard. These people are at risk for pneumonia caused past aspiration. Examples include:
  • Dementia
  • Parkinson's affliction
  • Stroke
• People who are in the hospital. In particular, people in the ICU or anyone recovering who spends a large amounts of fourth dimension lying on their backs. This position allows fluids, mucus or germs to settle in the lungs. People who demand ventilators to breathe are at even greater risk since they have a difficult time cough up germs that could crusade a lung infection.
• People who fume or drinkable booze. Smoking damages lung tissue and long-term alcohol corruption weakens the immune organisation.
• People who are exposed to toxic fumes, chemicals or secondhand smoke. These contaminants weaken lung function and make information technology easier to develop a lung infection.
• Pregnant women. Being significant increases the risk of developing pneumonia. This is due to the immune system of a female parent non working at full forcefulness because the body is working harder to support the growth of the babe.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes pneumonia?

Pneumonia tin can be caused past a wide variety of bacteria, viruses or fungi. Pneumonia is most commonly classified by the type of germ that causes it and past the location where the person became infected.

Customs-caused pneumonia is the well-nigh common type of pneumonia. This type of pneumonia occurs outside of a hospital or other healthcare facility. Causes include:

• Bacteria: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the nearly common bacterial cause of pneumonia.
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae and other atypical bacteria: Other types of bacteria with unique features tin can cause unlike types of pneumonia. These include Mycoplasma pneumoniae (causes "walking" pneumonia), Chlamydia pneumoniae (causes Chlamydia pneumonia) and Legionella pneumoniae (causes Legionnaires' disease).
• Viruses: Whatsoever virus that causes a respiratory tract infection (infections of the nose, pharynx, trachea [windpipe], and lungs) can cause pneumonia. The viruses that crusade colds and flu (influenza) can cause pneumonia.
• Fungi (molds): Pneumonia caused by fungi is the least common as pneumonia. Mucus in the soil in certain parts of the The states can become airborne and cause pneumonia. One example is valley fever.

Hospital-caused pneumonia develops during a stay in the infirmary for some other affliction. This blazon of pneumonia can be more serious because the person is already sick and antibiotics typically used may be less constructive. Bacteria arrange and modify over fourth dimension when exposed to antibiotics, making them less effective (called antimicrobial resistance). People in hospitals spread their drug-resistant leaner to others, leading to more astringent and difficult-to-treat cases of pneumonia. People who are on breathing machines (ventilators) are at increased risk for hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Long-term care facility-acquired pneumonia occurs in long-term care facilities (such as nursing homes) or outpatient, extended-stay clinics. Like hospitalized patients, drug-resistant bacteria are found in this setting.

Aspiration pneumonia is some other type of pneumonia. Aspiration is when solid nutrient, liquids, saliva or vomit become down the trachea (windpipe) and into the lungs instead of going down the esophagus and into the stomach. If you can't cough up these substances, these particles remain in lung tissue and tin can get infected and pneumonia may develop.

What are the signs and symptoms of bacterial versus viral pneumonia in adults?

Symptoms of pneumonia tin range from mild (cold- or flu-similar symptoms) sometimes called "walking pneumonia" to severe. How serious your case of pneumonia depends on the particular germ causing pneumonia, your overall health, and your age.

Bacterial pneumonia: Symptoms of bacterial pneumonia tin develop gradually or suddenly. Symptoms include:

• High fever (upwardly to 105° F)
• Tiredness (fatigue)
• Trouble animate: rapid breathing or shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Chills
• Cough with mucus (might be greenish in color or contain a minor amount of blood)
• Breast pain and/or abdominal hurting, especially with coughing or deep animate
• Loss of appetite
• Confused mental land or changes in awareness (especially in older adults)

Viral pneumonia: Symptoms ordinarily develop over a menses of several days. Early symptoms are like to flu symptoms, which include:

• Fever
• Dry out cough
• Headache
• Sore pharynx
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle pain
• Weakness

Additional symptoms actualization about a mean solar day later include:

• College fever
• Cough with mucus
• Shortness of breath

How tin can I tell if I have pneumonia versus the common common cold or the flu?

Do I have a cold or could it exist the flu or fifty-fifty pneumonia? It'due south tough to tell the difference but critical to know when to seek medical care

Sentry for these ongoing symptoms that occur in pneumonia:

• Serious congestion or chest pain.
• Difficulty breathing.
• A fever of 102 or college.
• Coughing that produces pus.

Pneumonia symptoms terminal longer than cold and influenza. If your symptoms aren't severe, information technology'southward okay to attempt such home remedies as getting more rest, drinking more than fluids and taking some over-the-counter medicines and see what happens. But if yous don't see improvement in your symptoms after iii to five days, or if you are experiencing more than serious symptoms such every bit dizziness or severe difficulty breathing, see your healthcare provider. Don't let it go. Pneumonia-like symptoms in very young children or in adults older than 65 are a cause for concern. Also, pneumonia can cause permanent lung damage if left untreated for besides long. And ever seek immediate care if you experience chest pain or have breathing difficulties.

What are the signs and symptoms of pneumonia in children?

The signs and symptoms of pneumonia in children vary from child to child and also depend on your kid's age, crusade of the infection, and severity of their illness.

Usual symptoms include:

• Fever, chills, general discomfort, sweating/flushed skin.
• Cough.
• Rapid animate (tachypnea).
• Difficulty breathing, which tin can be seen equally:
  • A widening of nostrils while animate (nasal flaring)
  • Inward movement of chest wall when a child breaths in (lower chest in-drawing). With normal breathing, chest moves outward when animate in.
• Wheezing.
• Pain in breast, specially when coughing or breathing deeply.
• Bluish tint to lips or nails due to decreased oxygen level in the blood.
• Loss of appetite.
• Vomiting.
• Increased tiredness (fatigue).

Babies and toddlers may evidence these symptoms:

• Cough.
• Fever.
• Difficulty feeding.
• Trouble animate. Makes a grunting sound with breathing; noisy or rattly animate.
• Temporarily finish breathing during slumber.
• Decreased amount of urine production.
• Pale color
• Appear limp.
• Cry more than than usual. Are restless or more fussy.

Adolescents take the aforementioned symptoms as adults, including:

• Cough.
• Fever.
• Difficulty breathing/shortness of jiff.
• Chest pain.

Newborns are at greater adventure of pneumonia caused by bacteria present in the birth culvert. In young children, viruses are the main cause of pneumonia.

Pneumonia caused by leaner tends to happen of a sudden, starting with fever and fast breathing. Symptoms announced more than slowly and tend to exist less astringent when pneumonia is caused by viruses.

Are symptoms of pneumonia different in seniors?

Older adults may have milder symptoms and may not have a fever. A sudden modify in mental country is sometimes a sign of pneumonia in this age group.

Is it possible to accept pneumonia without having a fever?

Information technology'south not the norm but, yes, it's possible to have pneumonia with a depression fever or fifty-fifty no fever. If this occurs, information technology's usually in the very immature (newborns and infants) and in older adults or adults with a weakened allowed system.

What are the complications of pneumonia?

Anyone can experience complications from pneumonia. Still, people in high-risk groups are more likely to develop complications, including:

• Breathing difficulties: Pneumonia can make breathing difficult. Pneumonia plus an existing lung disorder (such as COPD, emphysema, asthma) can brand animate fifty-fifty more difficult. Breathing difficulties may crave a hospital stay to receive oxygen therapy or animate and healing assistance with the use of a breathing machine (ventilator).
• Fluid buildup in the lungs (chosen pleural effusion or "h2o on the lungs"): Pneumonia can cause a buildup in the fluid between the membranes that line the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity. It is a serious status that makes breathing difficult. Pleural effusion can be treated by draining excess fluid with a catheter, chest tube or by surgery.
• Bacteria in the bloodstream (bacteremia): The leaner that crusade pneumonia tin can leave your lungs and enter your bloodstream, spreading the infection to other organs. This condition is treated with antibiotics.
• Lung abscess. A lung abscess is a pus-filled cavity in the lung that is caused past a bacterial infection. It can be treated by draining the pus with a long needle or removing it by surgery.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is pneumonia diagnosed?

Your doctor volition do a thorough exam. During your exam he or she volition:

• Ask about your health history and comport a physical exam.
• Listen to your lungs with a stethoscope.
• Peradventure order a chest X-ray to await for signs of pneumonia and the extent of the infection.
• Conduct a pulse oximetry exam to measure the amount of oxygen in your claret (indicates how well your lungs are moving oxygen into your bloodstream).
• Lodge laboratory tests of your blood and/or mucus to determine the type of infection – bacteria, virus, or fungus – that has caused pneumonia.

If you are a loftier-risk patient, your physician may lodge other tests.

Management and Treatment

How is pneumonia treated?

How pneumonia is treated depends on the germs that cause it.

• Bacterial pneumonia: Bacterial pneumonia is commonly treated with antibiotics. The specific antibiotic selection depends on such factors as your full general health, other health conditions you may take, the type of medications you are currently taking (if whatsoever), your recent (if whatever) utilize of antibiotics, whatsoever evidence of antibiotic resistance in the local community and your age. Medicines to salvage hurting and lower fever may also be helpful. Inquire your physician if yous should have a cough suppressant. Information technology's important to be able to cough to articulate your lungs.
• Viral pneumonia: Antibiotics are not used to fight viruses. (In some cases antibiotics may be given to fight a bacterial infection that is also nowadays.) There are no treatments for most viral causes of pneumonia. However, if the flu virus is idea to be the cause, antiviral drugs might be prescribed, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), zanamivir (Relenza®), or peramivir (Rapivab®), to decrease the length and severity of the illness. Over-the-counter medicines to relieve pain and lower fever are usually recommended. Other medicines and therapies such as breathing treatments and exercises to loosen mucus may be prescribed by your doctor.
• Fungal pneumonia: Antifungal medication is prescribed if a fungus is the cause of your pneumonia.

Is pneumonia treated any differently in children?

Essentially no. But like adults, bacterial causes of pneumonia in children may exist treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics are not used to treat pneumonia caused by viruses. Influenza-related pneumonia may be treated with antiviral medicine if caught early in the course of affliction. Most cases of pneumonia are treated with "condolement care" measures that ease symptoms. These may include:

• Drinking more fluids.
• Getting more residual.
• Taking over-the-counter medicines for cough and acetaminophen for fever. Be certain to check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about giving medicines to your kid.
• Using a cool mist humidifier in your child's room.

How soon later handling for pneumonia volition I begin to feel better?

How soon you will feel improve depends on several factors, including:

• Your age
• The cause of your pneumonia
• The severity of your pneumonia
• If you take other "at-risk" weather

If y'all are generally good for you, about symptoms of bacterial pneumonia usually begin to improve within 24 to 48 hours after starting treatment. Symptoms of viral pneumonia ordinarily brainstorm to meliorate inside a few days after starting handling. A cough can concluding for several weeks. Well-nigh people report being tired for near a month afterward contracting pneumonia.

When would I demand to be hospitalized for pneumonia?

If your instance of pneumonia is more than severe, you lot may demand to stay in the hospital for treatment. Hospital treatments may include:

• Oxygen
• Fluids, antibiotics and other medicines given through an IV (directly into the vein)
• Animate treatments and exercises to aid loosen mucus

People most likely to be hospitalized are those who are most frail and/or at increased risk, including:

• Babies and young children
• People over age 65
• People with weakened allowed systems
• People with wellness conditions that affect the eye and lungs

It may take 6 to eight weeks to return to a normal level of functioning and well-being if you lot've been hospitalized with pneumonia.

Prevention

Are vaccines available to prevent pneumonia?

Yes, there are two types of vaccines (shots) specifically canonical to prevent pneumonia caused past pneumococcal bacteria. Similar to a flu shot, these vaccines won't protect against all types of pneumonia, just if you do come downwardly with pneumonia, it's less likely to be every bit severe or potentially life-threatening – specially for people who are at increased risk for pneumonia.

• Bacterial pneumonia: 2 pneumonia vaccines, Pneumovax23® and Prevnar13®, protect against the most common causes of bacterial pneumonia.
  • Pneumovax23® protects against 23 dissimilar types of pneumococcal bacteria. It is recommended for all adults 65 years of historic period and older and children over two years of age who are at increased risk for pneumonia.
  • Prevnar13® protects confronting 13 types of pneumonia bacteria. It is recommended for all adults 65 years of age and older and children nether 2 years of age. Ask your healthcare provider about these vaccines.
• Viral pneumonia: Get a flu vaccine (shot) once every twelvemonth. Flu vaccines are prepared to protect against that year's virus strain. Having the flu can make information technology easier to get bacterial pneumonia.

If you lot accept children, ask their doctor nigh other vaccines they should get. Several babyhood vaccines assistance foreclose infections caused by the bacteria and viruses that can lead to pneumonia.

Too vaccination, what else can I practise to prevent bacterial and viral pneumonia?

Receiving all recommended vaccinations is 1 of the all-time means to forestall pneumonia. Additionally, there are several other means to preclude pneumonia, including:

• Quitting smoking, and avoiding secondhand smoke. Smoking damages your lungs.
• Washing your easily before eating, before handling nutrient, after using the restroom, and later being exterior. If soap is not bachelor, use an booze-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoiding being around people who are sick. Enquire them to visit when they are feeling amend.
• Not touching or sharing objects that are shared with others. Germs can be transferred from object to yous if you touch your olfactory organ or oral fissure without washing or sanitizing your hands kickoff.
• Eating a good for you diet, exercise, and get plenty rest. Healthy habits go on your immune organisation strong.
• Getting treated for any other infections or wellness weather you may have. These conditions could weaken your immune arrangement, which could increase your risk of infections.
• Avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol.

Outlook / Prognosis

What is the outlook for pneumonia?

People who are otherwise good for you oftentimes recover quickly when given prompt and proper care. However, pneumonia is a serious condition and tin can exist life-threatening if left untreated and specially for those individuals at increased run a risk for pneumonia.

Even patients who have been successfully treated and accept fully recovered may face long-term health bug. Children who take recovered from pneumonia accept an increased risk of chronic lung diseases. Adults may experience:

• Decreased ability to exercise
• Worsening of cardiovascular disease
• Mental decline
• General decline in quality of life for months or years

Living With

What tin can I exercise to experience better if I have pneumonia?

• Finish all medications and therapies prescribed by your doctor. Exercise not stop taking antibiotics when you start feeling better. Proceed taking them until no pills remain. If you don't accept all your antibiotics, your pneumonia may come back.
• If over-the-counter medicines to reduce fever have been recommended (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen), take as directed on the label. Never requite aspirin to children.
• Drink plenty of fluids to help loosen phlegm.
• Quit smoking if you smoke. Don't exist around others who smoke or vape. Surround yourself with equally much make clean, chemical-free air as possible.
• Use a humidifier, take a steamy shower or bath to brand it easier for yous to breathe.
• Get lots of rest. Don't blitz your recovery. Information technology can take weeks to get your full forcefulness back.

If at any time you start to feel worse, telephone call your md right away.

When can I return to work, school and regular activities if I take pneumonia?

You typically can resume your normal activities if your symptoms are gone, mild or improving and you lot do not take new or worsening:

• Shortness of breath or tiredness (less energy)
• Breast pain
• Fungus, fever or cough

If you are generally healthy, nigh people feel well enough to return to previous activities in about a calendar week. Nonetheless, it may accept nearly a month to feel totally back to normal.

When should I see a physician?

Call your doctor if you:

• Take new or worsening:
  • Shortness of breath with activities or when lying down
  • Fever or cough with mucus
  • Tiredness (fatigue)
• Take a change in ambition (less hunger)
• Feel uneasy and know that something is not right

If you or your loved one with symptoms is in a high, "at-risk" group, see your doctor every bit soon every bit possible. Pneumonia can become a life-threatening condition.

When should I go to the emergency room?

Become to the emergency room or telephone call 911 if y'all:

• Struggle to exhale or are brusque of breath while sitting withal
• Have new or worsening chest pain
• Are confused or cannot think clearly

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Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4471-pneumonia

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