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Running Head: DISEASE REPORT ON CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF PNEUMONIA

Disease Report on Causes and Prevention of Pneumonia

Name:
Institution:

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DISEASE REPORT ON CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF PNEUMONIA
Introduction
Pneumonia can be spread when viruses and
bacteria found in the nose or throat are inhaled
Pneumonia is a nosocomial respiratory
into the lungs. The viruses and bacteria can also
disease that often leads to inflammation of the
spread through air droplets from sneezes and
lungs. Pneumonia is likely to occur
coughs. Pneumonia can also be spread through
immediately after suffering from a cold or flu.
blood especially during the process of child
These illnesses lower the disease fighting
delivery. (World Health Organization, 2015)
ability of the lungs and hence make one
vulnerable to getting pneumonia. Streptococcus
Pneumonia Classification
pneumoniae is the most common causative
Community-acquired pneumonia is the most
bacteria although many types of bacteria lead to
common type of acquired pneumonia. The
pneumonia infection. People with impaired
pneumonia is caused by bacteria, fungi, and
immune systems are said to have a special type
viruses some of which are the major causes for
of fungi that causes pneumonia in their bodies
colds and flu. (Mayo, 2016)
known as Pneumocystis jiroveci. (Web Medical,
2016)
Hospital-acquired pneumonia is pneumonia
is commonly found in hospitals. This type of
Pneumonia is classified according to where
pneumonia is believed to be the most severe
one got the infection from. The following are
and can be resistant to antibiotics. Patients on
the classifications; Community-acquired
ventilators are at a higher risk of contracting
pneumonia, Hospital-acquired pneumonia, and
this kind of pneumonia. (Mayo, 2016)
Health care-acquired pneumonia. (Mayo,
2016). It is, however, ironic that a healthy
persons nose and throat contain pneumoniacausing bacteria, but pneumonia can only
develop if the microbes spread to the lungs.
(Web Medical, 2016)
Symptoms
Symptoms of pneumonia vary from patient to
patient depending on the type of causative
microbe, the age of the patient and the
immunity of the person contracting the
infection. The most common symptoms of
Pneumonia include consistent coughs, mild or
high fevers shaking chills and shortened
breaths. Sharp chest pains may occur as stubs
may occur and can get worse in cases of deep
breathing. Headaches, excessive sweating, loss
of appetite and confusion are also symptoms
that can be observed on pneumatic people.

Transmission

Healthcare acquired pneumonia is an

infection caused by bacteria and occurs in
patients who reside in care facilities for an
extended period. The bacterial infection is more
likely to be resistant to antibiotics just like the
hospital acquired pneumonia. (Mayo, 2016)
Aspiration pneumonia is a type of pneumonia
which occurs when one inhales food materials
or saliva into the lungs. The kind of pneumonia
is predominant with people suffering from brain
injuries or long time drug addicts. (Mayo,
2016)

Microbes description
Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria discovered
and isolated by Louis Pasteur in 1881 is a strain
of bacteria shaped like cocci that is slightly
pointed. The bacteria are found in pairs but
others can exist as single cells and short chains
(figure 1 and figure 2). The name is derived
from the ancient Greek Strepto to mean
twisted and coccos meaning berry. The
bacteria is alpha hemolytic which describes

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DISEASE REPORT ON CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF PNEUMONIA
their breakdown of the red cells. (New Health
recommended for people with severe
Advisor, 2015) The bacteria is responsible for
pneumonia cases.
up to 25% of the types of pneumonia that are
Conclusion
reported. Certain serotypes of Streptococcus
pneumoniae produce necrotizing abscesses in
Respiratory diseases are a menace that
the lung. The bacteria is known to have 90
we cannot escape. However, refusing to fight
serotypes. (Center for Disease Control and
the menace will be deemed as our choice of
Prevention, 2015)
failure. With the rising economic budget
constraints on pneumonia treatment, leveling up
Most serotypes of S.pneumoniae are disease
on the fight against pneumonia is our left
causatives, but only a few cause pneumococcal
option. We are left with limited options but to
infections. Pneumococci inhabit the respiratory
find ways to prevent pneumonia at all costs.
tract and may face isolation from the
Children under two years of age stand as the
nasopharynx of 5-90% of the healthy people.
most vulnerable group when it comes to
The carriers of the bacteria are both children
Pneumonia infections. Breastfeeding for six
and adults and the carriage duration is longer in
months is the campaign strategy which the
children than in adults. (Center for Disease
World Health Organization are using to prevent
Control and Prevention, 2015)
pneumonia in children.
Pneumocystis jiroveci formerly known by the
Countries such as Kenya, India,
name Pneumocystis carinii is a fungus (figure
Bangladesh
and Zambia have spearheaded
3) that is abundant in the environment. The
campaigns on a nation-wide scale to intensify
fungi cause life-threatening lung diseases. The
control measures for pneumonia in children.
fungi can also affect other body organs such as
the skin. Healthy people have antibodies that
fight the organism once it enters the body of an
individual. However, people suffering from
reduced levels of immune systems such as HIV
and AIDS victims the antibodies to fight the
fungi are weak. (Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, 2013)
Prevention
Adequate nutrition improves the natural
defenses and also assists in the reduction of the
period of sickness in the case of a pneumonia
infection.
Addressing factors of the environment such
as pollution and promotion of adequate hygiene
can significantly reduce the number of
pneumonia infections. (World Health
Organization, 2015)
Treatment
Pneumonia is treated with antibiotics with
amoxicillin tablets being the most preferred
antibiotic. Hospitalization is however

APPENDIX 1: Cell structure S.pneumoniae

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DISEASE REPORT ON CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF PNEUMONIA
Works Cited
1. Center for Disease Control and
Prevention, (. C. (2015, June 10).
Pneumococcal Disease | Clinical |
Streptococcus Pneumoniae. Retrieved
from www.cdc.gov:
www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/clinicians/
streptococcus-pneumoniae.html

Figure 1 Cell structure of Streptococcus pneumoniae

APPENDIX 2: Streptococcus pneumoniae

2. Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention. (2013, November 29).
CDC-DPDX-Pneumocytsis jirovecii.
Retrieved from www.cdc.gov:
www.cdc.gov/dpdx/pneumocystis
3. Mayo. (2016, August 14). Symptoms
and causes - Pneumonia. Retrieved
from www.mayoclinic.org:
www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/pneumonia/sy,ptomscauses/dxc-20204678

Figure 2 Streptococcus pneumoniae

APPENDIX 3: Pneumocystis jiroveci

4. New Health Advisor. (2015, December

03). Strptococcus Pneumoniae.
Retrieved from newhealthadvisor.com:
newhealthadvisor.com/StrptococcusPneumoniae.html
5. Web Medical. (2016, May 14).
Pneumonia-Causes. Retrieved August
14, 2016, from www.webmd.com:
www.webmd.com/lung/tc/pneumoniacauses
6. World Health Organization. (2015,
November). WHO | Pneumonia.
Retrieved from www.who.int:
www.who.int/mediacenter/factsheets/fs3
31/en

Figure 3 Pneumocystis jiroveci in lungs