Bacterial pneumonia

Bacterial Pneumonia

Bacterial pneumonia (pronounced: bak-TEER-ee-uhl noo-MOH-nee-uh) is a type of pneumonia caused by bacterial infection in the lungs.

Etymology

The term "bacterial pneumonia" is derived from the Greek words "bakterion" meaning small rod and "pneumon" meaning lung.

Definition

Bacterial pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus (purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing.

Causes

Bacterial pneumonia is most commonly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, but can also be caused by other types of bacteria such as Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydophila pneumoniae.

Symptoms

Symptoms of bacterial pneumonia can include a cough with greenish or yellow mucus, fever, chills, shortness of breath, and chest pain that worsens when taking a deep breath (known as pleuritic chest pain).

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia typically involves a physical examination, a chest X-ray, and a sputum culture to identify the type of bacteria causing the infection.

Treatment

Treatment for bacterial pneumonia usually involves antibiotics to kill the bacteria, along with rest, fluids, and medication to relieve symptoms.

Prevention

Prevention of bacterial pneumonia can include vaccination against the most common types of bacteria that cause pneumonia, good hygiene practices to prevent the spread of bacteria, and a healthy lifestyle to boost the immune system.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Bacterial pneumonia
Wikipedia's article - Bacterial pneumonia

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Bacterial pneumonia