Pneumonia Treatment Specialist in Redlands, CA

Pneumonia is an infection that can occur in one or both of your lungs simultaneously. When pneumonia occurs, it causes alveoli inflammation, which are small air sacs in your lungs that are instrumental in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide whenever you inhale and exhale. With pneumonia, the alveoli fill up with fluid or pus, causing breathing difficulties and several other symptoms.

Pneumonia is caused by either bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. Bacterial infections are the most common cause of pneumonia, specifically from the bacterial germ known as Streptococcus pneumoniae. When a bacterial infection causes pneumonia, it is known as pneumococcal pneumoniae. Other types of bacteria that can cause pneumonia include Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. However, such types of pneumococcal pneumoniae are referred to as “atypical,” as they produce different sets of symptoms than Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumococcal pneumoniae is typically the most severe type of pneumonia.

Viral infections of the upper respiratory tract can also cause pneumonia, particularly influenza in adults and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children. While bacterial pneumonia is typically the more severe type, viral pneumonia can also cause severe complications.

Fungal pneumonia is rare among healthy adults but more common among immune-compromised individuals. This type of pneumonia occurs when fungal spores in the air, soil, or other substance or environment invade and infect the lungs through inhalation. The three most common fungal species that cause fungal pneumonia include Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, and Pneumocystis.

While there are various causes and types of pneumonia, the symptoms of each are relatively uniform, which sometimes creates challenges for accurate diagnosis. With that in mind, some of the most common and uniform pneumonia symptoms include:

– Appetite loss
– Breathing difficulties, such as shortness of breath (dyspnea), pain while breathing, or rapid and shallow breathing
– Bluish lips or nailbeds
– Chills
– Confusion
– Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
– Dry cough with viral pneumonia
– Exhaustion or low energy levels
– Fever
– Headache
– Muscle weakness
– Productive cough with thick, yellow or green mucus with bacterial pneumonia
– Sharp, stabbing chest pain when breathing or coughing

If you are experiencing significant breathing difficulties, especially when at rest, confusion, bluish lips or nailbeds, high fever, or symptoms that continue to worsen, seek immediate medical care at an emergency room or urgent care clinic.

According to the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, nearly one million adults over 65 are hospitalized due to pneumonia every year. As such, it is undoubtedly an illness of concern for older adults. Some reasons that older adults are more at risk of pneumonia than younger individuals include a higher likelihood of chronic health conditions in older adults, and our immune system naturally weakens as we get older.

We proudly provide pneumonia treatment at the clinic of Mohamed Nassar, MD. For more information about pneumonia and our treatment options at Mohamed Nassar, MD, in Redlands, CA, call us today or simply request a telemedicine appointment online now. We are conveniently located at 255 Terracina Blvd, Suite 105 Redlands, CA 92373. We serve patients from Redlands CA, Loma Linda CA, Mentone CA, Highland CA, Moonlight Rim CA, Grand Terrace CA, El Casco CA, Greenspot CA, and surrounding areas.