Types of Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a disease that causes inflammation in a person’s lungs. The most common cause of pneumonia is infection by a bacteria known as Streptococcus pneumoniae, though, pneumonia can also be caused by other pathogens. Strep pneumonia refers to pneumococcal infections caused by S. pneumonniae.
Here are some of the types of pneumonia, grouped according to their causes⁴:
Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia
As the name suggests, hospital-acquired pneumonia is pneumonia that people develop during a hospital stay⁵. Patients who are seriously ill, or those that require a ventilator or breathing machine, have a higher risk of developing hospital-acquired pneumonia.
Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Community-acquired pneumonia refers to pneumonia that you get outside of the hospital. This is the most common way that people get infected with pneumonia, since pneumonia is a contagious disease.
Bacterial Pneumonia
Bacterial pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia. This is typically caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, though it can also be caused by other types of bacteria. S. pneumonniae causes strep pneumonia.
Viral Pneumonia
Viral pneumonia is pneumonia that’s caused by a viral infection. One of the more prominent examples of this is COVID-19. It’s also possible for a person to be affected by both viral pneumonia as well as bacterial pneumonia at the same time.
When this happens, it’s usually referred to as a pneumococcal coinfection.
Fungal Pneumonia
Fungal spores, when inhaled, can also be a cause of pneumonia. It develops when fungi travels through the bloodstream, and finds its way to a person’s lungs where it can cause an infection.
In contrast with other types of pneumonia, fungal pneumonia is usually not contagious. Treatment for fungal pneumonia typically involves using anti-fungal therapy.
What Symptoms Should You Watch Out For?
When it comes to pneumonia, here are some important symptoms to watch out for⁶:
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