How does pneumonia kill

A relatively new pneumococcal vaccine for children called Prevnar, introduced by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, has proved effective in the United States, dramatically reducing disease incidence by approximately 80 percent.

Another H Flu Hib vaccine has also been found to be effective in field testing. International health economists are searching for a better way to fund lifesaving vaccines than relying on the free market alone. Explore four ways you can fight deadly diseases around the world. Rx for Child Survival.

Watch Video All rights reserved. All third party trademarks are owned by their respective owners and used with permission. Deadly Diseases Pneumonia The Greek physician Hippocrates described the symptoms of pneumonia 2, years ago. Return to Deadly Diseases. Children who are younger than 2 years old are more at risk of pneumonia because their immune systems have not developed fully.

According to the American Thoracic Society , pneumonia is the leading reason for children in the United States to be in a hospital.

Adults over 65 years old are also more at risk due to a decline of the immune system as people age. This makes it harder for the body to fight off infections. People may have a higher risk of getting pneumonia, or more serious cases of pneumonia, in the following circumstances:. Smoking and excessive use of alcohol or drugs can increase the risk of getting pneumonia or more life-threatening cases of pneumonia. If people have regular exposure to toxic chemicals, pollutants, or secondhand smoke, they may be more at risk of pneumonia, including more life-threatening cases.

If people notice the above symptoms, they should see their doctor. People should see a doctor immediately if they have:. Anybody who is at higher risk of pneumonia should see a doctor immediately if they notice any signs of pneumonia. This applies to infants, people over 65 years old, and anyone with a chronic health condition or weakened immune system. To diagnose pneumonia, a doctor will take a medical history and carry out a physical examination.

They will use a stethoscope to listen to the lungs for sounds of pneumonia when a person inhales. They may also take request a chest X-ray and blood test. If bacteria are the cause of pneumonia, people can take oral antibiotics.

Many people respond well to treatment at home and recover quickly. If people notice their symptoms are getting worse, they should see their doctor immediately. The virus itself can cause viral pneumonia, but having the flu can also put at person at risk for bacterial pneumonia, which is considered more severe.

Some cases of viral pneumonia can clear up on their own, without treatment, said Dr. Bacterial pneumonia, however, must be treated with antibiotics. It's unclear if Aschoff had bacterial pneumonia, but he said in his Dec. Choi, who works in an intensive care unit, said that pneumonia is one of the leading causes of patients' needing intensive care.

But depending on whether the infection is viral or bacterial, and the age and overall condition of the person, hospitalization may be required, and pneumonia may persist for a month or more, the Lung Association says. The type of pneumonia determines whether it's contagious or not, Fox News reported.

Robert Kotloff, chairman of pulmonary medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, told Kwan that from what he knows, he believes Clinton's pneumonia to be bacterial. Regardless of how quickly Clinton recovers, her case has brought attention to an illness that is responsible for about 15 percent of deaths of young children around the world, mostly in South Asia and sub-Sarahan Africa, according to the World Health Organization. Start your day with the top stories you missed while you were sleeping.

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