Pneumonia: cause & effect
Pneumonia is caused by an infection that impacts the lungs. The infection causes air sacs to fill with pus and fluid, resulting in significant disruption to the respiratory system and overall health of the body. Until the infection is contained, pneumonia patients will have a variety of unpleasant symptoms.
The most common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Pain in the chest
- Productive coughing
- Vomiting
- Shortness of breath
Medical treatment should be sought as soon as pneumonia symptoms are observed. Pneumonia is especially dangerous for seniors and individuals with a compromised immune system. Treatment may include antibiotics to eliminate the infection, as well as other medications for symptom management.
If left untreated
Untreated pneumonia may lengthen the duration of sickness and is a potentially deadly illness. The longer a patient has pneumonia, the more he or she risks the development of complications. Organ failure, bacterial infections in the blood, and the spread of infections are all risk factors associated with untreated pneumonia. DispatchHealth can help treat your non-life-threatening pneumonia today. Contact us to learn more.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Phil Mitchell MD, MS on July 24th, 2019
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