Is pneumonia contagious? What does it mean? Can this mean that a person catches pneumonia from the patient? Or can it be transferred from one person to another?

Most people ask this question because of the weird symptoms, such as coughing, fever, chest sounds, or flu-like symptoms. Usually, people do not feel comfortable while sitting with a patient suffering from pneumonia.

What is pneumonia? Is Pneumonia Contagious

Pneumonia is basically the inflammation of the air sacs inside the lungs. The inflammation occurs due to infection caused by organisms entering the lungs through the airway.

 As a result of infection, swelling occurs, and secretions accumulate in the lungs. This interferes with the lungs’ oxygen-absorption capacity.

That’s why patients with pneumonia have cough, fever, and decreased oxygen levels. However, to fulfill the oxygen demand, breathing rate increases.

What causes pneumonia?

As discussed above, pneumonia is a type of chest infection. This infection is caused by a bacterium, virus, or fungus.

How do the pneumonia-causing organisms enter the lungs?

The disease-causing organisms enter the body through different routes, but the most common route is through inhalation.

The other routes are inhalation, via the stream, or in hospitalized patients, especially those on a ventilator, who acquire ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

What are the different types of pneumonia?

Types of pneumonia depend upon the type of organism, such as fungal pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia, and viral pneumonia.

How to recognize the symptoms of pneumonia from other chest infections?

Pneumonia is a chest infection. It is necessary to identify the symptoms of pneumonia from other chest infections. The following are some signs and symptoms of pneumonia:

• Fever with chills
• Cough, it could be dry or productive
• Chest congestion
• Severe chest pain
• Weak and lethargic
• Difficulty in breathing
• Decrease in oxygen level
• Shortness of breath on exertion, even in the sitting and resting position.
• Weight gain due to the accumulation of fluid
• Flu may be the initial symptom, but it will resolve after some time.

What is walking pneumonia? Is Pneumonia Contagious

Walking pneumonia is basically a mild form of pneumonia. A person with walking pneumonia is not identified as such; a person with pneumonia can actively do their work, walk around, and do their daily routine activities.

The symptoms of walking pneumonia mimic those of the flu and are as follows:

• Mild fever with chills
• Sore throat
• Flu-like symptoms
• Mild Body aches

Although the symptoms of walking pneumonia are not aggressive, care and treatment are needed. Moreover, it can be more serious if the proper care and treatment are not started on time.

Can pneumonia be transferred from one person to another?

A person with pneumonia and with active secretions can transfer it to another individual. It is less often seen in bacterial and fungal pneumonia, but can be contagious in viral pneumonia, such as COVID-19 pneumonia.

If the secretions are not managed with care, and a person comes in contact with the infected secretions, they can catch the organism, and this could lead to pneumonia in the healthy person. So, it is necessary to take care while handling the patient with pneumonia.

How to take care of patients infected with pneumonia at home?

A person with a moderate to severe form of pneumonia usually needs hospitalization. But if caring at home, the following precautions should be carried out.

What is the treatment of pneumonia?

As discussed above, pneumonia can be transmitted to another person if care is not properly carried out. So, while taking care of a patient at home, it is necessary to keep them isolated from children and individuals with compromised immunity, such as a cancer patient.

Physical hygiene of the patient:

Keep the patient neat and clean and properly manage the secretions.Keep encouraging the fluid intake.Keep an eye on the breathing pattern of the patient. If the patient feels more shortness of breath in the sitting or resting position or on exertion, the patient should be taken to a healthcare facility.

The shortness of breath indicates that the inflammation or fluid in the lungs has increased and needs breathing support.Chest pain is a typical symptom of pneumonia.

So, it is necessary to keep the patient’s pain under control. It could be controlled by painkillers; if the pain worsens, one must consult with the healthcare provider for a stronger painkiller.

Avoid opiods for pain releif: Is Pneumonia Contagious?

Pain killers, such as opioids, should be avoided to relieve pain, as the major side effect of opioids is respiratory depression or respiratory distress. This means that it can further make breathing difficult.Avoid intravenous fluid,

as it could lead to further fluid accumulation in the lungs and could further worsen or deteriorate the condition.

Management of fever in pneumonia: Is Pneumonia Contagious?

Controlling the fever is another challenge in the patient with pneumonia, as the patient with pneumonia feels chills with fever, so do not try to do cold sponging, as it could further lead to shivering.

Keep the head side or the pillow elevated; if the patient sleeps flat on the bed, it could lead to a decrease in the oxygen levels.

Try to give hot fluids orally, such as green tea, warm milk, etc.

Do steam inhalation to loosen the thick secretions, so the patient can expectorate them easily.

If nebulization is advised with medicine, keep the patient in an upright position so that the maximum fumes of the medicine enter the airway and help loosen the secretions.

Encourage the patient to cough and do back chest rubs to expel the secretions.

Rest is necessary, but do not limit yourself to the bed; do walk as you tolerate, this will help in the fluid regulation in the whole body, so that the fluid will not accumulate in the lungs.

Fluid intake: Is Pneumonia Contagious?

Encourage the patient to do deep breathing exercises. It will be better if a spirometer is available; if not, you can help the patient by filling a balloon or blowing air towards a piece of napkin.

Try to offer an herbal tea containing clove, cumin, black pepper, and ginger; all these contain anti-inflammatory properties, and also help in boosting immunity. This will help in fast recovery from the illness.

The treatment of pneumonia also depends upon the type of pneumonia; if it’s bacterial, the healthcare provider will treat it with an antibacterial. If it’s viral, it will be treated with antiviral, or if it’s due to fungus, the treatment will be antifungal.

Can we prevent pneumonia?  

Yes, pneumonia can be prevented by following these tips and care:

Good hygiene practices: Is Pneumonia Contagious?

Good hygiene practice includes a focus on hand washing. Must wash your hands after touching doors, especially doors in hospitals, where there is a high risk of getting an infection.

Must wear a mask when visiting crowded places, such as markets and malls, especially in winter.

Avoid shaking hands and hugging individuals with symptoms of chest infection.

• Vaccination against pneumonia gives protection and develops immunity.

Who is at risk of getting pneumonia? Is Pneumonia Contagious

Everyone can suffer from pneumonia; however, people with the following conditions can get the infection easily.

• Patients on chemotherapy
• Babies with low birth weight and also children with low immunity
• Individuals who are not vaccinated against pneumonia are at higher risk of getting pneumonia.
• Patients who visit cold places without proper precautions.

As pneumonia could be serious, if not managed on time, its prevention includes vaccination, avoiding contact with sick individuals, and taking proper precautions in winter, especially in the dry season. Moreover, keep an eye on breathing patterns, especially in children.