Pneumonia

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a common lung infection that can sometimes be serious or even deadly. It’s caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi. When you have pneumonia, the air sacs in your lungs fill with fluid, making it harder to breathe.

How does it spread?

Pneumonia spreads by breathing in infected droplets from coughs or sneezes. It can also spread through blood or develop after a cold or flu, where germs can grow in the lungs. The infection can develop quickly in just 1-3 days.

What different types are there?

There are several types of pneumonia. One of the most common life-threatening types is pneumococcal pneumonia, which is caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae. 

The different types of pneumonia can be grouped as:

• Viral: More than half of all pneumonia cases are thought to be caused by viruses like influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). COVID-19 can also cause pneumonia. 
• Bacterial: These are caused by bacteria. Pneumococcal pneumonia is a severe type of pneumonia that can even be deadly.
  Other bacterial forms include:
  • Mycoplasma: usually with milder symptoms but can have a longer recovery. It mostly affects children and young adults.
  • Pseudomonas: which mostly affects people with weakened immune systems or people with  a lung disease like COPD or bronchiectasis.
• Fungal: This less common type is caused by breathing in fungal spores and usually only affects people with advanced lung disease or with weakened immune systems. 

Who is most at risk?

Anyone can get pneumonia, but some people are at higher risk, including:

• People over 70
• All people who smoke, but especially those with other health problems (diabetes, cancer or disease in the lungs, heart, kidneys or liver)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Babies (12 months and under)

It doesn’t matter how healthy or active you are, your risk of pneumonia will increase as you age because your immune system weakens over time.

Symptoms

Symptoms can be different depending on the cause, your age and how severe the infection is. If you seem to be recovering from a cold or flu, and then it gets worse, it could be pneumonia. See your doctor immediately, as it could be life-threatening. 

The symptoms include:

• Rapid breathing
• Trouble breathing
• Cough
• Fever
• Tiredness
• Chest pain

Prevention

The best way to prevent pneumonia is to get vaccinated for several respiratory infections, including pneumococcal, influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often and avoid smoking or second-hand smoke.

Pneumococcal vaccines

There are vaccines that protect against pneumococcal disease. Free vaccines are available for:

• Children under 5
• People with certain medical conditions, including some but not all lung diseases 
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50+
• People 70+

You can still pay to have one if you’re not eligible for a free vaccine. Ask your doctor, specialist or pharmacist for more information.

Diagnosis and treatment

Your doctor will diagnose pneumonia based on your symptoms and a chest exam. They may also do blood tests or a chest x-ray to confirm. The type of treatment depends on your age and the type of infection. 

Treatment options include:

• Hospital stay (especially for babies, young children, and people over 70)
• Fluids
• Antibiotics (if caused by bacteria)
• Pain and fever medications
• Rest (sitting up is better than lying down)

Recovering from pneumonia

For people living with a lung disease, recovery from pneumonia can take a few months or more depending on the severity. Watch this video to learn more about how to support your recovery.