Types of Pneumonia

Written by Hu Xue Jun
Pulmonology
Updated on September 14, 2024
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Now let's talk about what pneumonia is and its classification. Pneumonia refers to inflammation of the terminal airways, alveoli, and pulmonary interstitium. It can be caused by pathogenic microorganisms, physicochemical factors, immune damage, allergies, and drugs. Bacterial pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia and is also one of the most common infectious diseases. The classification of pneumonia generally involves several aspects: First is the anatomical classification: from an anatomical perspective, it can be divided into lobar pneumonia (alveolar pneumonia), bronchopneumonia (bronchial pneumonia), and interstitial pneumonia. Second, the classification based on etiology, which mainly includes the following aspects. The first is bacterial pneumonia, which includes Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia, Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia, and Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia, etc. The second point is pneumonia caused by atypical pathogens such as Legionella, Mycoplasma, and Chlamydia. The third is viral pneumonia. The fourth refers to fungal diseases or fungal pneumonia. The fifth is pneumonia caused by other pathogens: such as rickettsiae, parasites. The sixth is pneumonia caused by physicochemical factors: such as radiation pneumonia, inhalational pneumonia, and lipid pneumonia. The third category is classification by the environment of illness, which can be divided into two types: the first is community-acquired pneumonia, and the second is hospital-acquired pneumonia.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
1min 24sec home-news-image

Can pneumonia vaccines prevent mycoplasma pneumonia?

Can pneumonia vaccines prevent Mycoplasma infections? First, we need to understand what pneumonia vaccines are. In our country, the most commonly used pneumonia vaccines are aimed at Streptococcus pneumoniae, which are divided into polysaccharide vaccines and conjugate vaccines. Polysaccharide vaccines are mainly suitable for individuals over two years old and include the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine. This vaccine can prevent infections caused by twenty-three serotypes that often lead to S. pneumoniae infections, with over 90% of pneumonia caused by these twenty-three serotypes. However, the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine does not prevent infections caused by other serotypes of S. pneumoniae. Additionally, the conjugate vaccine only prevents infections caused by either seven or thirteen serotypes. Since Mycoplasma is neither a bacterium nor a virus, it cannot be prevented by pneumonia vaccines, and currently, there is no vaccine available specifically for Mycoplasma infections.

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Written by Hu Xue Jun
Pulmonology
56sec home-news-image

Is pneumonia serious?

Is pneumonia serious, and what will happen if it worsens or goes untreated? Severe pneumonia can lead to septic shock and can even be life-threatening. If pneumonia is not treated or not treated thoroughly, it can deteriorate into the following conditions: First, it can cause lung abscesses and empyema, and even lead to pericarditis, meningitis, and more; Second, the infection can enter the bloodstream, causing bacteremia and even septic shock; Third, the patient's continuous high fever can lead to febrile convulsions and even the possibility of coma; Fourth, extensive pneumonia can reduce the function of the alveoli, causing hypoxia and carbon dioxide retention. Hypoxia can affect the function of the nervous system, and patients with severe pneumonia may experience drowsiness, irritability, and even convulsions and coma.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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What department does pneumonia go to?

What department should I go to for pneumonia? Pneumonia, as the name suggests, is a lung disease, which is to say it is a disease of our respiratory system. Therefore, the most appropriate department to visit would be the Department of Respiratory Medicine. If the patient's condition is relatively stable, they can visit the outpatient Respiratory Medicine department. Of course, there are a small number of patients whose condition is very critical, and in such cases, they must first visit the Department of Emergency Medicine. The doctors in Emergency Medicine will decide based on the patient's condition whether their next step should be to go to Respiratory Medicine, be admitted for in-hospital treatment, remain in the emergency for observation, or need to be admitted to the ICU for further emergency treatment.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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How many doses are there for the pneumonia vaccine?

Currently, there are two types of vaccines commonly used to prevent pneumococcal diseases. One type is the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine, suitable for high-risk populations over two years old. The other type includes the 7-valent or 13-valent conjugate vaccines, used for vaccinating infants under two years old. The vaccination schedule for the 7-valent or 13-valent vaccines follows a "three plus one" program, which means three primary immunization doses with at least one month between each dose, followed by a booster dose. For the 23-valent vaccine, high-risk individuals over two years old generally require only a single dose; however, immunocompromised patients may need a booster shot, typically recommended five years after the initial vaccination.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Pneumonia symptoms in children

Children presenting with pneumonia primarily exhibit symptoms related to respiratory infections, with fever often as a typical manifestation. Common symptoms include sudden chills, high fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, and vomiting, followed by an irritative dry cough. As the condition progresses, the dry cough turns into a productive cough with phlegm, accompanied by difficulty breathing, chest pain, and expectoration. Some may also show signs of oxygen deprivation such as cyanosis of the lips and changes in nail color. Active chest X-ray and routine blood tests are necessary for diagnosis.