Bronchial Pneumonia Causes

Pneumonia is more than just a single disease.

Different type of pneumonia infections:

1. Bacteria (B.P.) or wet p. – when the natural immune response of the body is lowered due to age, disease, malnutrition or alcoholism, the normal bacteria of the mouth and the throat multiply and attack one or all 5 lobes of the lungs. The infected lobe then fills with pus and fluid and thus affects the lung’s normal capacity for oxygen exchange.

   • The infection could then gradually spill into the blood stream and invade the whole body. Bacteria can get into the lungs form the air or from other sites. Infections could be community acquired or could be caught while in hospital.

   • The most common cause of bacterial (Lobar pneumonia) is streptococcus pneumonia.

   • Other pneumonia causing bacteria include H.influenza (usually active in early spring and winter), Chlamydia, Moraxella catarrhalis (smokers), Legionella (summer and fall in water delivery systems, air conditioning units), Staphylococcus aureus (Intravenous drug abusers - IVDA), and gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, anaerobes and Klebsiella.

2. Aspiration pneumonia occurs when contents of the stomach are accidentally inhaled into the lungs. It is more likely to happen when the normal swallowing mechanism is impaired due to the person being unconscious from seizure, or stroke, or from acid reflux or vomiting (alcoholics). Several types of bacteria can infect the lungs in the following manner

   • Empyema- referring to the pus formed between the layers of the covering over the lungs called as the pleura.

   • Viruses- are caught by being exposed to airborne infected virus droplets from somebody sneezing and coughing. Virus accounts for 50% of all pneumonias and are responsible for causing upper respiratory illness (airways near throat and mouth). These virus may also spread lower to the lungs and produce a patchy type of pneumonia that usually cures of its own accord. Some of the viruses are Influenza (A, B, C - most prevalent in adults), paraInfluenza (1,2,3,4), RSV (most common in infants), Chicken Pox, adenovirus, CMV and measles.

   • Mycoplasma pneumonia(walking pneumonia). This constitutes a small organism between a virus and bacteria and causes pneumonia with an irritating dry cough that comes on in aggressive spells.

3. Pneumocystis carinii (PCP) - this is believed to be a fungus and often causes pneumonia in persons infected with AIDS or lowered bodily defenses.

4. Tuberculosis (TB) caused by an organism called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (i.e M bovis and M africanum). It is contagious, and could also infect the lungs and other organs like brain, spine, kidney etc.)

5. Rickettssaie- These are tiny organisms which cause diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever. This could mildly or severely affect the lungs.

6. Parasites – ascariasis (round worm) mainly in children

7. Others – Sometimes certain substances can enter the lungs and cause a blockage of the air passages, promoting bacterial growth and infecting the lung tissue. These substances could be:

   • Food- swallowing of a small object like a peanut or a pea.

   • Gases- furniture polish.

   • Dust – often dust, fungus, mould inhalation usually prevalent in farmers, mushroom pickers or miners (nickel dust)

   • Liquids – gasoline, kerosene

   • Foreign body ( swallowing of a coin or tooth)