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Viral Pneumonia

What Is Viral Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. In viral pneumonia, infection is caused by viruses. People of any age can be affected. Smokers, elderly people, and people with chronic lung diseases may be most likely to get it. People with weak immune (infection-fighting) systems because of chemotherapy or drug treatment after organ transplantation are especially at risk of getting cytomegalovirus pneumonia.

Bacterial pneumonias can follow viral pneumonias, especially those caused by influenza virus, because viruses can weaken lung defenses.

What Causes Viral Pneumonia?

Viral infections start after contaminated droplets from someone with an infection are breathed in. Virus can also be directly transferred to the nose, mouth, or eyes by hands that touched something contaminated with virus. The usual causes include influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, and varicella virus.

What Are the Symptoms of Viral Pneumonia?

Usual symptoms include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, muscle aches, tiredness, and poor appetite. Runny nose, irritated eyes, sore throat, and symptoms outside the respiratory tract (such as rashes) may occur.

How Is Viral Pneumonia Diagnosed?

It’s hard to tell whether a virus, and which virus, is causing pneumonia. Many viruses produce similar symptoms, and few specific diagnostic tests exist. The health care provider usually diagnoses pneumonia by using chest examinations, x-rays, and maybe tests of blood and respiratory secretions. Studies of blood and sputum are usually done to make sure a bacterial infection isn’t also present.

How Is Viral Pneumonia Treated?

Antiviral drugs may be prescribed, depending on the virus and how severe symptoms are.

Viral pneumonia in healthy people goes away in 1 to 2 weeks, but cough and fatigue may last for many weeks. Viral pneumonia can be serious and life-threatening in people with other medical illnesses.

DOs and DON’Ts in Managing Viral Pneumonia:

  • DO tell your health care provider about all your medical problems.
  • DO tell your health care provider about medicines you take, prescription and over-the-counter.
  • DO call your health care provider if you’re getting worse or don’t feel better after 2 to 3 days.
  • DO tell your health care provider if you’re pregnant.
  • DO call your health care provider right away or go to the emergency room if shortness of breath gets worse.
  • DO try to cough up as much phlegm as possible.
  • DO put an air humidifier in your room so you can breathe moist air, which helps get rid of phlegm.
  • DO drink plenty of fluids so you don’t get dehydrated.
  • DO use acetaminophen or aspirin (except in children) for fever and pain.
  • DO call your health care provider if you think that you have pneumonia because you have fever, too much sputum, increased shortness of breath, or chest pain.
  • DO call your health care provider if you have duskycolored skin, lips, or fingernails.
  • DO call your health care provider if nausea or vomiting stops you from taking your medicines.
  • DO call your health care provider if you get dehydrated because of vomiting or diarrhea.
  • DON’T stop taking your medicine just because you feel better, unless your health care provider tells you to.
  • DON’T smoke.
  • DON’T drink alcohol in excess.
FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact the following source:

  • American Lung Association
    Tel: (800) LUNG-USA (586-4872)
    Website: http://www.lungusa.org

Copyright © 2016 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc.

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