Diseases A–ZPneumonia
Other types of pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs.There most common kinds of pneumonia are bacterial pneumonia, viral pneumonia, and mycoplasma pneumonia. There are also other kind of pneumonia. These can have many different causes. They are less common than pneumonias caused by viruses or bacteria. Here are some examples of special pneumonias:
1. Aspiration pneumonia
You can get aspiration pneumonia if you breathe (aspirate) something into your lungs, for example vomit, food or dust. Vomit is the most common cause of aspiration pneumonia. This can happen when people are unconscious or semi-conscious (knocked out) because of a stroke, accident or alcohol or drug overdose. Other things that can cause aspiration pneumonia include:
- liquid (for example, water)
- dust
- fungus
For more information on aspiration pneumonia, see this article from MedlinePlus, a non-profit health information website based in the US.
2. Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP)
Pneumocystis jiroveci used to be referred to as Pneumocystis carinii, and it is a type of fungus that is commonly found in the environment. It can cause pneumonia in people with weak immune systems. It is most common in people with HIV/AIDS, diabetes, sickle cell and lung disease, and in people whose immune systems are weak from taking cancer treatment. Healthy people rarely get sick from breathing in the Pneumocystis jiroveci fungus.
Common symptoms include:
- fever
- cough (often mild and dry)
- shortness of breath
- fast breathing
If you have a weak immune system because of a chronic disease (for example, lung disease or HIV) and you get a cough, fever and/or shortness of breath, call your doctor.
For more information on Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, see Medlineplus, a non-profit health information website based in the US.
|
