Once called "Winter Fever," the symptoms of pneumonia have been known since the time of Greek physician Hippocrates, who commented on it around 460 BC.
It wasn't until the late 1800s that the bacterial cause of pneumonia was identified'Streptococcus pneumoniae was first isolated in 1880 by Louis Pasteur and George Sternberg. By the 1940s, with the development and mass production of antibiotics like penicillin, more people began to survive the lung disease.
While treatment today is highly effective, especially with antibiotics for bacterial cases, pneumonia remains the leading single infectious cause of death in children under 5 worldwide, claiming over 700,000 young lives each year'or about 2,000 per day.
Pneumonia is an inflammation or infection of the lungs. Air sacs in one or more lung lobes fill with pus or other fluids, preventing inhaled oxygen from reaching the blood.
Viral pneumonia often occurs after a viral disease, such as influenza or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). But pneumonia can also be caused by bacteria (most commonly Streptococcus pneumoniae), fungi, or even aspiration of food or liquids.
Pneumonia ranges in severity from mild to severe and can be fatal, particularly in young children, older adults, and those with underlying conditions. Viral and bacterial pneumonia are contagious, spreading through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing; fungal types are not. Vaccines are available to protect against key bacterial and viral causes, and antibiotics treat bacterial infections effectively.
Protect yourself from pneumonia by washing your hands frequently; maintaining general health through a balanced diet, regular exercise, and not smoking; and avoiding close contact with people who are ill, especially those sneezing or coughing.
Two big steps for prevention: Get a flu shot and a pneumococcal vaccine'now recommended for all children under 5, adults 50 and older, and those with certain risk factors.
