Pneumonia

Ayurvedic Name: Shwasanat Jwara

What is a Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a general term that refers to an infection of one or both of the lungs, usually caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. Pneumonia may also be a cause from some chemicals breathed into the stomach, or indirectly due to any other medical illness, such as lung cancer or alcohol abuse.

Pneumonia is often a complication of already existing infections and is triggered as soon as the patient's defense system is weakened, most often by a simple viral upper respiratory tract infection (nose or throat infection) or a case of influenza, especially in the elder people. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

There are main three types of pneumonia, classified according to the organism which causes them. They are:

• bacterial.
• viral.
• mycoplasma.

Less common form of pneumonia caused by a fungus is called pneumocystis carinii, which mostly strikes people with AIDS. Tuberculosis can also cause pneumonia.