General symptoms of pneumonia include cough, fever, pain in the chest, fatigue and breathing problems. Doctors often call pneumonia as walking pneumonia in case the symptoms are mild. Here are some answers to most frequently asked questions about pneumonia:

Who discovered pneumonia?

The discovery of pneumonia can be attributed to Hippocrates, an ancient Greek doctor, also regarded as the "father of medicine". The symptoms of pneumonia were first understood and revealed by him. However, the actual progress and deeper understanding of pneumonia was made by Carl Friedländer and Albert Fränkel during the 1880s. Carl Friedländer introduced the Gram stain test and process which is used to identify and categorize bacteria causing pneumonia. Pneumonia was one of the primary reasons of deaths during the year 1918. However, with the advent of modern medicine mortality rate went up; this can be particularly attributed to the discovery of penicillin and other such antibiotics along with several other advanced medical procedures. Along with the names mentioned above, several other people were also responsible for bringing up the right treatments for pneumonia and making deaths caused by pneumonia a thing of history.

What are the causes of pneumonia?

Pneumonia is usually caused by aerial bacteria which are inhaled by a person into his lungs. The more chances of one hitting pneumonia are during a cold or flu when the body's resistance power is weak to fight these bacteria. Patients with certain chronic diseases are also more prone to hit pneumonia than others.

What are the signs and symptoms of pneumonia?

The common signs and symptoms of pneumonia include cough, breathing problems, cold, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, etc. The symptoms of pneumonia differ in different people and it is not often that all of the symptoms can be seen in one person, although that is possible.

How long does pneumonia last or how long does it take to cure pneumonia?

The duration or time pneumonia lasts is dependant entirely on a person and differs for different people. There are usually many factors that contribute to the delay for pneumonia cure. Speaking generally, many types of pneumonia (including walking pneumonia) doesn't last for more than 2-3 weeks with proper medical consultation, however this may not be the case of acute pneumonia.

Is pneumonia contagious?

Pneumonia is contagious but sort of indirectly. A pneumonia infected person is less likely to infect another person with pneumonia directly but rather can infect someone with cold which generally occurs before pneumonia. With proper medication and antibiotics this can sure be avoided. Cold can spread of course through a sneezing person or by staying close and inhaling the same air.

What is walking pneumonia?

Walking pneumonia is known as a milder form of pneumonia in medical circles. A person infected with walking pneumonia can recover far quickly with proper medical care and advice. However, it is to be noted that, ignorance might aggravate the situation and worsen the pneumonia. Unlike regular pneumonia, the difference with walking pneumonia is that it does not carry serious symptoms rather symptoms like simple headache, sore throat, running nose and fatigue.

Can you die from walking pneumonia?

Yes you can, but it is highly unlikely in a healthy person. Also, people with chronic health problems or higher age are far more likely to get into trouble if proper medical consultation is not done. If left untreated pneumonia may aggravate and cause some serious problems. Therefore, its best advised, no matter what your age to see a doctor and seek medical help to stay fit and alive.

What are the types of pneumonia?

Here are different types of pneumonia:

1. Aspiration Pneumonia
2. Bacterial Pneumonia
3. Chlamydial Pneumonia
4. Drug-Resistant Pneumonia
5. Eosinophilic Pneumonia  
6. Mycoplasma Pneumonia  
7. Pneumococcal Pneumonia  
8. Streptococcal Pneumonia  
9. Viral Pneumonia
   
   • Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)
   • Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (HAP)

What are the different stages of pneumonia?

Pneumonia occurs in four different stages viz:

1. Congestion - Accumulation of bacteria
2. Red hepatization - Extravasations (exuding or passing out of a vessel into surrounding tissues) occurs in the alveolar spaces (tiny air sacs of the lungs)
3. Gray hepatization - Red cells break up due to chemical formations.
4. Closure - The body's enzyme activity digests liquids which can finally be thrown out or cleared by coughing.

Are there any home based treatments for pneumonia?

There certainly are home based treatments that can be pursued and done safely at your home. However, this should only be done with proper guidance and consultation with a medical health care professional.