How Can You Reduce
Your Risk of Lung Infection?

What Is a Lung Infection?

A lung infection is an infection of one or both lungs. Such infections are caused by bacteria, a virus or a fungus. Depending on the infectious agent in question, the large bronchial tubes, the air passages that lead to the lungs or the lungs themselves may become infected. Regardless of the area of infection or what causes it, lung infections can result in uncomfortable to downright painful symptoms.

Symptoms of Lung Infection

The symptoms of lung infection range in severity, from mild to life-threatening. Three main factors affect the severity of a lung infection. The first is whether the infection is caused by a virus, bacteria or fungus. The second is the length of time the infection goes untreated. The third is whether a person has any underlying medical conditions, such as a weakened immune system or COPD. A few of the most common symptoms of lung infection are as follows:

• Cough With Thick Mucus: Mucus is a substance that your body produces to rid the lungs and airways of inflammation. If you are coughing up thick mucus that is clear, green, white or yellowish gray in colour, you may have a lung infection. Because mucus comes from within, it may also contain blood. Though cough with mucus is not exclusive to lung infections, it is extremely common with pneumonia and bronchitis.
• Fever: Fever accompanies almost every illness, as it is an indicator that the body is trying to fight off illness or infection. While most instances of fever should not worry you, a fever of 102 or higher should be cause for concern. You will know your fever is this high if you develop other symptoms, such as chills, muscle aches, sweating, dehydration, weakness and/or headache. If you develop a fever this high, you should see a doctor right away.

If you have a bacterial lung infection, your fever may rise as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit. In this case, you should definitely seek emergency medical attention.

If your fever lasts for three days or more, again, see a doctor.

• Runny Nose: Though a runny nose is considered an “everyday” symptom, it can be a sign of lung infection.
• Stabbing Chest Pains: Many people with lung infection claim to feel a “stabbing chest pain,” which tends to worsen with coughing or deep breathing. For some people, sharp pains can be felt in the mid to upper back rather than directly in the chest.
• Body Aches: When you have a lung infection, you may experience muscle and back aches. This may be due to myalgia. It may also be due to inflammation of the muscles themselves, which can also cause muscle aches during a lung infection.
• Shortness of Breath: Shortness of breath occurs when you experience breathing difficulties, or when you cannot breathe in completely. Shortness of breath is common with increasingly severe lung infections.
• Wheezing: Along with shortness of breath, you may experience wheezing, which sounds like a high-pitched whistling coming from your lungs. Wheezing happens when your airways become inflamed and, therefore, narrowed.
• Fatigue: As oxygen deprivation grows increasingly severe, you may grow more tired. Fatigue can also occur when your body works to fight off an infection.
• Cackling or Rattling Sounds in Your Lungs: While wheezing is a sign of lack of oxygen, cackling or rattling sounds in the lungs are definitive signs of lung infection.
• Bluish Tint on the Lips and Skin: When the body lacks sufficient oxygen, it begins to take on a bluish tint, which will be evident on the lips almost before any other part of the body.

Causes of Lung Infection

Lung infections and their symptoms can be scary, but before you can understand how to prevent them, it is first important to understand their causes. There are three main causes of lung infection:

• Pneumonia, which can be caused by both bacteria, such as Streptococcus, and viruses, such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• Bronchitis, which can also be caused by bacteria and viruses, such as Chlamydia pneumoniae, Bordetella pertussis, RSV and influenza
• Bronchiolitis, which is typically caused by RSV but can also be caused by other viruses

How To Prevent Lung Infection

Unfortunately, given that many viral and lung infections stem from everyday viruses and bacteria, they are not always preventable. That said, you can take steps to protect yourself with the following tips:

• Wash your hands regularly
• Avoid sharing food, utensils, drinks and other objects with other people
• Avoid touching your mouth, face or eyes
• Avoid crowded places where viruses can easily spread from person to person
• Avoid smoking tobacco or, if you already smoke, try quitting entirely
• Get the flu shot every year to avoid contracting influenza
• Get other vaccinations designed to prevent viral infections that could lead to lung infections
• Wear a mask when in crowded places

Some groups of individuals are more at risk than others. Individuals within these groups should take extra precautions to reduce their risk of lung infection, such as by getting the PCV13 pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or PPSV23 pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. These immunizations are designed for the following groups of people:

• Elderly adults
• Infants
• Individuals who smoke
• Individuals who live with chronic health conditions

Additional tips for preventing lung infections include keeping infants and elderly persons from swallowing small objects, avoiding second-hand smoke, ensuring children get the measles and whooping cough vaccines, and staying indoors when pollution levels are high.