Bacterial Lung Infection

Is a bacterial lung infection contagious? Lung infections that are caused by microorganisms like bacteria are called bacterial infections. There are several lung infection diseases caused by bacteria like tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia and chronic bronchitis (infects air passage between bronchi and lungs), and cough and asthma. A common question that is generally asked, 'Is a bacterial infection contagious'? The answer is, it depends on the type of bacterial infection that affects you. Bacterial lung infection causes severe health concerns if not treated timely. Moreover, they may lead to more complications if they are allowed to advance. Chronic lung infection is certainly one of the most dangerous diseases, as it gradually eats away our lungs capacity to intake oxygen.

Causes
There are several possible reasons for bacterial infections. Sometimes, bacterial infections are caused due to the pollution and contamination of foods or drinks. Moist areas and rainy seasons favor growth of bacteria. Depending on an individual's immune system's ability to fight bacterial invasion, the body responds to bacterial infection. A person with weaker immune system becomes sick faster due to bacterial infection than a person with a strong immune system. Inhaling pollutants, toxic gases, dust and other harmful substances weakens the lung capacity and makes our immune system weaker and hence more susceptible to diseases.

Symptoms
Bacterial infection in lungs causes inflammation and swelling of lungs. These are further triggered by several other negative health implications. Depending on the type of infection, symptoms of this disease vary.

Diseases
The following are a few of the diseases that have troubled the human race for a long time. It is important to know about them and do our best to avoid them.

Tuberculosis: Caused by bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Tuberculosis (TB) is a dangerous chronic lung infection problem. It adversely affects the efficiency of lungs. A person with TB shows symptoms of long-lasting coughs, discolored sputum or sputum filled with blood. Episodes of erratic pain in chest as well as pain in chest during breathing are some other symptoms of TB. This infection takes a long time to surface and is usually mistaken to be flu or common cold. TB is a contagious disease and hence a person suffering from TB must use separate personal items like utensils and clothes. Close interaction with a TB patient may spread this disease to other people also.

Bacterial Pneumonia: Pneumonia is the medical term for lung inflammation. It can be caused due to several different reasons, one of which is bacterial infection in lungs. Bacterial pneumonia is caused due to bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae. Initially, symptoms of pneumonia are like those of cold. After the onset of normal cold like signs, bacterial pneumonia is accompanied by high fever. In children, bacterial pneumonia causes severe illness and lethargy.

Lung infections, especially because of microorganisms like bacteria must be given adequate medical attention. This is essential because lung infection, if not treated within time, advances faster in its later stages, that are often very difficult to treat. Hence, an early medical intervention is very necessary. Antibiotics are the medications given to people suffering from lung infections. However, an expert medical practitioner must be consulted before taking antibiotics as some people are allergic to some of them and he knows better than anyone else which one of the types of antibiotics to be used in a particular situation. Any symptoms like coughing badly, oddly colored coughs and foul-smelling sputum must not be mistaken with normal cold or fever. Besides these, maintaining personal hygiene is essential to avoid spreading bacterial infection in the lungs. An individual suffering from bacterial infection in lungs must also ensure that his/her diet is as per the needs of the body. A poor diet during treatment procedure may nullify the effects of any treatment. Since bacterial infection in lungs may be caused due to inhaling polluted air, it's advisable to use nose filters while traveling. Treating bacterial infection in lungs requires a holistic approach by considering all facets of this disease.