How Long Is Pneumonia Contagious

Pneumonia is a very potent and dangerous disease, and people who are afflicted by it often wonder whether it is contagious, and if yes, for how long. The exact period of contagiousness cannot be predicted accurately for every individual, as this depends on a multitude of factors like, the extent of the disease, the promptness of the medication and the person's capacity to fight illness.

Many people around the world are regularly affected by pneumonia, and are becoming increasingly aware about its dangers and potential risks. If the disease is diagnosed and treated in its early stages, it can be quite harmless and dormant, but the longer that it is allowed to flourish, the more dangerous it becomes. It is due to this reason that it becomes absolutely imperative for us to whether it is contagious or no, and if yes, for how long.

How Long is Pneumonia Considered Contagious

You must understand that all forms of pneumonia are NOT contagious. This is an infection of the lungs that is caused by an external agent, and as such there is a very small chance of this illness being a contagious one. What is contagious though, is the cold and flu like symptoms that appear. It is a very very rare scenario wherein a strain of pneumonia actually becomes airborne and contagious. Since the condition is developed over a period of time due to the presence of these organisms in the respiratory tract, it often takes a long time to actually burst out and display itself.

There are certain viral strains of pneumonia that can be considered contagious, but then again there is not much substantial proof to back this up. The viral strains are more dangerous because the viruses can travel from one person to another through the air, much easier than the other organisms. But in most cases, even if someone who is suffering from pneumonia is surrounded by a bunch of people, the chances of someone else contracting it are quite less. But just to be on the safer side, one should be careful when being around a person afflicted by pneumonia. The infection could potentially travel through the air, so there's no point in taking unnecessary chances.

People also want to know how long pneumonia remains contagious, after they've started with the treatment. Once it has been established that the strain of pneumonia that a person is suffering from is contagious, he/she will be administered a certain dosage of antibiotics to cure the problem. But when the antibiotics are suddenly stopped, it is possible that the infection might still continue to be contagious. It is preferable to assume that the infection will be contagious for anything between 10-14 days after stopping the dosage of antibiotics. Continue reading to know the symptoms of pneumonia, which will help you in determining whether you actually have this disease.

Causes and Symptoms of Pneumonia

In simple terms, pneumonia is a lung infection that is caused by a variety of micro-organisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. It is slightly difficult to ascertain which of these organisms has caused the disease in the first place, since they are so minuscule. Different causes of pneumonia cause slightly different symptoms in people, but to accurately diagnose the exact cause is something that cannot be done easily.

Some general pneumonia symptoms in adults are as follows:

• Intense chest pain and abdominal pain.
• Shortness of breath and wheezing, alternated by rapid breathing and heart rate.
• Cough and vomiting.
• Muscle aches and nausea.
• Shaking chills that is then followed by fever.

Elderly people tend to show different symptoms, as compared to younger people. Even a slight cough that lasts more than 24 hours should not be ignored. Any kind of body pain or lethargy may also be a sign of pneumonia. The duration pneumonia lasts, differs from person to person, depending on his age, and a few other factors.

In general cases, people should not worry incessantly, but this does not mean that certain precautions cannot be taken. In extreme cases people can contract pneumonia through someone else, and it could lead to a deadly strain being contracted as well.