Viral Pneumonia

Viral Pneumonia is infection or inflammation of lungs that causes swelling, irritation and congestion in the lungs. It is a belief that most of the pneumonias are caused due to viruses like adenovirus, chickenpox, measles, respiratory syncytial virus and influenza. The infection due to viral pneumonia begins when a virus is inhaled and gets settled in the lungs. The infirmity frequently begins with as a cold. Viral pneumonia usually spreads during the winter. Although it is not so very serious but can have fatal results especially for very old age people and very young patients. It can also be seen causing seriousness to the people whose immune system is not good.

Causes
Viral pneumonia can be caused by different kinds of viruses. They may be:-

1.Parainflunza and Adenoviruses - These viruses' causes a common cold but its worst result may exceed to pneumonia. These viruses and many such other viruses cause a cold which is a contagious disease. There are great number of viruses that results in common cold and all the time attacking the body, which never allows the body of a patient to build up resistance against all of them. Due to this we usually get cold and cough. During this if patient is suffering from cold caused by Parainflunza and Adenoviruses, then it may result to pneumonia.

2.Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) - The pneumonia caused due to RSV is extremely contagious. If any one comes in contact with a infected person or contaminated objects or a surface then they get this infection from respiratory secretions. When the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth or nose get affected by this then you may say you have an infection. It can also be caused because of inhalation of droplets generated by cough or a sneeze.

3.Influenza A and B - It is the viral infection causing the common cold with the flu. Only the symptoms can differentiate between the common cold and the flu. These are two types of influenza viruses that exist and are extremely responsible for seasonal outbreaks of the flu. It frequently occurs in the winter months.

4.Herpes or Varicella - These viruses are rare. They are usually found when one is infected by chickenpox. It spreads through contact and can be identified after 14 to 16 days of the contact.

5.Corona virus - SARS also known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is also a viral infection. Initially it shows the symptoms of flu which may later progress to pneumonia and sometimes to death.

Symptoms
Viral Pneumonia is not very serious. It can be treated at home if identified. It may results fatal depending upon various factors like resistance power of your body, your eating and drinking habits, and closeness with the infected person etc.

The most common symptoms that are seen with pneumonia are cold, fever with shivering, headache, feeling tired, muscle aches, cough with sputum and difficulty in breathing.

In case if you are suffering more serious symptoms then it is suggested to seek a medical help. The symptoms may be as shortness of breadth, severe chest pain, coughing up blood, severe weakness, more of muscle pains, so much of vomiting that you feel dehydrated, severe headache etc.

Treatment
If you have been diagnosed with a viral pneumonia the first of all you need is to rest and to drink lot of water or non-alcoholic fluids.

You can have over-the-counter medicines to decrease the effect of fever, body aches, headache and cough. If you are feeling drowsy after taking such medicines then you need more of rest for your body to gain energy to fight against the infection and to heal itself.

If you have chest pain you can always apply a heating pad. This makes the pain to get reduced and easier the breathing process. Try taking deep breaths when applying the heating pad.

All you need to rest a home without exposing your self in very hot or very cold climate outside. The air that you breathe from the surrounding should be clean and fresh away from all the contaminated areas. The rest of 3 to 4 weeks may help you come out of such infection.