Here's Why Pneumonia Is Still So Deadly

The immune system has a whole arsenal of ways to fight off an infection. But with pneumonia, the immune system’s response can be lethal.

When it comes to some diseases, like pneumonia, the way the body defends itself can have unintended consequences.

The symptoms of pneumonia, like shortness of breath, fever, a cough, fatigue, and more, can vary greatly in severity.The effects of walking pneumonia or atypical pneumonia can be so mild, someone might not even know they have it. In other cases, the infection can lead to death.

Pneumonia doesn’t just refer to a single virus or bacteria. The causes of pneumonia can include a number of different bacteria, viruses, or even fungi, the most common being the bacteria streptococcus pneumoniae. So when we’re talking about pneumonia, we’re really referring to something that is happening to our lungs.

Children under five, adults older than 65, and anyone with a compromised immune system are the most at risk. And when it comes to life or death as a result of pneumonia, access to health care or lack thereof is key.

Learn more about the disease nicknamed the “captain of the men of death” on this episode of SICK.
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SICK is a new series that looks at how diseases actually work inside our body. We'll be visiting medical centers and talking to top researchers and doctors to uncover the mysteries of viruses, bacteria, fungi and our own immune system. Come back every Tuesday for a new episode and let us know in the comments which diseases you think we should cover next.
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Read More:
The ‘captain of the men of death’, Streptococcus pneumoniae, fights oxidative stress outside the ‘city wall’

Integrative Physiology of Pneumonia

Evolution of the immune system in humans from infancy to old age
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[epcnss]

I lost my Spanish teacher to pneumonia, he was the healthiest person you could imagine, always going to the gym. He was only in his 30's, I still miss him.

[Master_Therion]

1:57 We should rename pneumonia based on the age of the patient.
Under 5 years of age: Newmonia.
Over 65 years: Oldmonia.

[hariangr]

So who's older, we generally defined elderly by people that are older than the speaker, so 65 and above
I like this guy

[sewalaluttam]

Last week my 14 years old died of same disease. May his soul get peace.😢

[TheGreatMandalore]

Seeker, I love this série and wish each episode would be longer by another 10 minutes. The graphics are amazing (similar to old medical books). I really applaud this série.

[BuddyL]

To sum up the 05:00 comments:
Vaccinate💉
Vaccinate💉
Vaccinate💉

Don't spout that 'measles doesn't kill' crap when IT DOES JUST THAT!

[DoaRC]

I have had pneumonia twice, at the age of 10 and 20. In both cases General Practitioners in the UK failed to notice my condition, and sent me off with medicine to cure a cold. When they did finally notice my condition I had to skip school for 3 weeks, and in the second instance I was hospitalised for 5 days. In addition to the lack of accessibility, I'd say doctor awareness and care is also very crucial.

[ABCDoris]

Dr. Klugman was the William H. Foege Professor of Global Health and Professor of Epidemiology in the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University *and* Professor of Medicine in Infectious Diseases at the Emory School of Medicine.

He is Honorary Professor in the Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

He’s chaired committees for the WHO and the CDC and has published more than 450 papers on pneumonia, meningitis, antimicrobial resistance, and vaccines for bacterial pathogens.
He is the President of the International Society for Infectious Diseases.

Trained in South Africa and did his post-doctoral research at Rockefeller University in New York.

All round top bloke!

[colegamester]

Pneumonia really is a killer.... it took a good friend from me a few months ago, right before he was supposed to graduate 😞

[akiontube]

Lost my neighbour aunt to pneumonia. It was really heartbreaking to see such a healthy person just gone like that in few weeks.

[vladimpailer]

I found my wife dead on the floor last week, the post mortem concluded it was Bronchial Pneumonia, she had no symptoms but had ME/CFS and a very compromised immune system, she was 62, RIP my beautiful girl, I can't stand the pain of losing you.

[senorstealursandwich]

My English teacher passed away about a month after getting pneumonia... if only he had went to be treated sooner and not want to stay and finish out the year before our graduation. Fly high Mr. Jolly you were a great man.

[jesusisoursavior]

just lost my friend today due to this disease.. RIP Justin Duenas😢 may your soul rest in peace.

[syncninja]

Remember that when I was young I heard the doc said if he goes to sleep he would of not wake up. At the age 7 shit scare me until this day... Stay healthy folks...

[loretomartin]

literally just recovered from pneumonia like 3 months ago

[monicaant.]

Had it before and I felt like I was going to die ! The symptoms I had was I was shivering so much and was really cold shaking.

[Rainy..Day.]

Pneumonia is what caused my mother's death when I was 14. It started as pneumonia then developed into ARDS. She was only 42.

[callumbennett]

The fact I had Pneumonia and was absolutely fine is a credit to modern healthcare and as I live in the UK, the NHS. I could have very well died if it wasn't for the antibiotics I was prescribed.

[AnbuBlackOps]

I'm a 24 year old Male I've had pneumonia ever since I was a little. I just got out of the hospital 2 days ago due to pneumonia
Doctors and nurses had to put a breathing ventilator into my lungs to keep me alive. Right now I'm recovering and hoping my lungs heal so I can get off the oxygen tank.
I truly respect and am grateful to Nurses and Doctors and to the people that are studying medicine.

[casanova]

I got pneumonia when I was about 6. Almost lost my life. Was the most painful and utterly dehumanizing experience of my life. I spent a few months in the hospital, I couldn’t walk or I would throw up, I couldn’t eat or I would throw up.. shit was crazy. Oh, and my lungs collapsed so that’s cool.