An infection of the lungs, pneumonia can be mild or severe. People of all ages can become sick with it. Globally, someone dies of it every 20 seconds. However, even though it causes more deaths and any of the other infectious diseases, it can be prevented. Vaccines are able to keep a vast majority of people from contracting the disease.
Signs
Signs of pneumonia are fever, fatigue, coughing, nausea, rapid breathing, vomiting, chills, chest pains, and shortness of breath. While these are some of the same symptoms as the common cold and the flu, pneumonia may become much more severe and need hospitalization to treat.
Risk Factors
Some people are more prone to getting pneumonia than others. These include folks with a weak immune system like diabetics or those with HIV. Those that have asthma or who smoke and are between 19 and 64 years of age are also on the risk factor list.
Types
The most common type of bacterial pneumonia in the United States is Streptococcus pneumoniae, what is known as pneumococcus. In children, the most common is respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which effects every child by age 2. Other forms of pneumonia are Pneumocystis jirovecii, which is a fungal form that typically strikes those with AIDS.
Prevention
With good hygiene and vaccines, there is a good chance of preventing pneumonia. Washing your hands, especially after contact with people or items like shopping carts that are in contact with people, is a good start. Doorknobs and counters should be cleaned with a hard surface cleanser that has a disinfectant included. Always limit exposure to those that smoke. Vaccinate yourself with the pneumococcal vaccine to help prevent it.
Another way to help reduce your risk factors and chance of contracting pneumonia is to reduce air pollutants and try to keep your immune system boosted. Any immune system lowering can affect you by making you more susceptible to other illnesses and contagions.
Source: CDC, Pneumonia
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Pneumonia/