Pneumonia is an infection that affects the lungs. This inflammation of the lungs can be caused by a number of different things such as bacteria, fluid getting into the lungs or inhalation of a chemical. The infection normally starts out as a cold.
Interestingly, pneumonia the illness is not technically contagious. What is contagious is the stage before you actually develop the condition. Since persons who have pneumonia generally have the cold before it develops, it is the cold bacteria or virus that is contagious. One bacterium that can be contagious is streptococcus pneumonia. Pneumonia caused from things such as inhaling a substance, recovering from surgery and particles that get into the lungs is not contagious.
It is highly possible for someone to just get a cold from the person with pneumonia but not get pneumonia itself. Also, one person may end up not becoming as seriously sick as the person they caught the cold from. The severity of the condition will depend largely on your general health and immune system strength.
How to Prevent Contagion
Prevention contagion from pneumonia is similar to protecting someone else from catching your cold. The basic steps to prevent passing on the virus or bacteria that causes pneumonia include:
• Hand washing: washing your hands often is a good way to prevent passing on cold germs to others. If it is not possible to wash your hands, then use an alcohol-based sanitizer or hand wipes to clean your hands.
• Keep sick persons away from others as much as possible. This is especially important where the sick person is coughing and sneezing a lot. The virus is passed around when someone comes in contact with mucus or fluid from the mouth or nose of someone who is sick.
• When cleaning up after someone with pneumonia it is a good idea to handle tissue, rags and others items with care.
• Avoid hugging or kissing a person with pneumonia so as to minimize the risk of transmission of the virus.
• Persons sick with pneumonia, the common cold or similar conditions should cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing to prevent spreading the virus.
For babies and children, being breastfed and immunized can offer some level of protection. Being well-rested, following a healthy diet and exercising also offers protection against illnesses such as pneumonia.
Thankfully, even though it is possible to get pneumonia from being ‘contaminated’ by someone with the illness, the condition is treatable.
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