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Risk Factors Pneumonia
Risk Factors Pneumonia
The elderly (who tend to have diminished cough and gag reflexes and faltering immune
systems) and infants and young children (who have immature immune systems and small
airways) are at greater risk of community-acquired pneumonia
(CAP) than are young and middle-aged adults.
Certain individuals, such as the elderly, the very young, and those with chronic or severe
medical conditions, are of course at higher risk of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).
Hospitalized patients are particularly vulnerable to gram-negative bacteria and
staphylococci, which can be very dangerous, particularly in people who are already ill.
People, especially the elderly, who have recently had surgery or suffered a traumatic injury
are also more likely to develop pneumonia because they are less able to breathe deeply,
cough, and get rid of mucous.
Recruits on military bases and college students are at higher than average risk for
Mycoplasma pneumonia , which is usually mild. These groups are at lower risk, however, for
more serious types of pneumonia.
Frequent exposure to cigarette smoke can affect the lungs in ways that make a person more
likely to develop pneumonia. The risk for pneumonia in smokers of more than a pack a day
is three times that of nonsmokers. Those who are chronically exposed to cigarette smoke,
which can injure airways and damage the cilia, are also at risk. Toxic fumes, industrial
smoke, and other air pollutants may also damage cilia function, which is a defense again
bacteria in the lungs.
Alcohol or drug abuse is strongly associated with pneumonia. These substances act as
sedatives and can diminish the reflexes that trigger coughing and sneezing. Alcohol also
interferes with the actions of macrophages, the white blood cells that destroy bacteria and
other microbes. Intravenous drug abusers are at risk for pneumonia from infections that
originate at the injection site and spread through the blood stream to the lungs.
http://respiratory-lung.health-cares.net/pneumonia-risk-factors.php
Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staff
Factors associated with an increased risk of pneumonia include:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pneumonia/DS00135/DSECTION=risk-factors
A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.
It is possible to develop pneumonia with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the
more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing pneumonia. If you have a
number of risk factors, ask your healthcare provider what you can do to reduce your risk.
People who smoke have a much higher risk of developing pneumonia. If you stop smoking, your
risk will gradually return to normal. However, this may take as long as ten years.
You are also at risk for pneumonia if you are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke. For
example, children in households where the parents smoke have higher rates of pneumonia than
do children in smoke-free households.
The risk of pneumonia is increased among people living in crowded conditions, such as:
• Students in dormitories
• Patients living in institutions
• Military personnel in barracks
Medical Conditions
People who are hospitalized have a much higher risk of developing pneumonia than do
nonhospitalized individuals. This risk is even higher for patients who have recently undergone
major surgery or who are on ventilators. Other medical conditions that can increase your risk
of developing pneumonia include:
Age
• Infants
• Young children
• Elderly
Genetic Factors
Environmental Factors
Occupational exposure to toxic chemical fumes and/or smoke can weaken your lung’s
defenses, predisposing you to pneumonia.
Intravenous drug use can increase your risk of pneumonia and other infectious diseases.
References
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ .
Accessed July 17, 2008.
Primary Care Medicine . 4th ed. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2000.
http://www.mbhs.org/healthgate/GetHGContent.aspx?token=9c315661-83b7-
472d-a7ab-bc8582171f86&chunkiid=20036
Synthesis
Risk Factors
Frequent exposure to cigarette smoke can affect the lungs in ways that make a person more
likely to develop pneumonia.
Alcohol or drug abuse is strongly associated with pneumonia. These substances act as
sedatives and can diminish the reflexes that trigger coughing and sneezing.
Age. If you're age 65 or older, particularly if you have other conditions that
make you more prone to developing pneumonia, you're at increased risk of
pneumonia. Very young children, whose immune systems aren't fully developed,
also are at increased risk of pneumonia.
The risk of pneumonia is increased among people living in crowded conditions, such as:
• Students in dormitories
• Patients living in institutions
• Military personnel in barracks