Pneumonia

[moter goose]

Is pneumonia contagious?

[welshlibranr]

Not an expert, but I'm pretty sure that it isn't!..........

[alexanderd]

No its fluid on the lungs you cant catch it from someone

[daffy654]

http://tinyurl.com/2datchs

[daffy654]

It is actually 'sort of' contagious in that it is usually a secondary infection due to a cold or flu virus, if you catch the cold/flu virus you may develop pneumonia.

[237SJ]

Viral pneumonia must be contagious mustn`t it? I would have thought it is as it`s a virus

[alexanderd]

you are right Daffy but it is not contagious as such

[Buenchico]

Pneumonia is a condition, not a disease, with many different causes. It can be caused by a range of bacteria and viruses, as well as by fungi or by chemicals and dust particles entering the lungs:
http://www.nhs.uk/Con...nia/Pages/Causes.aspx

As will be seen from that link, the most common cause of pneumonia in adults is Streptococcus pneumoniae, also called 'pneumococcus.

Quote:
"Pneumococcus is spread through contact between people who are ill or who carry the bacteria in their throat. You can get pneumococcal pneumonia from respiratory droplets from the nose or mouth of an infected person. It is common for people, especially children, to carry the bacteria in their throats without being sick".

Source:
http://www.medicinene....asp?articlekey=60945

Chris

[moter goose]

Thanx for your replies

[starone]

That's interesting Chris. I have had it twice. Once when I was eight and in the hospital having my tonsils removed - I had to stay there - and once when I was twenty-two with a horrible cough, which I think might have been bronchitis. Nobody around me caught it and they didn't keep me isolated. I only recovered from the second lot when the doctor tried these new tablets on me (penicillin). I have now had an injection which I think is supposed to protect me for the rest of my life, however long that turns out to be. Wonder why they don't offer it to everyone, just old people.

[Sqad]

Pneumonia is NOT contagious,it is as Buenchico said caused by a host of different organisms and it is the organism that may well be contagious.
You may well catch the ORGANISM but will almost certainly not develop the disease.