The effects of pneumonia on the lungs involve excessive production of mucus and other fluids, making breathing difficult, and inhibiting gas exchange in the lungs, making it difficult for the body to get oxygen. In the long term, pneumonia can be associated with permanent lung damage, putting people at risk of future respiratory failure because their lungs are no longer as strong and healthy as they used to be. Early treatment of pneumonia can help limit permanent lung problems.
In patients with pneumonia, an infection becomes active in the lungs. Fungi, bacteria, viruses, and other organisms can colonize the lungs if someone's immune system can't fight them off. The infection causes the small air sacs in the lungs, known as alveoli, to fill with fluid. It becomes more difficult to inflate the lungs because the pressure inside the lung is disrupted, people have difficulty breathing, and the oxygen with each breath doesn't go as far as it should.
The effects of pneumonia on the lungs can cause people to have shortness of breath, a bluish tint to the extremities, and rapid breathing as they gasp for air. Patients may also cough, often producing sputum. In some cases, pneumonia leads to the development of an abscess in the lungs, a potentially serious complication. Patients can also go into respiratory failure, where the lungs can no longer function and mechanical ventilation may be required to keep the person alive.
In lobar pneumonia, an entire lobe of a lung is involved. Bronchial pneumonia involves isolated patches of infection in one or both lungs. In either case, the effects of pneumonia on the lungs can come on quickly once the infection starts to burn. Patients typically experience warning signs such as fever, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting, along with shortness of breath. Listening to the lungs can reveal distinctive sounds associated with the patient's fluid-filled alveoli and labored breathing.
To counteract the effects of pneumonia on the lungs, doctors focus on finding an appropriate medication to treat the infection, as well as providing supportive care. Patients may need hospitalization if the infection is severe, and in some cases ventilation is required to help patients breathe. If left untreated, infections in the lungs can become fatal for the patient, as eventually, the body's tissues will begin to suffer as a result of lack of oxygen. When the oxygen supply to the brain is limited by pneumonia, the patient may develop seizures and fall into a coma.