Pneumonia complications include lung infection, sepsis, breathing difficulties, abscesses, and fluid buildup. Older adults and those with health conditions are at higher risk. Infection can spread and cause serious problems, and excessive fluid can make breathing difficult. Abscesses and heart failure are also possible complications.
The most common complications of pneumonia are infection of the lungs, sepsis, trouble breathing, internal abscess, and fluid buildup in the area between the lungs and chest wall. The severity of these complications and the overall impact they have will depend on the patient’s health and age, and whether or not they have other health problems. Occasionally pneumonia can lead to serious infection and even death if not treated right away.
Complications of pneumonia are more likely in older adults and those with other health conditions such as emphysema or lung cancer. Some heart conditions can also make recovery from certain complications more difficult. These individuals may have a longer recovery time than those who are young and in relatively good health.
Most of the time, the complications of pneumonia involve an infection of some kind. This generally occurs in the lungs themselves first, but sometimes the bacteria can spread throughout the body and infect the blood and other organ systems. This can cause serious problems if not treated promptly. Signs of infection can include pain, fever, nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. Infection that occurs exclusively in the lungs can also cause breathing problems.
Many patients with pneumonia will experience excessive fluid buildup in the area between the lungs and chest cavity. If this occurs in both lungs, breathing can become very difficult and nearly impossible without intervention. Patients may be placed on a ventilator to assist breathing until the fluid can clear out. Infection is more likely to occur if there is excess fluid in both lungs.
Additional complications of pneumonia include abscesses on the lungs and heart failure in those with an underlying heart condition. An abscess is a pus-filled wound that grows and eventually bursts. They are typically drained using a catheter that is inserted directly into the growth. This is a delicate procedure when the abscess occurs on a lung because the lungs are fragile and tend to collapse if not handled carefully.
Sometimes pneumonia can lead to a strain on the heart because the body cannot get enough oxygen due to impaired breathing. This is generally more likely in those with underlying heart conditions or long-term breathing problems due to additional lung disease. Particular attention should be paid to patients who are thought to have an underlying cardiac or pulmonary condition, as they are more susceptible to the serious complications of pneumonia.
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