MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Viral pneumonia

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Viral pneumonia

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Causes, incidence, and risk factors Symptoms Signs and tests	Treatment Expectations (prognosis) Complications Calling your health care provider Prevention

Illustrations

Lungs

Respiratory system

Alternative names Return to top

Pneumonia - viral

Definition Return to top

Viral pneumonia is an inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the lungs caused by infection with a virus. See also respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

Pneumonia is an infection of the lung that affects 1 out of 100 people annually. Viral pneumonia is caused by one of several viruses, including influenza, parainfluenza, adenovirus, rhinovirus, herpes simplex virus, respiratory syncytial virus, hantavirus, and cytomegalovirus.

Most cases of viral pneumonia are mild and get better without treatment, but some cases are more serious and require hospitalization. People at risk for more serious viral pneumonia typically have impaired immune systems such as people with HIV, transplant patients, young children (especially those with heart defects), the elderly, and people taking medications to suppress their immune systems in the treatment of autoimmune disorders.

Symptoms Return to top

Cough
Headache
Muscular stiffness and aching
Shortness of breath
Fever
Chills
Sweating
Fatigue
Sore throat

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

Clammy skin
Nausea and vomiting
Joint stiffness

Signs and tests Return to top

Sputum culture
Blood tests for antibodies to specific viruses
Chest x-ray
Bronchoscopy
Open lung biopsy (only done in very serious illnesses when the diagnosis cannot be made from other sources)

Treatment Return to top

Antibiotics are not effective in treating viral pneumonia. Some of the more serious forms can be treated with antiviral medications. Other supportive care for viral pneumonia includes use of humidified air, increased fluids, and oxygen.. Hospitalization may be necessary to prevent dehydration and to help with breathing if the infection is serious.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

Most episodes of viral pneumonia improve without treatment within 1-3 weeks, but some episodes last longer and cause more serious symptoms requiring hospitalization.

Complications Return to top

More serious infections can result in respiratory failure, liver failure, and heart failure. Sometimes, bacterial infections occur during or just after viral pneumonia, which may lead to more serious forms of pneumonia.

Calling your health care provider Return to top

Call your health care provider if symptoms of viral pneumonia develop.

Prevention Return to top

Vaccines are available for influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus for people at high risk of these forms of viral pneumonia.

Update Date: 7/8/2004

Updated by: Daniel Levy, M.D., Ph.D., Infectious Diseases, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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