•According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, there are more than 30 different causes of pneumonia grouped by the cause
•However, the main types of pneumonia are bacterial, viral and mycoplasma pneumonia
Image: OZONE
An autopsy conducted on the body of journalist Rita Tinina on Tuesday revealed that she had died of severe pneumonia.
Government pathologist Peter Ndegwa conducted the autopsy in the presence of the family pathologist with family spokesperson Timothy Njaga saying they were satisfied with the results.
Rita Tinina was found dead on Sunday in her Kileleshwa house by her house girl.
Pneumonia is an infection of one or both of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi.
It is a serious infection in which the air sacs fill with pus and other liquid.
Pneumonia is classified as severe when the heart, the kidneys or the circulatory system are at risk of failing, or if the lungs can no longer take in enough oxygen.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, there are more than 30 different causes of pneumonia grouped by the cause.
However, the main types of pneumonia are bacterial, viral and mycoplasma pneumonia.
“This type has somewhat different symptoms and physical signs and is referred to as atypical pneumonia. It is caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumonia,” Johns Hopkins Medicine says on their website.
“It generally causes a mild, widespread pneumonia that affects all age groups,” it notes.
Atypical pneumonia is characterized by preceding upper airway symptoms, myalgias, fever without chills, headache and unproductive cough.
Online medical site Mayo Clinic on the other hand warns that pneumonia can range in seriousness from mild to life-threatening.
The site says that pneumonia is most serious for infants and young children, people older than age 65, and people with health problems or weakened immune systems.
“The signs and symptoms of pneumonia vary from mild to severe, depending on factors such as the type of germ causing the infection, and your age and overall health,” it says.
Some of the symptoms of pneumonia listed by Johns Hopkins Medicine include cough that produces green, yellow, or bloody mucus, fever, heavy sweating, rapid breathing, shaking chills, headache, confused mental state or delirium, especially in older people.
Rapid pulse, low energy and extreme tiredness, sharp or stabbing chest pain and shortness of breath that gets worse with activity are other symptoms.
According to experts, treatment depends on the type of pneumonia someone is suffering from but can be treated at home most of the time.
They also say eating well, increasing fluid intake, getting rest, oxygen therapy, pain medicine, fever control and maybe cough-relief medicine, if the cough is severe, can help remedy the situation.
Currently, the Kenya Medical Research Institute is researching to understand the dynamics of pneumonia disease and health-seeking behaviours in the country.
The study according to Teresiah Njoroge, a researcher at Kemri, also seeks to know if the country’s referral systems are working in terms of timely access to care and determine whether health facilities have the basic equipment in the management of pneumonia.