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Concept
Viral pneumonia
Summary
Viral pneumonia is a pneumonia caused by a virus. Pneumonia is an infection that causes inflammation in one or both of the lungs. The pulmonary alveoli fill with fluid or pus making it difficult to breathe. Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. Viruses are the most common cause of pneumonia in children, while in adults bacteria are a more common cause.
Symptoms of viral pneumonia include fever, non-productive cough, runny nose, and systemic symptoms (e.g. myalgia, headache). Different viruses cause different symptoms.
Diagnosis, like with any infection, relies on the detection of the infectious cause. With viral pneumonia, samples are taken from the upper and/or lower respiratory tracts. The samples can then be run through polymerase chain reaction (PCR), allowing for amplification of the virus as that allows better detection if present in the sample. Other ways for a diagnosis to be obtained is by ordering a chest x-ray, blood tests, pulse oximetry, and a medical/family history to see if there are any known risks or previous exposures to a person with viral pneumonia. If the person is in serious condition and in the hospital there are more invasive studies that can be run to diagnosis the person.
Common causes of viral pneumonia are:
Influenza virus A and B
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Human parainfluenza viruses (in children)
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Rarer viruses that commonly result in pneumonia include:
Adenoviruses (in military recruits)
Metapneumovirus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)
Middle East respiratory syndrome virus (MERS-CoV)
Hantaviruses
Viruses that primarily cause other diseases, but sometimes cause pneumonia include:
Herpes simplex virus (HSV), mainly in newborns or young children
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)
Measles virus
Rubella virus
Cytomegalovirus (CMV), mainly in people with immune system problems
Smallpox virus
Dengue virus
The most commonly identified agents in children are respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus, human bocavirus, and parainfluenza viruses.
Official source
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