Pneumonia is often thought about as a winter disease, but it can occur at any time in anyone. Individuals who have compromised breathing due to paralysis are at higher risk due to the reduced ability to clear the lungs of fluids and bacteria, especially in the lower lobes, as pushing the fluid out can be more challenging.
Pneumonia is a respiratory infection usually caused by bacteria that is treatable with antibiotics or a virus that can be treated with antiviral medications. A laboratory test will indicate which treatment is right for you. Pneumonia can occur in a small area of one lung, a lobe, several lobes, or both lungs. It can be confused with or occur with other lung infections such as bronchiolitis, RSV, COVID, flu, a cold, or asthma.
Symptoms of pneumonia can vary in intensity. The National Institutes for Health lists these common symptoms of pneumonia. You may have some or all of them:
Individuals with neurological injury and older adults may also have symptoms that vary due to issues with the autonomic nervous system, difficulty coughing, poor control of the breathing nerves and muscles such as the phrenic nerve controlling the diaphragm, the intercostal muscles (those between the ribs), and the abdominal muscles, among others. This may lead to these symptoms: