“What are the viruses that could cause pneumonia?”
My son is 4 years old and has been suffering from a severe bout of cough and cold. It has now turned into wheezing and they are suspecting him to be suffering from pneumonia. What are the viruses or bacteria that could cause pneumonia?
5 Answers
The bacterial and viral causes of pneumonia are numerous and this list can hardly be exhaustive. Note that some fungi also cause pneumonia. Cough per se may be due to reactive airway disease like asthma.
Bacterial causes of pneumonia include but are not limited to streptococcus Pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, moraxella catarrhalis, chlamydia pneumonia, mycoplasma Pneumoniae, staph aureus e.t.c
Viral causes include : Influenza A and B, Parainfluenza, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus RSV etc
Bacterial causes of pneumonia include but are not limited to streptococcus Pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, moraxella catarrhalis, chlamydia pneumonia, mycoplasma Pneumoniae, staph aureus e.t.c
Viral causes include : Influenza A and B, Parainfluenza, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus RSV etc
Get a respiratory virus PCR panel (test about 14-22 viruses, usually done in a hospital, but specimen can be submitted as an outpatient) with a nasopharyngeal swab, as soon as possible. This is likely Enterovirus/Rhinovirus, and the positive sample can be referred to CDC for further work-up.
John Chia
John Chia
Hundreds
Most common viral pneumonia in children include the following:
{} Respiratory syncytial virus
{} influenza viruses
{} Parainfluenza virus
{} Adenovirus, and Cytomegalovirus pneumonia are not common, especially in children with good immune function
{} Respiratory syncytial virus
{} influenza viruses
{} Parainfluenza virus
{} Adenovirus, and Cytomegalovirus pneumonia are not common, especially in children with good immune function
There is a long list of viruses that cause pneumonia, led by Influenza and Parainfluenza. Certain Coronaviruses, Metapneumovirus add to the list. Much more rarely, Cytomegalovirus can infect immune suppressed children or adults, and Hantavirus is found in limited geographic areas of the country. Children can also acquire Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Finally, Measles and Chicken Pox can affect the lungs as well.
