What Could be Causing Pneumonia?

What Causes Pneumonia?

To successfully treat and prevent recurrence of pneumonia we need to understand and — if possible — remove the underlying causes and risk factors. We need to ask: "What else is going on inside the body that might allow pneumonia to develop?"

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Accurate diagnosis of the factors behind pneumonia consists of three steps:

Step 1: List the Possible Causative Factors

Identify all disease conditions, lifestyle choices and environmental risk factors that can lead to pneumonia. Here are seven possibilities:

Cigarette Smoke Damage
Vitamin A Need
Alcohol Consequences
Diabetes II
Chronic Bronchitis
Congestive Heart Failure
Weakened Immune System

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

Identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

cysts in breasts

moderate alcohol consumption

very long menstrual cycles

slightly elevated eosinophil count

omnivorous diet

tonsils/adenoids out before age 20

diabetes in family members

edema of the feet

congestive heart failure

macrocytic red cells

sleeping more than necessary

much reduced sense of smell

... and more than 70 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of pneumonia:

Cause	Probability	Status
Alcohol Consequences	96%	Confirm
Vitamin A Need	22%	Unlikely
Congestive Heart Failure	15%	Unlikely
Diabetes II	0%	Ruled out
Weakened Immune System	0%	Ruled out
Cigarette Smoke Damage	0%	Ruled out
Chronic Bronchitis	0%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

In the Respiratory Symptoms section of the questionnaire, The Analyst™ will ask the following question about pneumonia:

Have you had Pneumonia?

Possible responses:

→ Never had it / don't know
→ Probably/minor episode(s) now resolved
→ Major episode(s) now resolved
→ Current minor problem
→ Current major problem

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate either history of pneumonia or pneumonia, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Vitamin A Requirement

Vitamin A deficiency reduces the ability of the cells lining the lungs to remove disease-causing microorganisms, increasing risk of pneumonia.

Alcohol-related Problems

Alcoholism is a risk factor for the development of pneumonia.

Cigarette Smoke Damage

Smoking is a risk factor for the development of pneumonia.

Congestive Heart Failure

Heart failure is a risk factor for the development of pneumonia.

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

Lung diseases – such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema – are risk factors for the development of pneumonia.

Diabetes Type II

Diabetes is a risk factor for the development of pneumonia.