Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Causes of Chest infection

Most chest infections are usually caused by germs such as bacteria or viruses. Infections with more than one virus are common, and some affect large numbers of people in a community at the same time (epidemics).

The germs are usually inhaled and multiply as the infection spreads from the windpipe, into the larger airway (bronchus), and the smaller airways supplying the lung tissues (bronchioles). Infection can affect any or all of the breathing passages formed by the mouth, nose, throat and lungs (respiratory tract). Other germs present in the lungs may be triggered into growth by the presence of the inhaled germ and become the main cause of infection.

Pneumonia is an infection or inflammation of the lung tissue, but can spread affecting the whole of the body. The most common type of pneumonia is bronchopneumonia, which affects the bronchioles. If the infection spreads to one or more compartments in the lung (lobes) it is called lobar pneumonia. Half of all pneumonia infections are caused by the bacteria streptococcal pneumoniae. Others are accounted for by a variety of viruses such as influenza.

Pleurisy, also known as pleuritis, is a serious condition that occurs when the two thin membranes lining the lungs (pleura) are infected, usually as a result of a severe chest infection, pneumonia, or some other underlying lung disease.

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