Pneumonia is an infection that affects the lungs. In this infection pus or fluid fills up the lung tissue of the infected individual. Those suffering from this condition experience problems in breathing along with fever and chills. There are as many as 30 varied causes of pneumonia. These causes fall into two categories and they are infective pneumonia and aspiration pneumonia.

Among the different causes of pneumonia infective pneumonia is one of the causes. In infective pneumonia the infection and inflammation of bronchial tubes along with lungs occurs due to bacteria or virus that enter the lungs and start reproducing. In aspiration pneumonia the inflammation of bronchial tubes and lungs results from inhalation of mucous, bodily fluids or vomit. Inhalation of some chemicals can also cause pneumonia.

Bacteria are one of the causes of pneumonia and the most common bacteria responsible for pneumonia are pneumococcus or streptococcus pneumoniae. Viral pneumonia is also largely prevalent. The bacteria and viruses that result in pneumonia are completely contagious and are founds in the fluid within the nose or mouth of infected individuals.

Pneumonia can be transmitted through sharing of eating utensils or drinking glasses with an infected person. Sharing handkerchiefs or tissues with infected individuals can also result in spreading of this infection. Aspiration pneumonia is one of the other causes of pneumonia and in this a person may inhale irritating fumes or vomit along with other substances and get pneumonia.

Petroleum solvents, lighter fluid, gasoline, dry cleaning fluid, waxes and liquid polishes are among the primary causes of pneumonia. Obstruction of bronchial tubes can also result in pneumonia. Trapping of bacteria, fungi and viruses can result in pneumonia. When the immune system of a person is weak it can result in germs, bacteria and viruses entering the lungs and this can cause infections such as pneumonia.

The mouth along with the airways is often exposed to germs that are inhaled through the nose and the mouth. However the immune system and coughing mechanism allows the body to throw out the germs. Likewise there are small hair-like structures called cilia in the body that help in preventing the germs from entering the lungs. If the coughing mechanism or the natural gag reflex is prevented for some reason it can result in these germs entering the lungs and thereby causing infections including pneumonia.

Among the causes of pneumonia a few other bacteria cause a type pneumonia referred to as atypical pneumonia. Atypical pneumonia include legionella pneumophila, mycoplasma pneumonia and chlamydophila pneumoniae. Most cases of viral pneumonia tend to get better in around 1 to 3 weeks even in the absence of treatment. The different causes of pneumonia also include some types or forms of fungi. These include coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis and Cryptococcus. These fungi are found in the soil and cause pneumonia is some areas of America. Not all people who get exposed to these fungi get sick. Individuals in some age groups are at a greater risk of getting certain forms of pneumonia.

Other bacterial pneumonia causes include haemophilus influenza along with Chlamydia trachomatis. Air conditioners that are improperly cleaned may also cause pneumonia. This infection cannot be caused by not wearing enough warm clothes in the cold weather or by getting drenched in the rain.