Pneumonia is common infection that causes inflammation of the lung and this condition affects a large number of individuals. The common symptoms associated with this condition include difficulty in breathing, chest pain, fever and cough. However in certain cases some pneumonia complications may also be observed.

Pneumonia complications may include build up of fluid within the space that exists between the chest wall and the lung. This is called pleural effusion. The fluid accumulates between pleura which are thin and transparent membranes covering the lungs and the membrane that line the chest wall. In normal situation the pleurae tend to be smooth and this allows the lungs to slide along the chest wall during the breathing activity. When the pleurae get inflamed the fluid accumulates and infection may develop.

In a severe case of pneumonia condition pleuritic pain may be experienced. This is a sharp and stabbing pain that may be experienced in the chest when a person breathes in. Some other complications that can occur include formation of pockets of pus within the space that exist between the chest wall and the lung. Along with this a secondary bacterial infection following viral infection may also occur.

Other secondary infections can also be a part of pneumonia complications and these secondary infections include infections affecting the digestive system along with vaginal infection. The bacteria may enter the bloodstream or the body and this is called septicaemia. Meningitis may also be observed in some cases and septic arthritis is also a possibility in this condition. Meningitis may be observed due to complications following pneumococcal pneumonia. Pericarditis which is infection in the heart muscle or the sac that surrounds the heart may also be observed.

In pneumonia complications abscesses may be observed within the lung and these are cavities filled with pus. Such abscesses are thick walled and are formed when the infection destroys lung tissue. Abscesses can result in hemorrhage within the lung if these are left untreated and such abscesses are frequently observed in aspiration pneumonia cases when the organisms are carried in the lungs. These abscesses are common with kelbsiella pneumonia, staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus pneumoniae.

Pneumonia complications include respiratory failure which may result in death among patients having pneumococcal pneumonia. Acute respiratory distress syndrome is observed in those cases where the functioning of lungs is so severely affected that the oxygen content is reduced and the patient’s life is in danger. Mechanical changes within the lungs in pneumonia or loss of oxygen can also be some of the serious complications in this condition.

One of the most common pneumonia complications is bacteremia which is a condition in which the bacteria infect the blood. This can also spread rapidly to the other organs within the body. This is a common complication with pneumococcus and haemophilus influenzae infection. Other complications include air filling up in the area between pleural membranes. This can result in the lungs collapsing and this condition is called pneumothorax. Severe case of hemoptysis or coughing up of blood can be one of the potentially serious pneumonia complications. Deep vein thrombosis could also be one of the possible complications of pneumonia.