Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Alveoli (tiny air sacs in the lungs) fill with fluid or pus, reducing oxygen levels in the body. While most healthy people recover within a few weeks, it can be quite severe for at-risk populations. This includes seniors, infants, young children, those with chronic health conditions/reduced immune systems and pregnant people. It is usually spread by contact with respiratory droplets when infected people talk, cough or sneeze. Pneumonia is the 6th leading cause of hospitalizations across all ages in Canada¹. Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment depend on the type of pneumonia.

6th

Leading cause of hospitalizations in Canada1

1 in 20

Older adults die from pneumococcal disease2

3 types

Fungal, viral, and bacterial pneumonia

Vaccine

Pneumococcal vaccines available — ask your provider

Symptoms

Recognizing influenza

Flu symptoms appear 1 to 4 days after exposure to the virus. They generally include the sudden appearance of some or all the following:

Fever

Cough

Muscle aches and pain

Headache

Loss of appetite

Chills

Fatigue (tiredness)

Sore throat

Runny or stuffy nose

Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting

More common in children

Immunization

The flu shot

The influenza immunization is called the flu shot. It is important to get a flu shot every ‘flu season’, because the virus changes and each immunization is designed to address the changes.

Immunizations protect you as well as those around you by helping your immune system recognize and fight the flu. There are different ways an immunization can do this. Some introduce a weakened virus or an inactivated virus into the cells, while others create a copy of the virus or introduce an empty ‘shell’ without a virus inside it.

No matter how it works, the immunization itself will not cause the flu. The flu shot helps the body use its own immunity to prevent the flu.

Everyone older than 6 months should receive immunization when available.

People who should not get a flu shot are those who have: