What are the complications of pneumonia?

Untreated pneumonia can progress and spread into all the lung fields, making it difficult to breathe; if severe, patients may need assisted breathing in the hospital as pulmonologist Brian Gelbman, MD, explains.

Transcript

00:00

A pneumonia that's left untreated, or is inadequately treated, can spread outside the lungs to the area called the pleura.

00:06

[MUSIC PLAYING]

00:23

There are several complications of pneumonia, especially if it was left untreated. Pneumonia can progress.

00:29

The infection can spread throughout all the lung fields and that can make it difficult for someone to breathe. If it gets severe enough, someone

00:36

would end up in the hospital and may need assistance with their breathing, either from oxygen therapy, or, in extreme cases, need to be put on a ventilator

00:43

to assist their breathing. In addition, a pneumonia that's left untreated,

00:52

or is inadequately treated, can spread outside the lungs to the area called the pleura.

01:00

The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and allows it to move along the chest wall without any friction.

01:07

If the pleural space gets infected, antibiotics do not penetrate there very well. And what can happen is patients can develop a large fluid

01:14

collection there, which is termed an effusion. Effusions would need to be drained by a physician or even have a chest tube placed to clear out the infection.