Pope Francis has spent a month in hospital, struggling with bilateral pneumonia – but what exactly is this infection?
What is pneumonia?
- It’s a serious infection of the lungs.
- Bacteria and virus (or even a fungus) lodge themselves down in the lungs and cause an infection.
- It’s often at the base of one or both lungs.
- The body reacts to the bacteria or virus, causing a reaction to get rid of the infection, resulting in inflamed lung tissue with fluid or pus.
What are the causes and how do we know we have pneumonia?
- There are two basic types: community acquired, and hospital acquired (hospitals are dangerous places for infections!).
- Risk factors: a weakened immune system, which could be a result of age, a chronic illness like diabetes, asthma, some medications, smoking, or admittance to a hospital.
- Viruses such as influenza, Covid, and RSV can cause pneumonia, which is why they are dangerous.
- Main symptoms (can be sudden onset): cough, bringing up phlegm, fever/chills, chest pain, feeling short of breath.
How do we treat pneumonia?
- It depends on the type.
- It’s often community acquired and is diagnosed on exam with a chest Xray.
- Treatment includes antibiotics, fluids, rest, paracetamol. If it’s severe and you have difficulty breathing – go to the hospital.
- If it’s caused by a virus (influenza or Covid), it’s occasionally treated with an anti-viral medication, however, often paracetamol, fluids, rest are used. Some can end up in hospital with oxygen, or if severe, a ventilator till it gets better.
How do we prevent pneumonia?
- This is a reason why vaccination so important, preventing things like influenza, Covid, pneumococcal.
- Quit smoking.
- A healthy immune system: eat a balanced diet, regular exercise, mange diabetes, or asthma.
If you’re short of breath with a temperature, see your doctor!
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