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Pneumonia is a formidable opponent. It is usually caused by previous respiratory tract infections and the complications that follow. Treatment is not easy and often ends with a hospital stay, especially when an elderly person is ill.
Pneumonia is defined as any inflammation that occurs in the lungs – in the alveoli and in the interstitial tissue. This disease occurs quite often, regardless of the season. Importantly, it can take place in a tricky manner, without initially noticeable symptoms.
Virus attack
A neglected, untreated infection (bacterial or viral) of the upper respiratory tract (runny nose, laryngitis) can easily spread to the lower respiratory tract, leading to bronchitis or pneumonia. This is especially true when the virus is virulent and the body’s immunity is lowered.
Viruses are responsible for the so-called viral pneumonia, the most severe course is influenza pneumonia. This type attacks most often during epidemic periods. The disease usually proceeds in two phases. At first, we only deal with symptoms of a cold: patients complain of malaise, fever, chills, pain in muscles, joints, head, they are weak. Sometimes they are unaware of the disease they develop. Only after a few or even several days, when the lung tissue is affected, symptoms of the respiratory system appear – chest pain, shortness of breath and a dry, tiring cough.
Sneaky bacteria
Sometimes influenza (viral) pneumonia is complicated by a bacterial superinfection and turns into the so-called bacterial pneumonia. It generally attacks immunocompromised people, especially children and the elderly. This type of inflammation is favored by: chronic respiratory diseases, e.g. chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchiectasis, chronic cardiovascular diseases, e.g. heart defects, reduced body immunity due to other diseases, viral infection, especially influenza, nosocomial infection. The symptoms of inflammation manifest themselves in the form of a sudden, high fever, often above 40 ° C. There are also chills, profuse sweating and severe weakness. There is a cough with a lot of discharge, chest pains, and dyspnoea of varying severity. The most common cause of pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae – it is about 60-70% of all inflammations. This type of disease is often preceded by upper respiratory tract infections. The second most common inflammatory factor is the Haemophilus influenzae bacterium. Staphylococcal pneumonia can be a complication of the flu or other viral infection.
What is needed for diagnosis?
Already during auscultation and percussion of the chest, the doctor notices changes in the lungs, present in both viral and bacterial pneumonia – he hears crackles, rales, wheezing. Sometimes he orders an X-ray to confirm a diagnosis. In viral pneumonia, the picture is blurred, bacterial lobe shading is blotchy and confluent, and fluid may be present in the pleural cavity. Sometimes additional tests are necessary: blood, bacterial secretions, bronchoscopy, computed tomography of the lungs.
Treatment under the supervision of a doctor
Treatment of pneumonia must be under strict medical supervision, and its methods depend on the cause of the inflammation. Antibiotics are generally unnecessary in viral inflammation, although sometimes a doctor may order them to prevent bacterial superinfection. Painkillers, expectorants, and fever-lowering medications are most often prescribed. Sometimes you need oxygen therapy and heart medications. Antibiotic is an effective drug against bacteria. Properly selected must be administered from the beginning of the disease. It happens that the doctor, after a few days of non-effective treatment, changes the drug to a different one. Antibiotic therapy must not be interrupted – only the doctor makes this decision.
It is very important to keep the airways open. You should cough as often as possible, pat your chest, perform breathing exercises (lying down with your legs bent at the knees, take deep breaths through the nose while pushing the stomach out and slowly exhaling through the mouth with stomach pulls – 3 times a day for 15 minutes). You also need to give plenty of fluids, about 2 liters per day. Thanks to them, the viscosity of the sputum will decrease, which will facilitate its expectoration. A wholesome but easily digestible diet is also important.
Check also: Pneumocystosis – symptoms, course, treatment
When to the hospital?
Pneumonia can be treated at home, but always under the supervision of a doctor. However, in some cases hospitalization is necessary. This happens when the course of the disease is severe and the patient is in poor condition. This mainly applies to the elderly and children.
It is worth emphasizing that pneumonia can lead to serious complications. Seriously ill people, especially those suffering from other respiratory diseases, may suffer from severe respiratory failure. People with chronic cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer are also at increased risk. If pleurisy occurs, the fluid build-up compresses the lungs and makes breathing difficult. Lung abscess, i.e. necrosis of lung tissue caused by microorganisms causing purulent lesions, can be a serious complication. Sometimes complications from bacterial pneumonia can lead to life-threatening sepsis.
Text: Anna Romaszkan