A friend developed symptoms like breathing difficulty, fever with chills accompanied by chest pain, and cough with mucus. The physician diagnosed the condition as pneumonia. Pneumonia is a respiratory disorder caused by bacteria, virus, parasites or fungi. The lungs are the main organs of the respiratory system and they are made up of airways called bronchial tubules, and air sacs known as alveoli. When you inhale air goes into your airways and then reaches the alveolar sacs. From the air in the alveolar sacs blood takes in oxygen and releases carbondioxide. In pneumonia, the alveoli get inflamed resulting in them filling up with fluid, thus, making it difficult for you to breathe. Pneumonia can be mild or severe in nature and is treatable.
Symptoms
The symptoms of pneumonia are fever, cough with mucus, breathing difficulty, chest pain, chills, muscle pain, headache, fatigue and sweating. These symptoms can be mild to severe in nature and can often be mistaken for flu.
Diagnosis
To diagnose pneumonia, physical examination is done by the doctor to check for any abnormal crackling sounds or rumblings coming from your lung with the help of a stethoscope. These abnormal sounds are an indication of fluid buildup in the lungs. To locate infection and its extent in the lungs, chest x ray is taken. A blood test is also conducted to check for the presence of microbes like bacteria and viruses. Blood test is also needed to measure the count of white blood cells. Mucus testing is done to identify the particular microbe that is causing pneumonia. Lung biopsy is done in severe cases where a sample of lung tissue is taken for testing. A procedure known as Thoracentesis is done in which fluid from the pleura which is the thin membrane lining that covers the chest cavity and lungs, is taken for analysis. To check the functioning of the lungs, a test called as spirometry is done in which the patient is asked to breathe into an instrument called spirometer that helps you measure the amount of air you breathe. In a procedure known as bronchoscopy, the doctor passes a tube with a scope (camera) at its end through the nose to check for any abnormal mucus, pus and other infections in the airway of the lungs.
Treatment
The treatment for pneumonia depends on the type and severity of pneumonia present. For pneumonia that occurs due to bacteria, antibiotics are given. Once you start taking the medications you will feel better but do not stop the antibiotics midway as it may result in pneumonia returning back and also there is the risk of developing antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. To treat Pneumonia caused by viruses, antiviral drugs are given and the patient is advised to take complete rest and drink lot of fluids. For pneumonia that occurs due to mycoplasma, antibiotics are given. Antifungal medications are given to treat fungal pneumonia. In cases of severe pneumonia, hospitalization is required. After treatment is over the doctor will call you for follow up visit and will take a follow up chest X ray.
Prevention of Pneumonia
To prevent pneumonia you have to main good hygiene. It is very important to wash your hands after you use the rest room and before eating food. You are likely to pick up germs from places like door handles or the key board. You must wash your hands with soap or a sanitizer with alcohol base, as often as possible to keep germs away. You can develop Pneumonia even after a bout of flu. You can avoid flu by taking preventive flu shot every year. The shot gives you protection from 3 to 4 dangerous strains of flu. It is important to have a strong immune system to prevent pneumonia. To build a strong immune system eating nutritious well balanced food, exercising regularly and getting adequate rest is essential. It is important to avoid smoking and keep away from sick people.
Vaccination for Pneumonia
Vaccination for pneumonia is recommended in people with risk factors like smoking, alcohol abuse, age above 65 years, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, lung disease, cirrhosis, kidney failure, removal or damage of spleen, AIDS, sickle cell disease, immunity suppressant drugs, people with cochlear implants, and those who are receiving chemotherapy. The vaccinations that are available are Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) which is recommended for children lesser than 5 years of age and Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) which is recommended for children who are 2 years and above. The vaccination cannot protect people from all strains of pneumonia, but it can certainly protect people from experiencing complications that can be life threatening.
The Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) may cause some side effects and include muscle soreness, slight fever, pain and redness at the site of injection. Side effects of Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) are irritability, loss of appetite, fever, and redness and tenderness at the site of injection.
Prevention is better than cure
Pneumonia kills around 2 million children each year, worldwide. Taking preventive steps in time can save millions of lives and untold suffering of families who get crushed under the burden of treatment costs. By maintaining proper hygiene methods and taking pneumonia vaccinations you can protect yourself from pneumonia.
