Health
How Deadly Is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung affecting the microscopic air sacs known as alveoli. Although pneumonia can be cured, it can also be fatal in severe cases. Cough, fever and troubled breathing are common. Pneumonia spreads through the lungs and the infected area becomes inflamed, which is a part of the body’s normal response to the disease. But, those with a weak immune system cannot contain the infection.
Who Is At Risk Of Pneumonia?
People aged 65 or more and children aged younger than five are at the risk of the disease. Those suffering from health issues such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease are also at an increased risk of pneumonia. Cigarette smokers are also likely to get the disease.
How Does Pneumonia Affect Body?
Tiny air sacs at the ends of the breathing tubes become infected and start filling up with fluid and pus. This affects the normal process of gas exchange in the lungs that halts oxygen from reaching the blood stream. It also leads to rise in blood levels of the waste gas carbon dioxide, which cannot be removed easily. This causes breathing trouble.
Oxygen levels can fall down and affect the heart and brain. This can lead to coma and heart failure, and eventually cause death.
Treatment :
Specific treatments depend on the type and severity of your pneumonia, your age and your overall health. The options include:
1. Antibiotics: These medicines are used to treat bacterial pneumonia. It may take time to identify the type of bacteria causing your pneumonia and to choose the best antibiotic to treat it. If your symptoms don't improve, your doctor may recommend a different antibiotic.
2. Cough medicine: This medicine may be used to calm your cough so that you can rest. Because coughing helps loosen and move fluid from your lungs, it's a good idea not to eliminate your cough completely. In addition, you should know that very few studies have looked at whether over-the-counter cough medicines lessen coughing caused by pneumonia. If you want to try a cough suppressant, use the lowest dose that helps you rest.
3. Fever reducers/pain relievers: You may take these as needed for fever and discomfort. These include drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).
Hospitalization
You may need to be hospitalized if:
-You are older than age 65
-You are confused about time, people or places
-Your kidney function has declined
-Your systolic blood pressure is below 90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or your diastolic blood pressure is 60 mm Hg or above
-Your breathing is rapid (30 breaths or more a minute)
-You need breathing assistance
-Your temperature is below normal
-Your heart rate is below 50 or above 100
You may be admitted to the intensive care unit if you need to be placed on a breathing machine (ventilator) or if your symptoms are severe.
Children may be hospitalized if:
They are younger than age 2 months
They are lethargic or excessively sleepy
They have trouble breathing
They have low blood oxygen levels
They appear dehydrated
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