Pneumonia: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Pneumonia Complications

Serious consequences from pneumonia can necessitate hospitalization. Some complications include the following:

• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) or respiratory failure
• Pleural effusion, which means your lungs would be surrounded with fluid
• Bacteremia or bacteria in your blood, which may lead to organ failure

Pneumonia Diagnosis

A medical professional will inquire about your medical history and do a physical exam to diagnose pneumonia. They'll use a stethoscope to listen to your lungs, and they might also perform or prescribe other testing, consisting of imaging (such as X-rays of the chest), pulse oximetry (measuring the amount of oxygen in your blood), blood testing, or sputum (spit) studies.

Pneumonia Treatment

Treating pneumonia begins with identifying its cause, either bacterial, fungal, or viral, and rarely non-infective cause. When your medical professional is unable to identify the cause, which may happen in many cases, the treatment is focused on managing the symptoms.

Treating pneumonia includes one or more of the following:

• Antibiotics: Antibiotics treat pneumonia caused by bacteria. They can't treat viruses, but a doctor can recommend them if you also have a bacterial infection.
• Antifungal medication: Antifungals can cure pneumonia brought on by a fungus.
• Antiviral medication: Viral pneumonia typically doesn't require treatment and can resolve on its own. To shorten the duration and severity of a virus's illness, a doctor may prescribe antivirals.
• Oxygen therapy: If you aren't getting enough oxygen, a healthcare professional may give you more oxygen through a mask or tube in your face.
• IV fluids: Fluids administered intravenously (IV) are used to treat or prevent dehydration.
• Fluid drainage: If you have a pleural effusion, which is an accumulation of fluid between your lungs and chest wall, a healthcare professional may drain it. Both surgery and a catheter are used for this.
• Non infective pneumonias are usually treated with systemic gloco cortico steroids

Pneumonia Prevention

The strongest defense against pneumonia is vaccination. You can also take routine safety measures to strengthen your immune system to help lower your risk of pneumonia

Vaccines to Prevent Pneumonia

There are two different vaccinations available to protect against pneumococcal pneumonia. These immunizations, such as the flu shot, won't prevent you from all forms of pneumonia, but if you do become sick, symptoms won’t be as severe.

• Pneumovax23® and Prevnar20®, two pneumococcal vaccines, provide protection from pneumonia-causing germs. Each of them is advised for particular age groups or people who have a higher risk of pneumonia.
• Vaccinations against viruses: As some viruses can cause pneumonia, obtaining the flu and the COVID-19 vaccines can lower your risk of contracting the illness.
• Childhood immunizations: If you have kids, ask your doctor what additional shots they need. A number of childhood vaccinations aid in preventing viral and bacterial illnesses that might result in pneumonia.

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Pneumonia

In addition to getting vaccinated, adopting the following healthy behaviors will lower your chance of developing and transmitting pneumonia:

• Smoking damages your lungs and raises your chance of getting sick. Hence, you are advised to avoid smoking.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before handling food, before eating, and after using the bathroom. As an alternative to soap, use a hand sanitizer that contains alcohol.
• Avoid coming in close contact with others and stop from exchanging stuff with them if either of you has an infectious disease.
• Do some exercise, eat healthily, and sleep sufficiently.
• Have your doctor treat any other medical problems. These conditions may weaken your immune system, increasing your chance of acquiring pneumonia.
• Avoid consuming alcohol in excess.

 References

Bartlett, J. G., & Mundy, L. M. (1995). Community-acquired pneumonia. New England Journal of Medicine, 333(24), 1618-1624.

Gereige, R. S., & Laufer, P. M. (2013). Pneumonia. Pediatrics in review, 34(10), 438-456.

Limper, A. H. (2012). Overview of pneumonia. Goldman's Cecil Medicine, 587.

Ruuskanen, O., Lahti, E., Jennings, L. C., & Murdoch, D. R. (2011). Viral pneumonia. The Lancet, 377(9773), 1264-1275.