Pneumonia, known among the people, occurs as a result of inflammation of the lung tissue and is one of the most common diseases that cause death in the world. It is one of the most dangerous respiratory diseases.
In this topic, pneumonia: what is it? How is it diagnosed? We will talk about the treatment of pneumonia and what you need to know about pneumonia.
Pneumonia is when the air sacs in the lungs fill with an inflamed fluid.
Pneumonia, which is caused by viruses, bacteria and, rarely, fungal infections reaching the lungs, is highly contagious.
The disease can be seen at any age.
As pneumonia symptoms are often confused with upper respiratory infection, coronavirus symptoms and flu, patients may apply to the doctor late, which leads to the progression of the disease and delays in treatment.
According to the data of the World Health Organization, 1-2 out of 100 people in the world catch pneumonia every year. About 7% of all deaths in the world are thought to be due to pneumonia.
Especially those with chronic diseases such as COPD, diabetes, heart disease and kidney failure; Young children, pregnant women and the elderly need to consult a doctor to have the pneumonia vaccine to protect them from pneumonia.
Especially with the cold weather, the incidence of pneumonia increases. Simply, the symptoms of this disease are the same as other upper respiratory tract infections. Symptoms following a runny nose, sneezing, coughing appear after a while.
Symptoms of Pneumonia:
Influenza and similar viral respiratory tract infections that predispose to pneumonia are very contagious. They can be spread by sneezing and coughing, and can be transmitted to other people through items such as glasses, handkerchiefs, cutlery, etc., which are contaminated with mouth and nose secretions.
After the patients with pneumonia symptoms are examined, the diagnosis is usually made by lung x-rays. In severe pneumonia and patients who need to be hospitalized, further investigations such as blood tests, computed tomography and sputum tests may be required. The sputum sample should be examined to determine the microbe that causes pneumonia. However, it is often not possible to identify the microbe for various reasons.
In many cases pneumonia can be treated at home. Severe cases, elderly patients, patients requiring oxygen therapy or intensive care support require hospitalization. Treatment varies by patient. When treatment is started early, the results are satisfactory. However, the mortality rate is high in severe pneumonia cases with delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Pneumonia caused by bacteria is treated with antibiotics. Most patients can receive antibiotic treatment at home. It is very important to take the treatment for the period recommended by the doctor and not to stop it when improvement is seen. Antibiotics do not work in viral pneumonia, treatments supporting the general condition of the patient are applied.
Ensuring plenty of fluid intake will help healing and sputum removal.
Using random cough syrup without a doctor's advice can do more harm than good. Cough is a normal defense mechanism that the body needs to expel phlegm.
Painkillers and antipyretics may sometimes be necessary.
Pneumococcal Vaccine
The germ that most often causes pneumonia is pneumococci. Pneumococcal vaccine against pneumococci is recommended in the following situations.
The pneumococcal vaccine is administered intramuscularly in the arm. It is quite reliable, serious side effects are not uncommon. Doing it twice in a lifetime is often enough.
There are 3 types of pneumonia. These:
Influenza outbreaks are a high risk factor for pneumonia. Influenza vaccine is recommended for people over the age of 65, chronic lung, heart, kidney and liver patients, and high-risk people (health workers, security guards, cleaners) due to their duties.
Breast milk is very important to protect children from pneumonia! we say only breast milk for the first 6 months
Some viruses that cause colds and flu can cause pneumonia. Viruses are the most common cause of pneumonia in children younger than 5 years old. Viral Pneumonia is usually mild. But in some cases it can become very serious. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) can cause pneumonia, which can become severe.
Pneumonia is a serious disease that results in death when it is detected late or treatment is started late. Especially in your children, consult a doctor even in the slightest symptoms.
Health is paramount! We wish you healthy days.
Influenza and similar viral respiratory tract infections that predispose to pneumonia are very contagious.
In short, it is inflammation of the lung tissue. It occurs due to various microorganisms, especially bacteria.
It occurs due to various microorganisms, especially bacteria. In some types of pneumonia, there is a risk of direct transmission from sick person to healthy person. It mostly occurs when germs from the patient's own mouth, throat or digestive tract reach the lungs.
It usually happens when body resistance drops. The main causes of pneumonia are bacteria, viruses and fungi.
It is generally recommended to continue antibiotics for 5-7 days after the fever subsides. However, in cases of pneumonia due to some microbe types, it may be necessary to extend the treatment period to 10-15 days, sometimes up to 21 days.
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