By Dr. Syeda Sadaf Akber
Pneumonia is a lung infection can occur in one or both lungs. Patients can get cough, fever, and have a hard time breathing in pneumonia. In most cases, pneumonia can be treated at home. It often settles up in 2 to 3 weeks. But older adults, babies, and people with other complications and diseases can become very ill and sometimes they may need to be in the hospital.
World Pneumonia Day is annually held on November 12 to bring people from all over the world together uniting to demand that something be done to fight the pneumonia illness and try to raise awareness of pneumonia to help to highlight the severity of pneumonia and encourages more organizations to look at ways of combating the disease, interventions to protect against, prevent and treat pneumonia, which is the world’s leading killer of children under the age of five.
Global Coalition against Child Pneumonia in Pakistan ranks third in the list of 15 high burden countries where the estimated deaths of children by pneumonia is alarmingly high. Globally, pneumonia accounts for more than 920,000 deaths among children under five and according to Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA) Pakistan is among top five countries, which account for 99 % of childhood pneumonia cases.
Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs fill with fluid, which causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing.
Pneumonia can range in seriousness from mild to life-threatening. It is most serious for infants from birth to age 2 years and young children, people older than age 65. People who have had a stroke, swallowing problems also get pneumonia early. People who have disease or using medication such as steroids or certain cancer drugs and have weakened immune system and have HIV/AIDS, an organ transplant, or have received chemotherapy or long-term steroids, smokers, people who use certain types of illicit drugs, and drink excessive amounts of alcohol also high risk of Pneumonia, because smoking damages your body’s natural defenses against the bacteria and viruses that cause pneumonia.
Some people who are in certain chronic medical conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, or heart failure and people receiving chemotherapy or taking medication that suppresses the immune system , for some older adults and people with heart failure or chronic lung problems, pneumonia can quickly become a life-threatening condition.
People should go for doctor if they have difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent fever of 102 F (39 C) or higher, or persistent cough, especially if patient coughing up pus.
Both viral and bacterial pneumonia can spread to others through inhalation of airborne droplets from a sneeze or cough. But while patient get infected with fungal pneumonia from the environment, it doesn’t spread from person to person. Pneumonia usually starts when person breathe the germs into your lungs. These illnesses make it hard for lungs to fight infection, so it is easier to get pneumonia.
Community-acquired pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia. It occurs outside of hospitals or other health care facilities. This type of pneumonia can occur on its own or after person had a cold or the flu. It may affect lobe of the lung, which condition called lobar pneumonia. Mycoplasma pneumonia also can cause pneumonia, which cause mild cases of pneumonia, most often in older children and young adults. Fungi from soil or bird droppings can cause pneumonia in people who inhale large amounts of the organisms. Fungal pneumonia can cause pneumonia in people with chronic health problems or weakened immune systems, and in people who have inhaled large doses of the organisms. Respiratory viruses are often the cause of pneumonia, especially in young children and older people. Viral pneumonia is usually not serious and lasts for a shorter time than bacterial pneumonia.
Some people get pneumonia infection during a hospital stay for another illness. Patients who are on ventilators and in ICU are at greater risk of pneumonia. Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) can be fatal because the bacteria causing it may be more resistant to antibiotics and infected people already are already sick.
However, Health care-acquired pneumonia is a bacterial infection that occurs in people who live in long-term care facilities or receive treatment in outpatient clinics. People can get pneumonia in their daily routine life too, like at institution or work place, and this is called community-associated pneumonia.
The signs and symptoms of pneumonia vary from mild to severe, depending on factors such as the type of germ causing the infection, and patient’s age and overall health. Older adults have different, fewer, or milder symptoms,. They may not have a fever and mucus in cough. However newborns and infants may not show any sign of the infection. They may vomit, have a fever and cough, appear restless or tired and without energy, or have difficulty breathing and eating. The main sign of pneumonia in older adults may be a change in how well they think. Confusion or delirium is common. If infected person already have a lung disease, that disease may get worse. Other symptoms can vary according to the cause and severity of the infection, as well as the age and general health of the individual. Viral pneumonia may start with flu-like symptoms, such as wheezing. A high fever occurs after 12–36 hours. Bacterial pneumonia causes a fever as high as 105°F along with profuse sweating, bluish lips and nails, and confusion. Children under 5 years of age mostly have fast breathing. Infants may vomit, lack energy, or have trouble drinking or eating. Older people have a lower-than-normal body temperature. The major types of pneumonia are classified by the cause of the infection, where the infection was transmitted, and how the infection was acquired. Common Signs and symptoms are cough that may produce phlegm (mucus may be rusty or green or tinged with blood), fever, sweating, chills, fast breathing and feeling shortness of breath, shaking and “teeth-chattering” chills, chest pain when person cough or breathe, fast heartbeat, feeling very tired or very weak, Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older), nausea and vomiting and diarrhea.
Treatment of pneumonia depends on the type of pneumonia, its severity and patient’s general health. It is necessary to make sure to take the medicines exactly as doctor’s instruction. During the treatment, patients should get plenty of rest and sleep, and drink lots of fluids. Try to get rid of smoking and make possible to not overdoing it by going back to work.
The first line of defense against pneumonia is to get vaccinated. For prevent pneumonia research recommend immunization for all. According to the National Institutes of Health, pneumonia vaccines won’t prevent all cases of the condition. But if you’re vaccinated, you’re likely to have a milder and shorter illness, and a lower risk of complications. Children get the pneumococcal vaccine as part of their routine shots. Two different types of pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for people ages 65 and older. Doctors recommend a different pneumonia vaccine for children younger than age 2 and for children ages 2 to 5 years who are at particular risk of pneumococcal disease. Children who attend a group child care center should also get the vaccine. Doctors also recommend flu shots for children older than 6 months. Especially people who smoke, or have a long-term health problem, its important to get a pneumococcal vaccine. Exposure with the patients who have cold, measles, or chickenpox can increase the chance to get pneumonia. Wash hands often and properly with soap and water, Cover your coughs and sneezes, and dispose of used tissues promptly. and get help to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria that may cause pneumonia. Get enough sleep, exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet.
