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What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lower respiratory system. It is located in one or more lung lobes, in one or both lungs.
How serious is pneumonia?
It varies from mild disease that can be treated at home to very severe infection, with high mortality.
What are the different types of pneumonia?
Pneumonia can be infectious or non-infectious. Infectious pneumonia is caused by infection with a bacterium, virus, fungus or protozoa, while non-infectious pneumonia is rarer and is caused by inhalation of poisons or chemicals.
How is infectious pneumonia transmitted?
Infectious pneumonia is transmitted aerogenically, through droplets. Depending on the causative microbes and the place where the patient is infected, it is divided into community pneumonia and nosocomial infection. Community pneumonia occurs outside the hospital, whereas in-hospital pneumonia occurs during hospitalisation or in the first 24 hours after a patient is discharged.
What conditions favour the transmission of infectious pneumonia?
- If someone sick coughs or sneezes next to us
- The use of common objects
- Contaminated surfaces
- Enclosed, unventilated areas
- Synchrotism with many people
Who is most at risk?
Anyone can get sick. However, the following groups are at higher risk:
- Adults 65 years and over
- Children under 2 years old
- People with weakened immune system
- The smokers
What are the symptoms of pneumonia?
The main symptoms of pneumonia are:
- Fever (usually high)
- Rigo
- Sweating
- Productive cough (with phlegm)
- Dyspnea
- Chest pain
- Bloody sputum
- Arthralgias
- Myalgia
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
What are the complications of pneumonia?
Pneumonia can have serious complications, such as pleurisy, sepsis, pulmonary abscess, acute respiratory distress and myocarditis.
How is the diagnosis made?
The diagnosis is made through:
- Clinical examination
- Imaging examinations (X-ray, chest CT scan)
- Laboratory tests
- Pharyngeal smear taking
- Blood cultures
What is the treatment for pneumonia?
The treatment of pneumonia depends on the responsible cause. Patients with mild disease and no underlying diseases can be treated at home. In addition to specific antimicrobial treatment, adequate nutrition, hydration and rest are essential for faster recovery. If the patient is in pain or has a fever, antipyretic and analgesic medication is recommended. If a productive cough is present, expectorant syrup is recommended.
When the doctor suspects the existence of bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics are prescribed. Treatment of outpatient pneumonia usually takes 7-10 days. Some pathogens require prolonged administration of treatment.
Viral pneumonias are usually self-limiting diseases that do not require special treatment, but only supportive care and prevention of complications.
When other microorganisms, such as fungi and protozoa, are responsible, special treatments are given. In non-infectious pneumonias, supportive treatment is given.
In cases where acute pneumonia is diagnosed or the symptoms do not improve or the patient belongs to a susceptible group, hospital admission is recommended.
What is the course of the disease?
Most symptoms, such as fever or chest pain, resolve within a few 24 hours of starting treatment. The cough usually goes away in 2 or 3 weeks, but the feeling of tiredness and weakness may persist for a long time. If symptoms have not improved in the first couple of days, the treating physician should be informed.
Is it possible to prevent infectious pneumonia?
Pneumonia can be prevented in the following ways:
- Pneumococcal vaccine
- Influenza vaccine
- Healthy lifestyle
- Avoiding smoking
- Regulation of underlying diseases
How can we protect ourselves in our daily lives?
Because it is a communicable disease, we can protect ourselves by following simple hygiene rules. Some of them are:
- When we cough or sneeze we cover our mouth
- We wash our hands regularly
- We immediately throw away the tissue with which we wipe our nose
- If we are ill, we stay at home until we are fully recovered
- Use of mask and gloves if there is a patient at home
- Good ventilation of the space
Bibliography
https://www.doctoranytime.gr/p/pneumonia
https://medicalpq.gr/πνευμονία/
https://www.mitera.gr/arthra-ygeias/pneymonia-tropoi-metadosis-symptomata-therapeia-prolipsi/
https://www.iatronet.gr/ygeia/anapnefstiko/article/25718/pnevmonia-symptwmata-kai-therapeia.html
https://pathologia.eu/enimerosi/loimoxeis/πνευμονία/
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