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Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection (caused by a virus, bacteria, or fungus) that attacks the lungs.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pneumonia or commonly known as wet lung is the single largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide. In 2019, this condition killed 740,180 children under the age of 5 in 2019.
The lungs are made up of tiny sacs, called alveoli, which fill with air when a healthy person breathes. When a person has pneumonia, the alveoli fill with pus and fluid, making breathing painful and limiting oxygen intake.
Causes of Pneumonia
Quoted from the official WHO website, pneumonia is caused by a number of infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
The most common type is bacterial pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae—the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in children.
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is also the second most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. In addition, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of viral pneumonia.
Pneumonia can be spread in a number of ways, such as through airborne droplets when coughing or sneezing or possibly through blood, especially during and immediately after birth.
Symptoms of Pneumonia
Pneumonia caused by bacterial infections and those caused by viruses can have slightly different symptoms. Quoted from the Johns Hopkins Medicine page, the symptoms of pneumonia due to infection are as follows:
- Bluish color on lips and nails
- Confused mental state or delirium, especially in the elderly
- Cough that produces green, yellow, or bloody mucus
- Fever
- Sweat a lot
- Loss of appetite
- Low energy and extreme fatigue
- Quick breath
- Fast pulse
- Shivering
- Sharp or stabbing chest pain that is worse with deep breathing or coughing
- Shortness of breath that gets worse with activity
The initial symptoms of pneumonia caused by a viral infection are similar to those of bacterial pneumonia. However, this type of pneumonia may have advanced symptoms such as headaches, increased shortness of breath, muscle aches, weakness, or a worsening cough.
Pneumonia Risk Factors
This condition can affect anyone. However, as quoted from the Cleveland Clinic, there are several risk factors that make a person have a higher risk for developing pneumonia, namely:
- Over 65 years old and children under 2 years old
- Have a weakened immune system due to another health condition (such as being on chemotherapy or having HIV-AIDS)
- Have a health condition that affects the lungs or heart (such as asthma or heart disease)
- Have a neurological condition that makes swallowing difficult (dementia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke)
- Is being treated in hospital
- Smokers or alcohol drinkers
- Exposure to toxic fumes, chemicals, or cigarette smoke
- Pregnant women
Pneumonia Treatment
WHO recommends that pneumonia should be treated with antibiotics. The antibiotic of choice for first-line treatment is amoxicillin dispersed tablets. Most cases of pneumonia require oral antibiotics, which are often prescribed in health centers.
Pneumonia cases can also be diagnosed and treated with inexpensive, community-level oral antibiotics by trained community health workers. Hospitalization is only recommended for severe cases of pneumonia.
NEXT: Prevention of pneumonia.
Watch Videos “Alert! This is the Myth of Wet Lungs“
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