How to treat community-acquired pneumonia

A popular boxer once said, “I quit school in the sixth grade because of pneumonia. Not because I had it, but because I couldn’t spell it.”

This is to elaborate the serious impact of pneumonia in the community, although it’s about the meaning of the word, not the spelling.

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs. It can be easily be overlooked as the cause of an illness because it often resembles a cold or the flu.

Community-acquired pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia. It occurs outside of hospitals and other conventional health care facilities.

Other types of pneumonia are:

Hospital-acquired pneumonia: Some people catch pneumonia while receiving treatment for another ailment in a hospital. This type of pneumonia can be serious because the bacteria causing it may be more resistant to antibiotics.

Health care-acquired pneumonia: Health care-acquired pneumonia is a bacterial infection that occurs in people who are living in long-term care facilities or have been treated in outpatient clinics.

Aspiration pneumonia: It occurs when one inhales food, drink or saliva into the lungs.

Causes of pneumonia

Bacteria: Streptococcus pneumonia, mycoplasma pneumonia. Tuberculosis is also a form of pneumonia

Viruses: Some of the viruses that cause colds and the flu can cause pneumonia. Viruses are the most common cause of pneumonia in children under the age of five.

Fungi: This type of pneumonia is most common in people with chronic health problems or weak immune systems and it can be found in people who have inhaled large doses of the microbes.

Diagnosis

The doctor hears abnormal breathing sounds in different areas of the chest while auscultating with the stethoscopes.

Crackling and bubbling sounds in the chest during inhalation are usually indicators of pneumonia. Wheezing may also be present.

Signs

Symptoms of pneumonia may include fever, sweating and shaking chills, cough, which may produce phlegm, chest pain when you breathe or cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea, wheezing, muscle aches, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing.

Some symptoms like bluish tone (from lack of oxygen), blood in sputum (coughed-up mucus), laboured breathing, very high fever, may indicate a medical emergency and require immediate medical attention.

Newborns and infants may develop fever and cough, appear restless or tired or have difficulty breathing and eating. Some may not show any sign of the infection.

Symptoms of pneumonia in the elderly

There are challenges to the diagnosis of pneumonia in elderly people because they may not suffer the classic symptoms like fever, chills and cough, according to the Infectious Disease Clinics of North America.

Keep an eye on for non respiratory symptoms like weakness, confusion, delirium, or dizziness, or other more vague symptoms—especially in those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, which can impair the accurate reporting of pneumonia symptoms.

Also, it may be more difficult to notice pneumonia symptoms in seniors with pre-existing conditions. So be alert to any changes in your loved one’s health,and see a doctor if any unusual symptoms occur.

Practice good hygiene

Ordinary respiratory infections, colds, and influenza can sometimes lead to pneumonia; the Mayo Clinic advises that you wash your hands regularly or use hand sanitiser to help prevent the spread of these illnesses. Other types of infections, like oral or dental infections, can also lead to pneumonia, so good dental hygiene is a must.

Lastly, if you want to prevent pneumonia in the elderly loved ones, make sure you help them avoid others who are ill, whether it’s routine illnesses like colds, flu, and respiratory infections, or more serious diseases like measles or chickenpox. All of these can lead to pneumonia.

Make sure seniors get immunised

The Mayo Clinic and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute both advise seniors and others at risk for pneumonia to get vaccinated against bacterial pneumococcal pneumonia. It’s a one-time vaccine that can prevent or reduce the severity of pneumonia. Your doctor may also suggest a booster vaccine after five years. It’s also a good idea to vaccinate seniors against other illnesses that can lead to pneumonia, particularly influenza.

Don’t smoke

Smoking is a major risk factor for pneumonia—it greatly increases a person’s likelihood of getting the disease, because it harms the ability of the lungs to defend against infection. Quitting smoking can help at-risk seniors defend against pneumonia.

Stay in good general health

Good overall health habits are critical to preventing pneumonia in seniors and in everybody because they keep the immune system strong and able to fight off infection. Make sure your loved one follows appropriate nutrition guidelines for seniors, as well as getting plenty of rest and physical exercise.