Pneumonia: Prevention and Management

Don’t you think your simple cough and cold can anytime turn into nightmares and ruin your peaceful sleep? Usually, Pneumonia fails to garner our attention of us as we carelessly ignore the mere cough or outcome of seasonal changes. Pneumonia prevention and its timely management are pivotal to tactfully dodge the chances of averting morbidity, crossing your path in the guise of general cough and sneezing.
This blog might be your saviour in crucial times through minute records of alarming symptoms, prevention measures and management strategies. Pneumonia is a fatal form of inflammation found in either of the lungs or both of them at the same time.
The air sacs or alveoli usually begin to fill with fluids, resulting in severe to mild coughing. Both viral, as well as bacteria-induced Pneumonia, are of contagious nature. Owing to this attribute, the germ of Pneumonia keeps spreading from one person to another through droplets stemming from coughing or sneezing.
Through this blog, our pulmonologists intend to empower the readers with the best guidelines and advice to get rid of Pneumonia, an invisible enemy to healthy lungs. Most of us are still unaware that Pneumonia is one of the largest infectious diseases hastening death worldwide.
Pneumonia prevention is crucial to decrease the rate of mortality significantly. Ranging from immunisation against pneumococcus, whooping cough, and measles are effective preventative measures to be taken into account.
To avert chances of becoming susceptible to an untimely death due to Pneumonia, identification of symptoms is necessary. Patients having acute symptoms of Pneumonia may require immediate medical intervention.

Symptoms of Pneumonia

Unlike other diseases, symptoms of Pneumonia usually take 24 to 48 hours to appear visibly. Some of the alarming signs you need to notice frequently are:
1.Excessive cough, either dry or accompanied by thick green, yellow or blood-stained phlegm
2.Massive difficulty in breathing
3.High fever
4.Frequent sweating and shivering
5.Food aversion
6.Worsening of the sharp chest pain with cough
7.Unexplained tiredness
8.Delirium witnessed especially among older people

People who are at high stake for developing Pneumonia

Although people of all ages and conditions can get exposed to viral or bacterial Pneumonia, the following groups are at the highest stake:
1. Children younger than two years of age
2. Smokers
3. Adults aged 65 and above
4. Pregnant Women
5. People having HIV/ AIDS, autoimmune disease, Dementia, Diabetes and others
6. People regularly get exposed to toxic chemicals and smoke.

Diagnosis of Pneumonia

The visible signs definitely can enunciate whether you have developed Pneumonia or not, but confirmation from your doctor is essential to carry out the treatment. The following methods of diagnosis can best identify the presence of the virus or bacteria of Pneumonia in the human body:
1. Chest X-ray
2. Chest CT Scan
3. Pulse oximetry test
4. Pleural fluid culture
5. Laboratory-based blood test
6. Laboratory-based mucus taste
7. Bronchoscopy
These tests are contingent on the diagnosis practices of your doctor and the nature of the Pneumonia you have developed.

Complications which might trigger due to Pneumonia

After getting exposed to Pneumonia, people are likely to have severe complications. Complications include:
1. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
2. Respiratory Failure
3. Lung Abscesses
4. Sepsis

Pneumonia Prevention Measures

Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to contagious diseases like Pneumonia. Follow the below suggestions for sound Pneumonia Prevention.
● Immunisation against Bacterial Pneumonia:
Commonplace two Pneumonia vaccines, Pneumovax 23 and Prevnar 13, are generally advised by doctors. Pneumovax23 shields against 23 different types of pneumococcal bacteria and is recommended for adults 65+ years of age or above. Prevnar13 combats 13 types of pneumonia-causing bacteria. Prior to getting yourself jabbed, consult your doctor.
● Immunisation against Viral Pneumonia:
Every year a shot of flu vaccine can effectively keep you safe from virus strain.
Receiving above mentioned vaccines cannot affirm 100% Pneumonia prevention. Here some of the general recommendations are provided to prevent this contagious respiratory disease.
1. Quitting smoke entirely is key to good lung health, and it keeps Pneumonia away.
2. Washing hands before having food is not only a hygiene practice but a sacrosanct measure to keep a safe distance from getting Pneumonia.
3. Sharing is another form of caring, but sharing your daily use objects can give rise to transmission of the flu virus.
4. A healthy diet, adequate rest and regular exercises keep the immune system strong to fight diseases.
5. Exemption from excessive alcoholism can contribute to a life free from diseases.

Pneumonia management and Treatment measures

Pneumonia prevention measures often fall weak in front of invisible bacteria and viruses. Proper treatment of this respiratory and flu-like disease seems to be extremely vital to save the lives of millions. Below are treatment options you should keep in mind while consulting medical professionals.
1. Antibiotic choices are beneficial in fighting against bacterial Pneumonia.
2. Seek a cough suppressant if your cough becomes worse.
3. Antiviral drugs like Oseltamivir and Peramivir can be taken by consulting with a doctor to relieve the symptoms of viral Pneumonia.

Disclaimer

Though all attempts are made to provide correct information on the subject, inadvertent & typographical errors arising out of manual intervention cannot be ruled out. It is requested to bring any such discrepancies to the notice of the blogger for correction.