Preventing And Treating Inflammatory Lung Diseases / pneumonia

Preventing And Treating Inflammatory Lung Diseases / pneumonia.

How ill if there is disease in our bodies. How ill, if you have pneumonia. Our activities would be disrupted and uncomfortable. Pneumonia is a disease of the lungs where the pulmonary alveoli (alveoli) responsible for absorbing oxygen from the atmosphere become inflamed and filled with fluid. Pneumonia can be caused by several causes, including infection by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasite (parasite). Pneumonia can also be caused by the pain of chemicals or physical injury to the lungs or as a result of other diseases, such as lung cancer or drinking excessive alcohol.

Pneumonia is a disease that can prove fatal, for example, is the bird flu, which is one form of pneumonia and had caused many deaths.

Causes of pneumonia are:

1.   Bacteria (most often causes pneumonia in adults):

- Streptococcus pneumoniae.

- Staphylococcus aureus.

- Legionella.

- Hemophilus influenzae.

2.  Virus: influenza virus, chicken-pox.

3.  Bacteria-like organisms: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (especially in children and young adults).

4.  Certain fungi.

Some people who are vulnerable (susceptible) pneumonia are:

• Drinkers of alcohol.
• Smokers.
• Diabetics.
• Patients with heart failure.
• Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Impaired immune system due to certain drugs (cancer patients, transplant recipients).
• Impaired immune system due to disease (AIDS patients).

Pneumonia can also occur after surgery (especially abdominal surgery) or injury (particularly chest injury), as a result of shallow breathing, impaired ability to cough and phlegm is stuck. Which is often the cause is Staphylococcus aureus, pneumococcus, Hemophilus influenzae, or a combination of all three.

Pneumonia in adults is most often caused by bacteria, the commonest of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). Pneumonia in children most often caused by respiratory viruses, and the peak occurs at age 2-3 years. At school age, pneumonia is most often caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Pneumonia grouped by a number of different systems. One of them is based on how obtained, divided into 2 groups, namely "community-acquired" (acquired outside of health institutions) and "hospital-acquired" (acquired in hospitals or other health facilities).

Pneumonia acquired outside of health institutions are most often caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumonia acquired in the hospital tend to be more serious because at the time of receiving treatment in hospital, the patient's body's defense system to fight infection is often disrupted. In addition, the possibility of infection by bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics is greater.

Symptoms associated with pneumonia include cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. Diagnostic tools including X-rays and sputum examinations. Treatment depends on the cause of pneumonia; inflammation of the lungs caused by bacteria treated with antibiotics.

The symptoms commonly found are:

- Cough with phlegm (sputum such as mucus, greenish or like pus).

- Chest pain (may be sharp or dull and intensified if the patient deep breathing or coughing).

- Shivering.

- Fever.

- Easy to feel tired.

- Shortness of breath.

- Headache.

- Decreased appetite.

- Nausea and vomiting.

- Feel unwell.

- Joint stiffness.

- Muscle stiffness.

Other symptoms that may be found:

- The skin moist.

- Coughing up blood.

- Rapid breathing.

- Anxiety, stress, tension.

- Abdominal pain.

Pneumonia is a common disease, which occurs in all age groups, and is the top-ranked cause of death among the elderly and chronically ill people. Vaccines to prevent certain types of pneumonia can be obtained. Individual prognosis depends on the type of pneumonia, the appropriate treatment, complications, and health.

Treatment to patients whose disease is not too heavy, can be given antibiotics by mouth (oral) and stayed at home.

Treatment for older patients and patients with shortness of breath or with heart disease or other lung, to be admitted and given antibiotics intravenously. May need to be given supplemental oxygen, intravenous fluids and mechanical breathing aids.

Most patients will respond to treatment and the situation improved within 2 weeks.

Prevention for people who are susceptible to pneumonia, breathing exercises in, and therapy to get rid of phlegm, can help prevent pneumonia. Vaccination can help prevent some types of pneumonia in children and adults who are at high risk:

• Pneumococcal vaccine (to prevent pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae).
• Flu vaccine.
• Hib vaccine (to prevent pneumonia due to Haemophilus influenzae type b).