Pneumonia Symptoms To Watch Out for And The Treatment Options
Pneumonia, an acute
respiratory infection, is one of the top communicable diseases in India,
accounting to almost 70 % of all communicable diseases in the country. Its
seriousness ranges from mild to life-threatening and therefore it becomes very
important to know about pneumonia symptoms so that the treatment can be done on time. The chances of it
becoming more serious are in young children, those above the age of 65 and the
ones with health issues or a weak immune system.
Pneumonia infection
causes the air sacs in the lungs to get filled with fluid which makes one
difficult to breathe as oxygen is not able to reach the bloodstream. It can be
in one or both the lungs and the cause of it could be a virus, bacteria or
fungi. Let us understand the most common symptoms of pneumonia:
1-Cough that produces phlegm or mucus
2-Shortness of breath
3-Loss of appetite
4-Constant fatigue
5-Chest pain when you breathe or cough
6-Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
7- Fever, sweating, and chills
Though these are the most common symptoms it is important to know that there are cases when one has pneumonia infection but there are no symptoms at all. The doctors term this situation as 'walking pneumonia'. For anyone who develops a new cough, feels shortness of breath along with fever, it is advised to consult a doctor. With the rapid spread of COVID-19 these days, it becomes all the more important to get tested as the symptoms of both are almost the same. COVID-19 patients can develop pneumonia at a later stage.
Pneumonia Treatment
The treatment of pneumonia depends on how severe it is and the overall health of the person. Doctors generally recommend medication to treat the infection. The medication one receives will depend on the specific cause of the infection. If it is bacterial pneumonia, oral antibiotics are effective in most of the cases. However, it is recommended to take the complete course even if you feel better mid-way. Not doing so can lead to more complications later. If pneumonia is due to a virus, note that the antibiotic medication will not work. The doctor may prescribe antiviral but in many cases the infection can go away on its own with home care. For fungal pneumonia, the patient has to take antifungal medications for a few weeks to clear the infection.
2-Shortness of breath
3-Loss of appetite
4-Constant fatigue
5-Chest pain when you breathe or cough
6-Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
7- Fever, sweating, and chills
Though these are the most common symptoms it is important to know that there are cases when one has pneumonia infection but there are no symptoms at all. The doctors term this situation as 'walking pneumonia'. For anyone who develops a new cough, feels shortness of breath along with fever, it is advised to consult a doctor. With the rapid spread of COVID-19 these days, it becomes all the more important to get tested as the symptoms of both are almost the same. COVID-19 patients can develop pneumonia at a later stage.
Pneumonia Treatment
The treatment of pneumonia depends on how severe it is and the overall health of the person. Doctors generally recommend medication to treat the infection. The medication one receives will depend on the specific cause of the infection. If it is bacterial pneumonia, oral antibiotics are effective in most of the cases. However, it is recommended to take the complete course even if you feel better mid-way. Not doing so can lead to more complications later. If pneumonia is due to a virus, note that the antibiotic medication will not work. The doctor may prescribe antiviral but in many cases the infection can go away on its own with home care. For fungal pneumonia, the patient has to take antifungal medications for a few weeks to clear the infection.
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