In recent News, ESPN reporter Ed Aschoff, who covered the Southeastern Conference (SEC) college sports for the network, died Tuesday, 24th December 2019, after a battle of pneumonia. He was 34. That's sad right?
That is why we will like to educate everyone about Pneumonia.
What is Pneumonia?
Causes of Pneumonia
Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia
How is Pneumonia Transmitted?
Types and Classification of Pneumonia
Complications and Risk Factors
Treatment and Prevention
What Is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs. The lungs are made up of small sacs called alveoli, which fill with air when a healthy person breathes. When an individual has pneumonia, the alveoli are filled with pus and fluid, which makes breathing painful and limits oxygen intake.
Pneumonia is the single largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide. Pneumonia killed 808 694 children under the age of 5 in 2017, accounting for 15% of all deaths of children under five years old. More than 1.5 million cases are yearly in Nigeria. Pneumonia affects children and families everywhere, but is most prevalent in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Children can be protected from pneumonia, it can be prevented with simple interventions, and treated with low-cost, low-tech medication and care.
What Causes Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is caused by a number of germs or infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria and fungi. The most common are bacteria and viruses in the air we breathe. The body usually prevents these germs from infecting your lungs. But sometimes these germs can overpower your immune system, even if your health is generally good.
How is Pneumonia Transmitted?
Pneumonia can be spread in a number of ways. The viruses and bacteria that are commonly found in a child's nose or throat, can infect the lungs if they are inhaled. They may also spread via air-borne droplets from a cough or sneeze. In addition, pneumonia may spread through blood, especially during and shortly after birth. More research needs to be done on the different pathogens causing pneumonia and the ways they are transmitted, as this is of critical importance for treatment and prevention.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia?
Pneumonia can range in seriousness from mild to life-threatening. It is most serious for infants and young children, people older than age 65, and people with health problems or weakened immune systems.
The signs and symptoms of pneumonia vary from mild to severe, depending on factors such as the type of germ causing the infection, and your age and overall health. Mild signs and symptoms often are similar to those of a cold or flu, but they last longer.
Signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include:
√ Chest pain when you breathe or cough
√ Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older)
√ Cough, which may produce phlegm
√ Fatigue
√ Fever, sweating and shaking chills
√ Lower than normal body temperature (in adults older than age 65 and people with weak immune systems)
√ Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
√ Shortness of breath
Newborns and infants may not show any sign of the infection. Or they may vomit, have a fever and cough, appear restless or tired and without energy, or have difficulty breathing and eating.
When to see a Doctor or Pharmacist
See your doctor or Pharmacist if you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent fever of 102 F (39 C) or higher, or persistent cough, especially if you're coughing up pus.
It's especially important that people in these high-risk groups see a Doctor or Pharmacist
√ Adults older than age 65
√ Children younger than age 2 with signs and symptoms
√ People with an underlying health condition or weakened immune system
√ People receiving chemotherapy or taking medication that suppresses the immune system
√ For some older adults and people with heart failure or chronic lung problems, pneumonia can quickly become a life-threatening condition.
What Are The Risk Factors?
While most healthy children can fight the infection with their natural defences, children whose immune systems are compromised are at higher risk of developing pneumonia. A child's immune system may be weakened by malnutrition or undernourishment, especially in infants who are not exclusively breastfed.
Pre-existing illnesses, such as symptomatic HIV infections and measles, also increase a child's risk of contracting pneumonia.
The following environmental factors also increase a child's susceptibility to pneumonia:
indoor air pollution caused by cooking and heating with biomass fuels (such as wood or dung)
living in crowded homes
parental smoking.
Trust this has helped you..
Feel free to ask questions, comment and contribute...
Watch out for our next write up, where we will talk about Types/Classification, Prevention and Treatment of Pneumonia.
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