Can the disease pass from one person to another? Is there a risk group? How to treat? Answer the leading questions
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) announced this Friday, the 24th, the postponement of a trip to China, scheduled for this Saturday 25, to treat pneumonia. The PT advisory reported that the condition is “light” and that the trip to the Asian country will be scheduled for Sunday 26. No further details on the disease were provided.
According to the doctors interviewed by the Stadium, pneumonia is an infection that settles in the lung and is mainly caused by three agents: viruses, bacteria and, more rarely, fungi. Diagnosis of the disease can be made through physical and imaging exams, as well as laboratory tests. The treatments vary according to each frame.
“Overall, bacterial pneumonia is the most common, particularly in community-dwelling adults (who live in the community) and in hospitalized patients,” says pulmonologist Felipe Marques da Costa, coordinator of the pulmonology team at BP – A Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo.
“Viral pneumonia is common in children and the elderly. Fungal pneumonia is the least common form, occurring preferentially in patients with some degree of immunosuppression,” he added.
Can pneumonia “pass” from one person to another?
Depending on the agent involved in the infection, person-to-person transmission of the cause may occur, according to specialists. Transmission can trigger new frames of pneumonia, but that doesn’t exactly mean passing the disease on to someone else.
According to Costa, some of the main modes of transmission between people are:
- bacterial pneumonia: Transmission occurs through inhalation of respiratory droplets containing the bacteria, usually from an infected person. These droplets can be released when the infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks;
- viral pneumonia: Transmission occurs mainly through contact with infected respiratory secretions, such as saliva, mucus or droplets from coughing or sneezing. Contact may be direct (eg, by kissing) or indirect (eg, by touching contaminated objects).
How to identify pneumonia? Is there a specific exam?
The diagnosis of pneumonia can be made through imaging and physical exams, as well as laboratory tests. “The physical exam may include auscultation of the lungs, looking for abnormal sounds, such as crackling or wheezing, which may indicate fluid or pus in the lungs,” says the pulmonologist.
In parallel, imaging tests, such as X-rays and especially CT scans, can show the presence of infiltrates or consolidated areas in the lungs, which can be indicative of pneumonia. Laboratory tests, such as a complete blood count and analysis of mucus or sputum, can also help identify the agent causing the infection.
What are the main symptoms of pneumonia?
The main symptoms of pneumonia are:
- Persistent cough, often with thick mucus or sputum
- High fever;
- Chest pain, especially when taking a deep breath or coughing
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing;
- Fatigue and general feeling of being unwell.
How does pneumonia differ from other respiratory diseases?
These symptoms can be similar to those of other respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold, bronchitis, or the flu. However, pneumonia is a more serious infection that affects the lungs and can lead to complications such as respiratory failure, especially if not treated properly.
How to differentiate pneumonia from other diseases?
According to the doctors, the pneumonia patient usually has high fever and cough with mucus or sputum, while the common cold is usually accompanied by mild to moderate symptoms, such as runny nose, sneezing and sore throat.
“Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi, which can cause coughing up mucus, but usually doesn’t result in a high fever or chest pain,” says Costa. “The flu can also present with high fever and respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath, but the symptoms usually appear more abruptly and patients may experience other symptoms such as body aches and headaches.”
What are the main treatments for pneumonia?
Treatment of pneumonia varies depending on the cause of the infection, the severity of symptoms, and the patient’s general health. In general, treating pneumonia may involve the use of antibiotics, medications to relieve symptoms, rest, and adequate hydration.
The length of treatment for pneumonia can vary depending on the cause of the infection and the severity of the symptoms. In general, patients with bacterial pneumonia show significant improvement within the first few days of treatment with antibiotics, and full treatment can last between 5 and 7 days in most cases.
“In cases of viral pneumonia, treatment is more directed towards symptom relief, and the duration may vary based on the severity of the infection and the patient’s response to treatment,” says the pulmonologist.
Are there specific remedies for the disease?
Mild cases of pneumonia can be treated at home with medications to relieve fever and pain, antibiotics (for bacterial pneumonia), as well as rest and adequate hydration. It is important to remember that self-medication can be dangerous and should be avoided, especially in severe cases of pneumonia.
Which pneumonia is considered the most severe?
Both bacterial and viral pneumonia can progress to serious forms of infection, according to experts. “Bacterial pneumonia has the potential to coexist with more serious complications, such as sepsis, lung abscess, and pleural effusion, while viral pneumonia can eventually lead to complications, such as secondary bacterial pneumonia,” says Costa.
“There is no pneumonia (more serious)because there are different agents that cause pneumonia and different viruses,” says pulmonologist André Nathan, of the Sírio-Libanês hospital. As examples, he cites the flu and covid-19, as well as the pneumococcus bacterium, considered the main cause ” The severity of the pneumonia is related to the microorganism, but also to the amount of damage the microorganism has caused in the lung.”
What are the risk groups for pneumonia?
According to the infectious disease specialist Renato Kfouri, vice president of the Brazilian Society of Vaccinations (SBIM), bacterial pneumonias, which are the ones that carry the most consequences to patients, are more common in three situations: “In the youngest, children; in the other extreme age , the elderly; and in a third group, regardless of age, who are those who have risk factors, comorbidities, or immunodeficiencies.”
This third group, according to him, is where most of the severe cases of the disease are concentrated. “The risk of hospitalization, illness, hospitalization and death is infinitely higher for individuals who have risk factors,” says the doctor. And that can be compounded by age: Studies indicate that people over 85 are 13 times more likely to be hospitalized for the disease than those aged 18 to 44. “These are the groups for which we usually recommend vaccination.”
Is there a vaccine for pneumonia? For who is it?
According to the Ministry of Health, the Pneumo 23 vaccine, or pneumococcus 23, protects against serious diseases caused by pneumococcal bacteria, such as pneumonia, meningitis and others. It is part of the National Multivaccination Campaign and is offered free of charge by the Unified Health System. Immunizer is indicated for children from 2 years and adults.
How many people die of pneumonia each year?
A survey by Every Breath Counts, a public-private partnership supporting low- and middle-income countries with the goal of reducing pneumonia deaths in the coming years, indicates that, in 2019 alone, the disease claimed the lives of 2 .5 million people . Among these, 672 thousand children. That is, more than 20% of the victims.
Data from Datasus, the information technology department of the Unified Health System (SUS), published by the Brazilian Society of Pulmonology and Physiology, indicates that, in Brazil, there were 44,500 pneumonia deaths from January to August last year.
“We have a lot of difficulty diagnosing pneumonia, because in the ICD-10, the one (table) where we note the diagnosis of hospitalizations, many unspecified pneumonias, bacterial pneumonias, covid entered a lot like pneumonia,” Kfouri says. “So the data isn’t always very accurate.”
According to him, there has recently been a change in the panorama of infectious diseases from covid-19, which has distorted the seasonality of influenza and, consequently, that of many secondary pneumonias. Measures taken due to the coronavirus, such as isolation, would have led to a decrease in pneumonia, but it has risen again in the last year. “I think 45,000 cases (in this cutoff) is reasonably close to the previous average.”
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
