Pneumonia, a contagious lung infection, is among the most common diseases that cause the highest number of deaths. Pneumonia, a disease that suppresses the immune system, is more common in children, the elderly over the age of 65, and those with chronic diseases such as kidney, diabetes, heart or lung disease. Smoking is one of the leading risk factors for pneumonia.
Every year, November 12 is commemorated as World Pneumonia Day in order to inform about pneumonia, which is a contagious lung infection and a serious disease that can lead to death.
NPISTANBUL Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Faculty Member Güzin Oğuz stated that pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung called "pneumonia" in medical language and that it can occur due to various microbes such as bacteria, viruses and fungi.
One of the diseases that cause the most deaths
Güzin Oğuz noted that pneumonia is among the most common diseases that cause physician consultation and can lead to the highest number of deaths, and said: "The incidence is higher in children, the elderly over the age of 65, those with a chronic disease such as kidney, diabetes, heart or lung disease, smokers, those with a disease or drug use that suppresses the immune system. Pneumonia developing in the community is responsible for a significant portion of hospital admissions, treatment costs, work-school day losses and deaths all over the world."
Disease can occur when body defenses fall
Noting that in some types of pneumonia, there is a risk of direct transmission from the sick person to healthy people, Güzin Oğuz said, "But the disease mostly occurs when germs in the patient's own mouth, throat or digestive tract reach the lungs. These germs, which normally do not cause disease, cause pneumonia in people with weakened body defenses. Vomiting, previous long-term surgeries, alcohol use, flu epidemics are among other factors that facilitate the development of pneumonia."
Dr. Güzin Oğuz noted that while deaths from infectious diseases are gradually decreasing due to the widespread use of antibiotics and effective immunization policies today, pneumonia developing in the community is still a high cause of morbidity and mortality and said, "In our country, lower respiratory tract infections rank 5th among the causes of death with 4.2%. Studies conducted in our country have shown that the mortality rate from pneumonia varies between 1% and 60% in relation to the severity of the disease and that the rate is significantly higher (.3-60) in hospitalized pneumonia."
Shortness of breath and loss of consciousness can be observed
Referring to the symptoms of pneumonia, Güzin Oğuz stated that fever, cough, sputum production, chest pain are the most common symptoms and said, "Symptoms such as shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, nausea-vomiting, frequent breathing, muscle-joint pain, weakness can also be seen. In severe cases of pneumonia, a patient may have blue skin and mucous membranes, severe shortness of breath, low blood pressure and confusion."
It can be confused with pulmonary edema
Noting that pneumonia can be confused with pulmonary edema due to heart failure, embolism, bleeding called hemorrhage, Güzin Oğuz said, "In addition to these diseases, pneumonia can be confused with the damage caused by chemicals in the lung, drug reactions, systemic rheumatic diseases, lung-specific diseases such as sarcoidosis hypersensitivity lung disease, COPD acute exacerbation, asthma attack, acute bronchitis, tuberculosis, commonly known as tuberculosis, and even lung cancer. In addition, these diseases that can be confused can sometimes accompany pneumonia," he warned.
Plenty of fluid intake and rest are applied
Noting that treatments such as antibiotics as well as painkillers and antipyretics are used in the treatment of pneumonia, Güzin Oğuz said, "Plenty of fluid intake and rest are applied. Different treatments may be required in patients who need hospitalization. In very severe cases of pneumonia, hospitalization in intensive care and respiratory support may be necessary."
Noting that the duration of treatment may vary depending on the severity of the disease at the onset, the responsible microbe, whether there is a concomitant disease and the individual response of the patient, Dr. Güzin Oğuz said, "It is generally recommended to continue antibiotics for 5-7 days after the fever subsides. However, in cases of pneumonia due to some types of microbes, it may be necessary to extend the treatment period to 10-14 days and sometimes up to 21 days."
