Pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia
2. What are the symptoms of pneumonia - The onset of pneumonia can vary
from gradual to sudden. Signs of pneumonia can include coughing, fever, fatigue,
nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing or shortness of breath, chills, or chest pain. In
the most severe cases, the patient may experience shaking chills, chattering teeth,
severe chest pain, and a cough that produces rust-colored or greenish mucus. A
person's temperature may rise as high as 105oF. The patient sweats profusely and
breathing and pulse rate increase rapidly. Lips and nail beds may have a bluish
color due to lack of oxygen in the blood. A patient's mental state may become
confused or delirious. Certain people are more likely to become ill with pneumonia.
This includes adults 65 years of age or older and children younger than 5 years of
age. People up through 64 years of age who have underlying medical conditions
(like diabetes or HIV/AIDS) and people 19 through 64 who smoke cigarettes or
have asthma are also at increased risk for getting pneumonia.
b. The most common viral causes of pneumonia are influenza, parainfluenza, and
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Viral pneumonia often occurs as a consequence of
viral respiratory infections.
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d. Aspiration pneumonia occurs when you aspirate foreign matter into your lungs,
most often when the contents of your stomach enter your lungs after you vomit.
This can occur when a brain injury affects your normal gag reflex or consuming too
much alcohol causes unconsciousness. Diseases which cause difficulty swallowing
such as ALS, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke may also lead to aspiration
pneumonia.
4. How do you treat pneumonia? – The treatment for pneumonia depends on its
cause and successful treatment is most likely to occur when pneumonia is detected
early. The drugs used to fight your pneumonia are determined by your doctor.
Prescribed medications must be taken as instructed, otherwise the pneumonia may
recur. Relapses can be far more serious than the first attack.
(5) Measles
c. Quit smoking
(1) Keep the head of the patient’s bed raised between 30 and 45 degrees, if
possible
(2) Check the patient’s ability to breathe on their own every day – take them
off the ventilator as soon as possible
(3) Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before
and after touching the patient or the ventilator
a. Call your doctor immediately. Even with the many effective antibiotics, early
diagnosis and treatment are important.
b. Follow your doctor's advice. In serious cases, your doctor may advise a hospital
stay.
c. Continue to take the medicine your doctor prescribes until told you may stop.
This will help prevent recurrence of pneumonia and relapse.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/streppneum_t.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/pneumchilddevcount_t.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/vap/vap.html
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Pneumonia/
This fact sheet provides general information. Please contact your physician for
specific clinical information.