Know what the Symptoms of Pneumonia are

Pneumonia is a respiratory disease caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi. Fever above 37.8 ° C, shortness of breath, shortness of breath and chills are some of the first symptoms of pneumonia, a contagious disease that causes inflammation of the lung and fluid accumulation within the pulmonary alveoli. When the infection affects different lung regions it is called bronchopneumonia.

Symptoms of pneumonia may arise suddenly or gradually, appearing when the immune system is weakened, such as after a cold or flu that does not heal and worsens over time. The most common pneumonia is bacterial ones that are treated with antibiotics. See how to identify if it is bacterial pneumonia.

What are the main Symptoms

Although there are different types of pneumonia, in most cases, the symptoms are similar, varying only the treatment indicated by the pulmonologist.

1. Fever above 37.5º C 
2. Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
3. Breathing faster than normal
4. Dry cough
5. Cough with greenish or bloody phlegm
6. Chest pain
7. Constant headache
8. Frequent tiredness or muscle aches
9. Intense night sweats

These symptoms may vary slightly depending on whether it is an adult, baby or elderly. In the case of babies or children, who have more difficulty explaining what they feel, it is important to be aware of signs such as agitation, tremor, vomiting, decreased appetite and, in babies, excessive crying.

In the elderly, other symptoms such as confusion and memory loss, associated with fever, shortness of breath and cough, may develop.

How the Doctor Confirms that it is Pneumonia

diagnosis of pneumonia is usually made through the evaluation of symptoms & an X-RAY examination to check the health status of the lungs. In addition, other tests such as a conventional blood test, a phlegm test or an arterial blood gas test may also be requested, which are used to evaluate blood disorders and the identification of the type of infection present.

Treatment Options

The treatment for pneumonia can be done with the use of antibiotics, however, to recover faster it is important to keep the airways clear and eat foods that are easily digestible and increase immunity. Therefore, the treatment indicated by the pulmonologist can be done with the following options:

1. Medicines to Eliminate or the Virus or Bacteria

In most cases, the treatment of pneumonia can be done at home, through the ingestion of antibiotics such as amoxicillin, clavulanic acid or azithromycin, which fight the microorganisms responsible for causing the disease. After confirming pneumonia, in most cases, it is not possible to immediately discover which is the microorganism that causes the disease. However, as bacteria are the main responsible, the doctor may choose to prescribe antibiotics, which should later be changed in case the symptoms persist or worsen.

In children younger than 1 year, and in the elderly over 70 years and who have other associated health problems such as diabetes, the doctor may prefer that the person be hospitalized to receive treatment in the hospital. In the most severe cases, when practically the person cannot breathe alone, it may be necessary to remain in the intensive care unit.

Learn more about the treatment of pneumonia in general.

2. Home Treatment

The treatment can last up to 21 days, being recommended some care that can be seen as home treatments, such as:

• Drink a lot of water;
• Cover your mouth to cough and wash your hands regularly to prevent disease transmission;
• Avoid going to public or closed places;
• Mist with physiological serum;
• Rest and rest, avoiding efforts;
• Do not take cough medicine;
• Avoid sudden temperature changes.

These cares prevent transmission and the disease gets worse.

3. What to Eat to Recover Faster

Food is also a very important factor during the entire recovery process, with the consumption of vegetable soups, echinacea tea, garlic, onion or propolis extract being recommended.

What are the Causes of Pneumonia?

Some situations that can cause pneumonia are:

• When the person is with the flu and the viruses or bacteria present in the nose or throat reach the lung;
• When the person aspirates an object into the lungs, as can happen when the child places a bean or a small toy in the nose and reaches the lung;
• When the person vomits and aspirates the contents that were present in the stomach, causing inflammation of the lung tissues;
• When the person uses some equipment to help breathe, such as CPAP, and it is dirty, and carries viruses or bacteria that go directly to the lung;
• When the person was hospitalized up to 48 hours before symptoms appear, it indicates that the virus or bacteria reached the person's lungs while he was still in the hospital, but only began to manifest itself days later.

The people most affected are children under 5 years and the elderly over 70 years, who have more fragile health and get sick more easily. However, anyone can develop pneumonia, especially if they have any disorder such as difficulty swallowing, cannot eliminate phlegm or have a weaker immune system because they are being treated for cancer or HIV, for example.