Thursday, January 3, 2013

Help better understand pneumonia

Lungs are vital organs of the respiratory system, the sides of the chest.

via: Life123.com
Respiratory system starting at the nose where the air first, into the trachea, which leads to two main bronchi in the lungs, and then divided into small branches in the lobes of the lung, to the cystic small gas exposed to the tiny blood vessels to help air exchange with the carbon to carbon dioxide is released back out, blood and oxygen to cells.

Pneumonia is pneumonia? What is pneumonia?

Southerners often use the word "pneumonia" instead of "pneumonia." In fact, pneumonia and pneumonia.

Pneumonia is a state of the main components of the lung, especially the alveolar, ie units help lung gas exchange, injury prevents oxygen from entering the bloodstream, and thus make the body , first is the brain of oxygen. Without timely treatment, the body will die from lack of oxygen.

The cause of pneumonia?
- Lung inflammation is usually caused by bacteria or viruses. A lot of different bacteria and viruses can cause pneumonia. Different depending on the cause of the symptoms can vary.

Infections can occur in healthy people, or in the elderly, or young children, immunocompromised; it can occur outside hospitals or in those who have available and are located in a hospital or in the nursing home.

- Another cause of pneumonia is caused by inhalation of chemicals or germs from the mouth or stomach into the lungs. This type of pneumonia usually occurs in people with cerebral vascular accident, problems in swallowing reflex control, or who was in a coma due to alcohol or other drug overdose.

For the above reasons, the most common cause, and the cause is the most dangerous?

Pneumonia was the most common infection in the community.

The young, healthy, infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria less and "gentle", usually lighter, the rate of complications and lower mortality.

Small children, the elderly, already sick, infected in the hospital, often more dangerous, because the bacteria are often resistant to multiple drugs, and the patient's resistance to fight disease also weaker more.

Cold causes pneumonia?

Common flu and cold season, and pneumonia can be a serious complication of the flu. However, the cold is not the cause of the pneumonia.

The symptoms of pneumonia?

Depending on the type of bacteria or virus causing pneumonia, the symptoms can vary.

- In general, in the typical case of pneumonia, patients with high fever, chills, fatigue, cough with phlegm, sometimes in conversation can be stained with blood, chest pain, shortness of breath, sometimes pale .

- In the case of atypical pneumonia, with only fatigue, dry cough, mild fever.

- In older people, pneumonia can sometimes be manifested by symptoms of exhaustion, fatigue, confusion.

How long does pneumonia usually last?

Pneumonia can last from several days to several weeks. Time depends on the disease can be treated promptly and appropriately or not, the resistance of the patient, and the patient has the disease or not.

After all pneumonia, recovery time before pneumonia can last from a week to several weeks.

It is the absence of complications. If complications, more time may be extended.

Complications of pneumonia?

Complications of pneumonia may include:

Infection spread to other parts of the body or systemic infection,

- Lung abscess, which is made up of one or more pus in the lungs

Effusion, empyema: effusion consists of two membranes, usually only a very thin layer between the two films, if fluid or pus, fluid or pus will between the two membranes

- Lung necrosis, ie the lung tissue destruction and death due to infection

The mortality rate is high? Circumstances are often severe, with higher mortality rates?


Pneumonia is a cause of death. Mortality, depending on the type of bacteria and the patient's general health.

In general, whatever the cause, early treatment with antibiotics and appropriate auxiliary methods (such as sufficient oxygen, anti-fever medications, nutrition in patients not eating, follow-up to the room and early treatment of complications, treatment of other diseases in a proper and timely manner, ...) is the most important factor to reduce the complications and mortality.