Pneumonia is an acute or chronic disease of lungs marked by inflammation of lungs and caused by viruses, bacteria (pneomocococcus, stretptococcus, staphylococcus) or other microorganisms and sometimes by physical and chemical irritant.
Pneumonia is usually triggered when patient’s defense system is usually weakened, most often by simple viral upper respiratory tract infection or a case of influenza. Pneumonia can also be caused by cold and flu.
Pneumonia is treated with rest and medication. It can take between a week and several weeks to overcome pneumonia. Most of the pneumonia patients do not even need hospitalization. Typically oral antibiotics, rest, fluids, and home care are sufficient for treatment of pneumonia. However, people with pneumonia who are having trouble breathing, people with other medical problems, and the elderly may need more advanced treatment. If the symptoms worsen or complication occurs, the patient may need to be hospitalized.
The mortality rates due to pneumonia have been greatly reduced due to the introduction of sulpha drugs and penicillin. Of the two latter is the preferred choice. Six hundred thousand units of penicillin per day will bring the infection under control in just two days. If you are living at isolated place and with no physician’s help available to administer the injection, you can opt for penicillin pills. Take about 200,000 units every six hours or two tablets of sulpha every four hours. After two days reduce to one tablets four times a day for four to six days.
Apart from this patient should have plenty of fresh warm air, his feet should be kept warm and his bowels open by light cathartics or enemas. The food should be liquid, such as rice gruel, soups or eggs either soft boiled or raw.
If not treated properly, pneumonia can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome, lung abscesses (pus filled cavities in lung), bacteria in the blood, a collapsed lung, hemoptysis (coughing up blood), and even death.
More Articles :
- Can You Die From Pneumonia ?
- Can You Die From Walking Pneumonia ?
- How Is Pneumonia Spread ?
- How Long Is Pneumonia Contagious ?
- How Often Do You Need A Pneumonia Vaccine ?
- Walking Pneumonia Symtoms
- What Are The Symptoms Of Bronchial Pneumonia ?
- What Is Walking Pneumonia ?
- When Is Pneumonia No Longer Contagious ?
- How Long Does It Take To Cure Pneumonia ?
- How Long Does Pneumonia Last ?
- Is Pneumonia Contagious
- Pneumonia And Signs And Symptoms
- Why Is My Lung Scarred From Pneumonia ?
