Signs of suspected pneumonia: older people also experience atypical symptoms

What Causes Pneumonia?

Kristina Lebedevaitė, a family physician at the Endemik medical clinic of the Affidea group of companies, told the media that a large number of microorganisms that colonize the nasopharynx are naturally found in the human upper respiratory tract. When exposed to various factors, these microorganisms can travel to the lower respiratory tract and cause a dangerous disease called pneumonia, also known as pneumonia.

“Inflammation of the lungs is usually caused by microorganisms such as pneumococci, staphylococci, Haemophilus influenzae, mycoplasmas, moraxelles, legionella. The disease often develops when it is complicated by acute infections of the upper respiratory tract, such as colds or bronchitis. Chronic lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as chronic heart diseases, immunosuppressive diseases, chronic kidney failure, diabetes, various viral infections or factors such as old age and smoking, are conducive for pneumonia. name the doctor.

The family doctor distinguishes that there are two types of pneumonia: hospitalized when hospitalized and acquired in the community. K. Lebedevaitė says that the latter type of pneumonia can be suspected when a patient has a cough, sputum, fever, chest pain, increased breathing, and the condition is accompanied by symptoms such as general weakness, fatigue, dizziness and, often abdominals. pain in children. Elderly patients often experience atypical symptoms: there is no fever, and the initial symptoms are impaired consciousness, disorientation, or exacerbation of chronic diseases.

Complications and course of treatment.

K. Lebedevaitė notes that if a patient suspects pneumonia, basic blood tests are performed to assess inflammatory changes. Doctors also often perform a chest X-ray to clarify the diagnosis. Additional blood tests and a risk score are done to assess and determine the severity of the disease. Doctors evaluate the patient for impaired consciousness, and blood tests show increased urea levels, as well as respiratory rate and blood pressure.

According to the family doctor, when assessing the patient’s condition, it is important to take age into account: people over 65 have several additional risks, making them more prone to severe pneumonia. Only after evaluating all the above-mentioned indicators, doctors decide where the patient should be treated and review the risk of complications.

“In young patients without comorbidities who do not complain of respiratory failure, the disease can be treated with antibiotics, but it is essential that the family doctor constantly monitors the healing process. In the elderly, when a severe form of pneumonia develops, concomitant diseases or home treatment is ineffective, the patient is admitted to a hospital where their condition is monitored, intravenous antibiotics, symptomatic treatment and oxygen therapy are prescribed ”, explains the doctor of family. .

The doctor emphasizes that pneumonia often causes respiratory failure, which can be mild or progressive. In the case of a mild form of respiratory failure, treatment in the internal medicine department is sufficient, but when this phenomenon progresses and oxygen demand increases and respiratory efficiency deteriorates, the patient requires intensive care in the care unit intensive.

“Also in the case of a focal infection in the lungs, a systemic spread is possible, when even bacteria are found in the blood, then a person develops sepsis.” When this extremely complicated condition occurs, the patient needs special care and intensive treatment, ”says K. Lebedevaitė.

How to protect yourself against pneumonia?

The family doctor says that to protect against pneumonia, it is recommended to wash your hands frequently to avoid bacteria, take good care of the oral cavity, lead a physically active life and toughen up the body. It’s also about eating right and avoiding harmful habits like smoking. However, even strict adherence to these rules does not offer a complete guarantee that infection will be avoided.

According to K. Lebedevaitė, the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia is pneumococcus, medically Streptococcus pneumoniae, but this pathogen can be controlled by vaccination and thus protects against dangerous disease.

“Vaccines against pneumococcal infection are available to everyone. They have been included in the National Immunoprophylaxis Program since 2014 and are therefore prescribed for infants to protect them from pneumococcal infections. For patients with serious chronic diseases, the vaccine is reimbursed by the State ”, adds the doctor.