Contents:
- Medical Video: What Is The Cause Of Pneumonia - Manipal Hospital
- What causes double pneumonia?
- Typical symptoms and complications from double pneumonia
- Who is most at risk for double pneumonia?
- Overcoming double pneumonia
Medical Video: What Is The Cause Of Pneumonia - Manipal Hospital
Pneumonia usually only attacks one part of the lung at one time, either right or left. When the infection attacks both sides of the lung at the same time, the development of the disease can be very serious because the body will be very short of oxygen. This condition is called double pneumonia.
What causes double pneumonia?
Pneumonia can be caused by a viral infection, bacterial, fungal, or other parasitic infection. Whichever cause is equally potent to attack both sides of the lung.
However, the risk of double pneumonia tends to be higher when caused by a bacterial infectionPseudomonas and Staphylococcus which often preceded by flu does not heal. Double pneumonia is also more often caused by viral infections and infections Legionella serious.
Infection with pneumonia caused by fungi may also attack both sides of the lung, but only in individuals with low immune systems such as elderly people.
Double pneumonia can also be a complication of pneumonia caused by sepsis causing infection in the lungs that are still healthy.
Typical symptoms and complications from double pneumonia
Double pneumonia does not have symptoms that are much different from ordinary pneumonia, but the impact is likely to be fatal. That's why double pneumonia can only be detected by lung x-rays.
Double pneumonia can affect the respiratory system and other body parts, such as:
- Pain in the chest when inhaling and exhaling.
- Shortness of breath despite not heavy activity.
- Cough with thick phlegm and never heal.
- The condition of the body deteriorates when experiencing acute airway infection.
- Changes in body temperature such as high fever or hypothermia.
- Limp.
- Feel nauseous and vomit or experience diarrhea.
- Cyanosis (bluish lips and fingertips).
Without good treatment, double pneumonia can get worse so complications arise such as:
- Systemic inflammation such as sepsis.
- Inflammation of the pulmonary pleural layer (pleurisy)
- Lung abscess
- Pleural effusion, a fatal condition occurs when the pleural layer contains too much fluid or has an infection; commonly called "wet lung".
- Kidney failure and respiratory system failure.
Who is most at risk for double pneumonia?
Pneumonia infections can be experienced by anyone, but some of the following characteristics can increase the likelihood of a person experiencing double pneumonia:
- Aged, especially over 65 years.
- Very young age.
- Malnutrition / malnutrition.
- Smoke.
- Have a history of airway diseases such as chronic pulmonary obstruction (COPD), asthma, or cystic fibrosis.
- Has a chronic disease. like congestive heart failure.
- Experiencing decreased immunity caused by HIV / AIDS or autoimmune diseases.
- Underwent certain treatments that decrease the work of the immune system.
- Having swallowing disorders.
- Just got a viral infection in the respiratory system.
Overcoming double pneumonia
Because the infection occurs in both lungs, the process of breathing becomes very disturbed and causes oxygen intake to decrease. This can increase the risk of death, but is very likely to be prevented and treated.
Treatment for pneumonia should start early when early symptoms of infection such as shortness of breath and sudden fever occur, so that disease progression can be controlled as quickly as possible.
If the infection is caused by a bacterial infection or complications such as sepsis and pleural effusion occur, the treatment is with antibiotics and infusion. For cases of pneumobia caused by a viral infection, the doctor will prescribe antiviral drugs.
At the same time, doctors will also carry out a series of preventive measures to prevent further damage to the lungs and at the same time to ensure that patients can still breathe. If it has caused difficulty breathing, the patient can be placed on an oxygen mask.
Pneumonia is usually accompanied by cough symptoms. Although it can be annoying, but coughing is the body's reflex to remove germs from the body. So, you are actually not recommended to use cough relievers unless you have been recommended by a doctor.
Complete rest and adequate body fluids can also help speed treatment.
