Pneumonia - YourLifeAssist

When you wake up with an awful cough that produces ugly green or bloody mucus, you’ve probably got more than just a bad cold or flu. Add to these symptoms exhaustion, a fever with shaking chills and sweating, shortness of breath, a sharp chest pain when breathing in or coughing, nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea, and confusion (especially in older people) and you’re likely to have pneumonia.

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an inflammation of your lungs, usually caused by a bacterial infection but viruses, fungi or parasites can also cause pneumonia. It’s a common illness that affects millions of people each year and can range in seriousness from mild to life threatening.

Treatment

Treatment for pneumonia depends on its cause, the severity of your symptoms, and your age and overall health. While antibiotics can treat most common forms of bacterial pneumonias, antibiotic-resistant strains are becoming more and more of a problem. Be sure to complete the entire course of antibiotics. Stopping medication too soon may cause your pneumonia to return and help to create strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

Pneumonia can usually be treated at home, but older adults, babies and people with severe symptoms or underlying health problems may need to be hospitalised.

Children usually start feeling better within one to two days. For adults, it usually takes two to three days. Anyone who has worsening symptoms should see a doctor.

Fatigue caused by pneumonia can last for a month or more.

Prevention

Wash your hands often, especially after blowing your nose, going to the bathroom, changing baby’s nappy and before eating or preparing foods. Wear a mask when cleaning dusty or mouldy areas and don’t smoke − tobacco damages your lung’s ability to ward off infection.

Vaccines

The flu vaccine helps to prevent pneumonia and other problems caused by the influenza virus but it must be given each year to protect against new virus strains. There is also a vaccine for pneumococcal pneumonia, a bacterial infection that accounts for up to a quarter of all pneumonias.

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