Pneumonia can be more severe in the elderly; understand – 03/24/2023 – Balance and Health

On the night of this Thursday (23), President Lula was admitted to the Sírio-Libanês hospital in Brasília with suspected pneumonia. Soon after, the picture was confirmed.

The president’s physician, cardiologist Roberto Kalil Filho, told the Sheet that the president is in a “super stable” picture. The petista rests at the Alvorada Palace, the official residence of the Presidency.

Lula canceled all his schedules this Friday (24th) and postponed his trip to China, which was scheduled for this Saturday morning (25th).

Usually caused by viral and bacterial infections, pneumonia reaches the lungs, resulting in breathing problems. In people over 65 years of age, the disease is considered to be at higher risk. Children, smokers and immunosuppressed people are also considered to be at higher risk for the complication.

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection that affects the lung. This organ is formed by the so-called alveoli, compared to small sacs that fill with air when breathing.

In pneumonia, the alveoli are filled with fluid and pus. With this, the ability to breathe is affected because of the inflammation and then respiratory symptoms may appear.

What are the symptoms of pneumonia?

Depending on the severity of pneumonia, symptoms vary. Cough, fever, difficulty breathing and fatigue are the most common, according to the WHO (World Health Organization).

Some patients may also experience confusion.

For children under five years old, one of the highest risk groups, PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) considers three types of pneumonia.

The first type consists of basic symptoms such as difficulty breathing, rapid breathing and coughing.

Severe pneumonia, the second type on the scale considered by PAHO, includes the presence of chest retraction and flaring of the wings of the nose, when the opening of the nose in breathing is greater than normal, indicative of difficulty breathing.

Finally, the condition considered very serious by the organization includes convulsions and vomiting of everything that was ingested, among other symptoms.

What causes this condition?

Pneumonia can arise for different reasons, but the most common ones involve viral and bacterial infections. Covid, for example, was a case of a respiratory disease that could lead a patient to severe pneumonia. Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus are other causes of lung trouble.

In the field of bacteria, pneumococcus is one of the best known bacteria that can lead to pneumonia.

The diagnosis of what causes pneumonia also depends on different factors. In addition to observing the symptoms, laboratory tests can be used to identify the causative agent.

X-rays can also pinpoint what causes the complication. For example: in children up to five years old, pneumonia associated with a bacterium should result in a dense image, resembling cotton wool with some more whitish areas, of the child’s chest.

Is the pneumonia serious?

The complication can cause conditions ranging from mild to more worrying in all people. However, some groups are more susceptible to developing gravities.

Children form one such group. According to the WHO, the infection was responsible for 15% of deaths in children under five in the world in 2017, totaling 808,000 in that year alone.

In Brazil, the number of children dying from pneumonia among the Yanomami, an indigenous people facing a humanitarian crisis, is noteworthy. In 2021, 33% of deaths from preventable causes of children under five years of age were due to pneumonia.

In addition to children, people over 65 years of age, smokers and immunosuppressed people are other groups at higher risk for pneumonia.

How is the treatment done?

Treatment varies depending on the cause. For example, if the causative agent is identified as a bacterium, antibiotics should be used. In cases of viruses, antiviral drugs can be adopted in more serious situations. Antipyretics and analgesics can also be part of the arsenal in order to alleviate the symptoms.

For more severe cases, hospitalization of the patient may also be indicated.

Is it possible to prevent?

Avoiding pneumonia involves preventing the agents that normally cause the complication. In that case, vaccines that protect against viruses and bacteria are recommended. For example, immunizers against Covid-19 will prevent the infection from evolving into pneumonia.

In addition, the WHO recommends a healthy lifestyle, maintaining hygiene habits such as washing your hands and stopping smoking to reduce risks.