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The World Health Organisation (WHO) says pneumonia claims millions of lives across the globe each year, but its impact can be greatly felt among those below 1 year or over 65 years of age.
According to WHO, pneumonia kills more children than any other illness – more than AIDS, malaria and measles combined. Over 2 million children die from pneumonia each year, accounting for almost 1 in 5 deaths worldwide among the under-five age group.
Often times, people will not even know that they have pneumonia until it’s too late. The reason is that they are not aware of the signs and symptoms, or what to do should the disease strike.
Despite the figures, pneumonia is a solvable condition, provided you know what to look out for.
Causes
Many underlying health problems increase the chance for pneumonia:
• Cigarette smoking
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Viral respiratory tract infections (often influenza or parainfluenza type)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or bronchiectasis
• Cancer or cancer related treatment.
• Institutionalisation in hospitals or old-age homes, or following a stroke
Common symptoms:
• Fever of 38.5°C or more with chills or shaking.
• Cough, which often produces sputum from the airways. The colour of the phlegm may be green or rusty, occasionally with blood specks. However, sometimes no sputum is produced.
• Night sweats.
• Shallow, rapid breathing and rapid heart rate.
• Chest pain, which is worsened on inhalation or coughing. This may be only on one side and felt deep in the chest.
• Tiredness, body weakness (general malaise), confusion (particularly in the elderly).
These symptoms depend on age and other underlying health problems. In elderly people these symptoms may be much less obvious. Shortness of breath is not easy to spot but may be suspected when talking becomes interrupted and difficult.
Take action
Prevention is always better than cure, so it is good to take care of your health. One way to do this is to get vaccinated.
There are vaccines available (speak to your doctor about them) against the most common bacterial cause of pneumonia. Your health professional will also advise you on which vaccine is suited to which age groups.
It is, however, important to note that while these vaccines may not always prevent pneumonia, they may prevent serious complications of pneumonia if it does occur.
Not everyone is lucky enough to prevent all the types of pneumonia, but there are steps that you can take to greatly reduce your chances of contracting the condition. For starters you try to:
• Quit smoking
• Practice good hand-washing
• Avoiding contact with people who have colds, flu and other infections
Getting a vaccine every flu season is still your best defense against cold and flu. Again, while it will not prevent you from getting all colds and flu, it will help reduce the impact of it.
The path to recovery
Should you contract pneumonia, it would do you well to keep the following pointers in mind:
• Pneumonia always requires prompt medical care.
• The sooner you start treatment, the sooner you're likely to get better.
• Sometimes a hospital stay is needed, but many people can be treated at home.
• Even if you begin to feel better, be sure to keep following your doctor’s instructions.
• Take prescribed medications exactly as directed.
• And be patient with yourself. It will take a long time for your energy level to come back.
• If you don’t get enough rest, the infection may return.
According to WHO, pneumonia kills more children than any other illness – more than AIDS, malaria and measles combined. Over 2 million children die from pneumonia each year, accounting for almost 1 in 5 deaths worldwide among the under-five age group.
Often times, people will not even know that they have pneumonia until it’s too late. The reason is that they are not aware of the signs and symptoms, or what to do should the disease strike.
Despite the figures, pneumonia is a solvable condition, provided you know what to look out for.
Causes
Many underlying health problems increase the chance for pneumonia:
• Cigarette smoking
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Viral respiratory tract infections (often influenza or parainfluenza type)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or bronchiectasis
• Cancer or cancer related treatment.
• Institutionalisation in hospitals or old-age homes, or following a stroke
Common symptoms:
• Fever of 38.5°C or more with chills or shaking.
• Cough, which often produces sputum from the airways. The colour of the phlegm may be green or rusty, occasionally with blood specks. However, sometimes no sputum is produced.
• Night sweats.
• Shallow, rapid breathing and rapid heart rate.
• Chest pain, which is worsened on inhalation or coughing. This may be only on one side and felt deep in the chest.
• Tiredness, body weakness (general malaise), confusion (particularly in the elderly).
These symptoms depend on age and other underlying health problems. In elderly people these symptoms may be much less obvious. Shortness of breath is not easy to spot but may be suspected when talking becomes interrupted and difficult.
Take action
Prevention is always better than cure, so it is good to take care of your health. One way to do this is to get vaccinated.
There are vaccines available (speak to your doctor about them) against the most common bacterial cause of pneumonia. Your health professional will also advise you on which vaccine is suited to which age groups.
It is, however, important to note that while these vaccines may not always prevent pneumonia, they may prevent serious complications of pneumonia if it does occur.
Not everyone is lucky enough to prevent all the types of pneumonia, but there are steps that you can take to greatly reduce your chances of contracting the condition. For starters you try to:
• Quit smoking
• Practice good hand-washing
• Avoiding contact with people who have colds, flu and other infections
Getting a vaccine every flu season is still your best defense against cold and flu. Again, while it will not prevent you from getting all colds and flu, it will help reduce the impact of it.
The path to recovery
Should you contract pneumonia, it would do you well to keep the following pointers in mind:
• Pneumonia always requires prompt medical care.
• The sooner you start treatment, the sooner you're likely to get better.
• Sometimes a hospital stay is needed, but many people can be treated at home.
• Even if you begin to feel better, be sure to keep following your doctor’s instructions.
• Take prescribed medications exactly as directed.
• And be patient with yourself. It will take a long time for your energy level to come back.
• If you don’t get enough rest, the infection may return.
