Warding Off Pneumonia

Pneumonia is not a bad case of the flu. While the flu is a viral infection, most cases of pneumonia are caused by pneumococcal bacteria. Pneumonia also can be caused by a virus or fungal infection. However, if a case of the flu is not treated, it can lead to other infections, such as pneumonia.

Older Adults Are Two To Three Times More Likely To Get Pneumonia
Adults age 65 and older are more likely to get pneumonia, especially during the cold and flu season, which starts in the fall and continues throughout the winter. Also in jeopardy are smokers and people with certain medical conditions, such as heart disease, liver problems, HIV, sicklecell anemia, and illnesses requiring drugs that lower resistance to infection. Other chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and lung disease, also may contribute to a greater risk.

Pneumonia Can Be Life ThreatenIng, But There Is A Cure
Pneumonia is a serious matter. Left untreated, pneumonia can cause respiratory failure, ear infections, inflammation of the brain or spinal cord, or a blood infection. The most common type of pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia, leads to at least 40,000 deaths each year.

"Fortunately, antibiotics can cure bacterial pneumonia within days. Pneumonia will NOT clear up on its own, and should be treated with antibiotics. Left untreated, it can cause dehydration and shock, turn into a serious blood infection, or cause death," states Brian Kerr, M.D., a pulmonologist with Ocean Medical Center in Brick.

Less Than Four In 10 Older People Know Even One Pneumonia Symptom
Of course, in order to seek diagnosis and treatment, you need to recognize the symptoms of this serious disease. However, a telephone survey published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society revealed that fewer than four in 10 older people could identify even one symptom of pneumonia.

How Do You Know If You Have Pneumonia?
Pneumonia may come on suddenly. Common symptoms include:

• severe chills
• high fever
• cough with discolored mucus
• shortness of breath
• sharp or stabbing chest pain, intensified by deep breathing or coughing

In addition to these symptoms, a person with pneumonia may also experience nausea with or without vomiting, headache, sweating, clammy skin, fatigue, loss of appetite, confusion, or aching muscles. Pneumonia requires immediate medical care, so call your doctor right away if you think you might have this serious illness.

After A Pneumonia Diagnosis
If your doctor has diagnosed pneumonia and prescribed antibiotics, it is time to recuperate. It is very important to take good care of yourself. Here’s how:

• Get plenty of rest. Ask a friend or family member to help out with household chores.
• Drink a lot of fluids, such as water, fruit juices, and clear soups. These help loosen mucus.
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco, including secondhand smoke.
• Relieve your fever with aspirin or acetaminophen.

There is a vaccine to prevent pneumonia. the Centers for disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults age 65 years and older have a pneumonia shot. if you were vaccinated before age 65, you may need another dose. doctors also may recommend that people with chronic diseases get a second dose, but one shot usually offers lifetime protection for most people.