Discover some shocking facts about pneumonia and how you can protect yourself from this common respiratory infection. Learn more here.Pulmonologist, therapist at the Fomin Clinic, Yana Isaeva, told Mail.ru Health about the most interesting myths and facts about pneumonia.
Shocking Facts About Pneumonia
Pneumonia can be “chronic”
The word “pneumonia” itself implies that inflammation occurs in the lungs. But the cause of this inflammation can be both bacteria and viruses, and less commonly, fungi. Pneumonia can even be “chronic”, that is, the patient may have it for a long time. By such “chronic” conditions I mean: eosinophilic, lymphoid and other pneumonias. However, they are not a consequence of infectious pneumonia, they are independent diseases.
The most dangerous are nosocomial pneumonias
Pneumonia can be hospital-acquired or community-acquired. From the name it is clear that the criterion for making a diagnosis is the place where the pneumonia originated. We are very afraid of hospital-acquired pneumonia: they are usually caused by bacteria that live in the hospital and are therefore resistant to antibiotics. The most aggressive bacteria are grouped into a group called ESKAPE.
Resistance develops in the microbe, not in humans
By the way, about antibiotic resistance: it develops in a microbe, not in humans. Saying “I am resistant to amoxiclav” is incorrect because this antibiotic was not aimed at you in the first place. Resistance develops in bacteria, and not necessarily inside your body. Therefore, even people who have never taken antibiotics can become infected with a super-resistant bacteria.
Diagnosis cannot be made without X-ray or CT scan
At appointments, patients often say: “The doctor listened to me and definitely said that it was pneumonia.” Such a diagnosis cannot be made simply on the basis of an examination, because pneumonia consists of certain patient complaints (several criteria must be entered) + changes on an X-ray or CT scan of the lungs that correspond to pneumonia. It is impossible to make a diagnosis without confirmation from the “picture”.
Sometimes antibiotics are contraindicated
If you have pneumonia, antibiotics are not necessarily the treatment. Antibiotics are the treatment for bacterial pneumonia, which is by far the most common. But if the pneumonia is viral, antibiotics may even be harmful.
One antibiotic is enough
“For bacterial pneumonia, one antibiotic is not enough” is a myth. Most pneumonia can be treated with one, fairly simple antibiotic. This is the tactic that should be chosen in outpatients without chronic diseases who have not previously taken any antibiotics.
You can protect yourself from pneumonia with a vaccine
Since most pneumonia is caused by pneumococcus, we can protect ourselves from it through vaccination.
In conclusion, pneumonia is a serious infection that should not be taken lightly. By being aware of the shocking facts about pneumonia and taking preventive measures.
