Pneumonia is defined as inflammation of the lung parenchyma caused by an infectious agent. This inflammation is the cause of the occupation of the alveoli by an inflammatory exudate (liquid), which will cause them to be flooded due to lack of ventilation by not producing the gaseous exchange of O2 and CO2, the cause of the decrease of oxygen in the blood.
Dr. Coll, a specialist in Pneumology, explains that it is important not to confuse pneumonia with the interstitial lung diseases that diffusely affect the structure of the lung with different degrees of inflammation and fibrosis, which are not of infectious cause, also called idiopathic interstitial pneumonias.
Causes of pneumonia
The cause is always infectious, usually a germ that causes it, although there are more than a hundred microorganisms that can also cause it. These reach the alveoli and terminal bronchioles through the airway. Inhalation through the trachea and bronchi is the most common way for viruses, mycobacteria, atypical organisms and fungi to reach the lower respiratory tract.
There are also risk factors that can facilitate the development of pneumonia. They are the following:
– Hospitalization in the last three months a minimum of 48 hours.
– Current hospitalization for more than four days
– Dialysis
– Residence in a nursing home
– Home wound care
– Living with persons infected with multidrug-resistant pathogens
– Antimicrobial therapy in the last 3 months
– Immunosuppressive treatment
– Immunosuppressive disease: diabetes, renal insufficiency, splenectomy
– Smoking and alcoholism
– Diseases such as epilepsy and heart failure
– Treatments with: amiodarone, acetiscysteine and inhaled corticosteroids.
– Poor dental hygiene
– Malnutrition
– Contact with children attending day-care centers
– Epidemic outbreak (virus)
Symptoms of pneumonia
The symptomatology is very variable and will depend basically on the causative agent, the age of the patient and the patient’s comorbidities, mainly. This pathology can cause: fever, usually high, altered general condition, cough (90%), expectoration (68%), shortness of breath (66%) and chest pain (50%).
Treatment for pneumonia
The treatment is antibiotic, the question is what type of antibiotic is chosen, since it will depend on the knowledge or suspicion of what type of germ is the cause. There are more than 100 potential pneumonia-causing germs and each bacterium has its own specific treatment.