Pneumonia

Pneumonia

Pneumonia, or pneumonia, is a lower respiratory tract infection that settles in the lungs. Typical symptoms are heavy breathing, coughing and chest pain. A preventive measure against severe pneumonia and pneumococcal disease is vaccination.

What is a pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of the body's lungs. The infection can come from both bacteria and viruses, but bacteria (often pneumococci) are most often to blame. Our lungs consist of many small sacs (pulmonary alveoli) which ensure that the body takes in oxygen and gets rid of carbon dioxide.

With pneumonia, the alveoli can have trouble performing this important task, and heavy breathing is the result. The more severe the infection, the more difficult it will be to breathe.

Symptoms of pneumonia

Most people with pneumonia do not become seriously ill. Pneumonia can often start with an upper respiratory tract infection, such as a cold, and the symptoms can overlap. Of the earliest symptoms of pneumonia, a troublesome cough is the most pronounced. Over time it can become harder to breathe, and after a week a fever often develops.

The symptoms can vary, but the most typical are:

• Reap.

• Heavy breath.

• Fever.

• Impaired general condition.

• Crackling sounds in the lungs.

• Chest pain that often worsens with coughing, deep breathing or in particular positions.

• Mucus (may be colored).

• If you get symptoms of low oxygen uptake, you must contact 113 immediately. This can show up as blue lips or nails, or confusion.

Especially in the elderly or people with a poor immune system or chronic respiratory diseases, the pneumonia can develop into a serious one. Then you can have great difficulty breathing, strong coughing, and coughing up blood-stained mucus. The fever is usually high, and you have severe pain in the chest.

Pneumonia can also develop into a serious condition in otherwise healthy people. Most serious pneumonia is caused by the pneumococcus group of bacteria.

What increases the risk of pneumonia?

• Age over 65 years

• Malnutrition

• Smoking

• Recently undergone respiratory infection or bronchitis due to a virus

• Weakened cough reflex as a result of high alcohol consumption, heart disease, stroke or old age

• Reduced immune system or impaired general condition

• COPD, Asthma or other lung diseases

• Underlying diseases such as diabetes or heart disease

• Weak immune system due to HIV, organ transplantation, cancer treatment, or long-term use of steroids.

Preventive measures against pneumonia

What can you do yourself?

• Ensure peace and rest. Light physical activity is recommended when you are better, but don't push yourself.

• If you have a fever, it is important to drink plenty to avoid dehydration.

• Avoid smoke. Smoke increases the risk of a new pneumonia and damages the lungs.

• Avoid being outside in cold weather.

• For pain and fever, paracetamol (Paracet) or ibuprofen (Ibux) can help. Always follow the package insert or advice from the doctor.

• Get vaccinated if you are in the risk group

More about pneumonia

The mouth and airways are constantly exposed to bacteria and viruses when we breathe. Our immune system, nose, throat, cilia and cough help trap or remove these microorganisms so they don't cause harm and make us sick.

If the body's immune system is weakened or one is infected by a highly contagious or large number of bacteria or viruses, it may be that these organisms get past the body's defense systems and end up in the lungs, in the alveoli. In the alveoli, the body's immune system reacts to the infection and tries to fight it. The alveoli become inflamed and filled with immune cells and fluid, and these changes lead to the symptoms of pneumonia.

How does pneumonia spread?

Pneumonia with a virus is spread when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes near you. The type of pneumonia caused by bacteria often comes from bacteria that we already have in the oral cavity. Therefore, it is not really a question of infection.

Anyone can get pneumonia, but it often affects people who are already weakened or have a weakened immune system. The disease occurs most frequently in winter.

What is called atypical pneumonia, or mycoplasma pneumonia, is caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae and is transmitted when a sick person coughs. This infects approx. every 4 years.

Treatment

As mentioned, pneumonia can be caused by either viruses or bacteria. A viral infection should not be treated with antibiotics, because antibiotics do not work against viruses.

If the pneumonia is caused by bacteria, it is usual to treat with antibiotics for approx. 7-10 days. When using antibiotics, it is important that the tablets are distributed evenly throughout the day and that the entire course is completed as prescribed by the doctor. If you do not complete the course, the infection may return, and it may also become more difficult to treat as bacteria may develop resistance to antibiotics. If there is no effect after a few days with the first antibiotic, it is common to change the treatment.

Sources: Norwegian health informatics for health personnel, Norwegian drug handbook for health personnel, Folkehelseinstituttet,