Pneumonia
Pneumonia can be a serious respiratory infection, but at Kovai chest and Sleep Centre, we are here to provide you with the highest level of care and expertise to help you recover quickly and effectively.
Pneumonia is defined as inflammation and consolidation of lung tissue due to an infectious agent. Pneumonia is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The clinical presentation varies.
It can be acquired outside or inside the hospital settings. Symptoms that are suggestive of pneumonia include fever, chills, pleuritic chest pain, and cough with or without sputum production. In elderly and immunocompromised patients, the signs and symptoms of pulmonary infection may be nonspecific.
Elderly patients with pneumonia can have atypical presentation. Risk factors for specific etiologies of pneumonia may differ. Elderly age, malnutrition, dementia, seizures, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, smoking, HIV infection, Diabetes Mellitus, cancer, End stage renal disease are some of the risk factors for the development of pneumonia. Pneumonia can be due to viral, bacterial, fungal or parasites origin.
The routes by which the different respiratory viruses spread from person to person are variable and include combinations of contact, droplet, and aerosol transmission. Diagnosis can be achieved either by virus isolation or by direct detection of viral antigens or nucleic acids from appropriate specimens of respiratory secretions/ swabs, stools and urine, depending on the clinical syndrome.
Diagnosis of pneumonia is based on the basis of symptoms, signs and relevant tests and distinguishing it from other conditions. Elderly patients complain of fewer symptoms than do younger patients. Treatment of pneumonia depends on the cause of pneumonia. Management of pneumonia depends on the severity of disease.
Treatment also includes risk factor modification and treatment of any complications. Patients with non- responding pneumonia requires appropriate evaluation. While evaluation of a patient, there are clues to the cause of pneumonia that may be obtained from the history and physical examination.
Non-respiratory symptoms such as headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and arthralgia are also common symptoms in patients with pneumonia. Extrapulmonary signs and symptoms may a dominating clinical presentation in some patients with pneumonia.
Environmental history, Animal contact, Travel history, Occupational history, host factors like diabetic ketoacidosis, Alcoholism, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, transplant recipients, immunocompromised state and underlying cancer history are also important in the evaluation of a patient with pneumonia. Achieving etiologic diagnosis for pneumonia is important. Appropriate diagnostic work up is needed in a patient who is being managed for pneumonia.
Standard protocol is followed while managing a patient. Further evaluation is required when a patient with pneumonia fails to resolve or worsens during therapy. We advice preventive measures for pneumonia once they are recovered from pneumonia. Advice on vaccination is also given to the needy patients.
We develop individualized treatment plans based on the specific type of pneumonia you have. We offer comprehensive supportive care.
Schedule Your Consultation:** If you suspect you have pneumonia or have been diagnosed with this condition, don't hesitate to reach out to us at Kovai Chest and Sleep Centre.