Pneumonia | CLINIC TEN

Content Supervision

KOMAI TSUBASA

Physician / Board-Certified Internist (Japanese Society of Internal Medicine) / Board-Certified Interventional Cardiologist (Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics) / ECG Certification Level 1

I have worked diligently as a young physician on the front lines of cardiovascular emergency medicine. While I feel an “immense sense of fulfillment” when patients brought in by ambulance successfully return to their normal lives, I have also witnessed many cases of “the ultimate consequences of lifestyle diseases” that could not be saved. I aspire to be a family doctor whom patients can consult as casually as they would a friend, with the goal of helping people before it’s too late. I am also involved in medical education to improve health literacy among the Japanese public.

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a general term for diseases that cause inflammation in the lungs due to pathogens that enter the body through the mouth or nose. There are various pathogens that cause pneumonia, including infectious pneumonia caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc., and non-infectious pneumonia caused by drugs, allergies, etc.

Most cases of pneumonia are caused by bacteria or viruses. The air we inhale passes from our mouth and nose through the throat, trachea, and the tiny branches of the trachea called the bronchi, and then into our lungs. Healthy people have the ability to naturally expel bacteria and viruses contained in the air they inhale from their bodies, but in people with weak immune systems such as children and the elderly, or in those with an inflamed throat due to a cold, the pathogens are not eliminated and instead enter the lungs, causing pneumonia.

Symptoms and characteristics of pneumonia

Since it is a disease of the lungs, i.e. the part of the body involved in breathing, the main symptoms are respiratory.

・　Cough
・　phlegm (yellow, green, or rust-colored)
・　difficulty breathing
・　wheezing when breathing
・　fever (a temperature of 38°C or higher that lasts for several days)
・　chest pain (worsened by breathing in or out)

Symptoms such as these are more likely to be seen.

It is difficult to distinguish from a cold, and is often overlooked, especially in the elderly. However, unlike a cold, pneumonia causes inflammation in the lungs themselves, which can suddenly cause breathing difficulties and, in the worst case, can lead to death.

Pneumonia treatment and precautions

Thanks to the immune system that we humans have, pneumonia can sometimes heal naturally. If you have severe symptoms such as a cough, you can take over-the-counter medicine, but if your symptoms are not severe or you are generally in good health, there is generally no need to take antibiotics.

The basics of treatment are to keep warm, drink fluids, and rest. In addition to this, to alleviate painful symptoms, medications to suppress coughs, increase phlegm production, and reduce fever are used. At the same time, to eliminate the causative pathogen, antibacterial drugs including antibiotics for bacteria and antiviral drugs for viruses may be used.

The treatment period varies depending on the patient’s age and condition. If you feel something is wrong, such as if you have a cold, see a doctor as soon as possible.

Are there any characteristics of people who are more susceptible to pneumonia?

The majority of people who die from pneumonia are elderly people aged 65 or older. This is thought to be due to a weakened immune system, as well as the high incidence of “aspiration pneumonia,” which occurs when food accidentally enters the lungs. It is important for elderly people to receive appropriate vaccinations, including the pneumococcal vaccine.

Other causes of a weakened immune system include chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. People with diabetes have weakened immune systems due to various reasons, making them more susceptible to pneumonia, and once they do contract pneumonia, it tends to become more severe and takes longer to recover.

summary

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs caused by bacteria or viruses, and is common in people with weakened immune systems.
Although it may be possible to recover without taking antibiotics or other medications, if the condition becomes severe it can be fatal, so people with underlying medical conditions, children, and the elderly should especially see a doctor as soon as possible.

Doctor’s comment

Normally, healthy adults rarely develop bacterial pneumonia, but viral infections such as the common cold can become severe and lead to pneumonia. Even if you think you have a cold, if you have symptoms such as a cough or fever that lasts for more than two weeks or difficulty breathing, we recommend that you see a doctor immediately.

COVID-19 is also a disease that can progress to pneumonia and become severe.

If you suspect you have pneumonia, we recommend that you first consult a doctor online.