When it comes to respiratory diseases, some people may consider them common illnesses that are not frightening. However, believe it or not, these seemingly ordinary diseases can pose serious dangers that may be life-threatening. These diseases can occur at any age, making them an important issue that everyone of all ages should pay attention to. Today, Dr. Wichai Boonsangsuk, a specialist in internal medicine focusing on respiratory diseases and critical respiratory conditions, will answer many common questions about respiratory diseases.
Q: What types of respiratory diseases do you see most patients coming for treatment?
A: Number 1 is respiratory infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and pulmonary tuberculosis.
Number 2 is allergies, asthma, and rhinitis.
Number 3 is emphysema.
Q: Why do respiratory disease patients need to be admitted to the ICU?
A: The answer is that the ICU is necessary for critical patients who have difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, unstable blood pressure and pulse, symptoms that may be life-threatening, and for those who require mechanical ventilation. The treatment assessment is at the discretion of the physician.
Many people often ask why patients must stay in the ICU when the doctor says so. The reason is that patients in this condition tend to have symptoms that can change rapidly. The ICU has doctors and nurses who closely monitor the patient, and doctors can provide timely treatment when symptoms worsen. However, some patients who recover quickly may only stay in the ICU for one day for observation.
Q: When is it called pneumonia?
A: Pneumonia occurs when the lung tissue is infected by pathogens. It can be observed from symptoms such as fever or cough, increased shortness of breath, abnormal lung sounds, and confirmed by an X-ray showing lung lesions. Low blood oxygen levels may also be found.
Q: What is the treatment approach for pneumonia and respiratory diseases?
A: Taking medical history and initial examination to find the cause of the disease, treating symptoms to address the problem areas. If the patient has breathing difficulties, bronchial constriction, or discomfort, bronchodilator inhalers, antibiotics, oxygen therapy, and physical therapy may be used.
Q: What causes pneumonia?
A: Pneumonia is a common respiratory disease caused by various factors.
- Infections
- Viruses: Recently, viruses widely known to the public include the 2009 influenza virus, which can be life-threatening if it infects the lungs. Nowadays, more types of viruses are being found.
- Bacteria that cause common respiratory infections can also lead to pneumonia.
Q: Does pneumonia require hospitalization?
A: For patients with mild symptoms, medication can be given to take at home. For severe cases, hospitalization and monitoring at the hospital may be necessary. For high-risk patients, doctors will provide treatment in the ICU.
Q: Which groups of patients are commonly affected by pneumonia?
A: This disease is common in the elderly, especially those with underlying conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, lung disease, or those with compromised immune systems, such as patients receiving certain medications that affect immunity like chemotherapy. Patients with a history of swallowing difficulties due to aspiration can have food and mucus enter the lungs directly, causing pneumonia. Particularly, patients with hemiplegia or paralysis often have aspiration problems, leading to frequent pneumonia and often death from pneumonia.
People of all ages can get pneumonia. There are many pathogens that can cause infection and lead to pneumonia.
Q: Can pneumonia be completely cured?
A: Generally, in patients with normal immunity and mild infections, most can recover fully with treatment. However, in cases where treatment is delayed or the infection is severe, scarring in the lungs may occur, reducing lung function.
In cases of poor lung function, physical therapy can be done to train the remaining lung tissue to work in coordination with other organs as best as possible and to prevent recurrent lung infections.
Q: What are the signs of pneumonia?
A: The main symptoms of this disease are high fever, cough, chest pain, and abnormal shortness of breath. When these symptoms occur, one should promptly see a doctor for proper treatment because many people mistakenly think they have a common cold and rest, which may improve symptoms. However, pneumonia can be fatal in some cases.
