Every rainy season, both children and adults often catch colds, coughs, and sneezes. However, one of the serious diseases that can be fatal is “pneumonia”, which is one of the main causes of death for many patients each year. To prevent and keep ourselves away from the severity of this lung infection, understanding and getting to know this disease is essential and should not be overlooked.
What is pneumonia and why can germs infect the lungs?
Pneumonia is when “germs” enter our body and reach deep into the lungs. But before germs can pass through to the lungs, which are the final barrier of the respiratory tract, they must pass through several organs including the nose, throat, small bronchi, and large bronchi. This means that whenever “germs” reach the “lung tissue”, it clearly indicates a severe and dangerous condition.
Germs can enter the lungs and our body mainly through two routes: inhalation and bloodstream. The infection can spread from other parts of the body through the blood to the lungs. However, most cases occur from inhaling germs into the body through breathing and then reaching the lungs.
How easily can the lungs get infected and what factors determine this?
Normally, our body has some immunity to protect itself from various germs. However, some germs can penetrate this defense, which is a key factor that increases the chance of lung infection. These factors can be divided as follows:
- The germs are highly virulent, allowing them to successfully penetrate to the lungs. Pneumonia can be caused by various types of germs such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and tuberculosis bacteria, but most commonly bacteria and viruses.
- Our immune system is weak, meaning the germs may not be very virulent, but our body is not strong enough, making it easier for germs to reach the lungs than in healthy individuals. This is especially true for patients with lung diseases, asthma, emphysema, or those with a history of lung infections, wounds, abscesses, or cavities in the lungs.
- Taking medications that affect the immune system, such as patients on immunosuppressive drugs, chemotherapy, or chemical treatments, have a higher chance of lung infection because their immunity is weakened by the medications.
- Regular exposure to a large amount of germs, even if the germs are not highly virulent and we have good immunity, being in places with a high concentration of germs and frequent exposure, especially where there are carriers, can lead to infection and pneumonia.
Why is pneumonia more common in the rainy season?
First, we need to understand that germs travel only when there is a “carrier” because germs cannot jump or move directly from one place to our body. The “carriers” that effectively bring germs into our body are water droplets, raindrops, and dust particles in the air. Germs attach to these droplets and float in the air until we inhale these contaminated droplets, allowing the germs to enter our body and spread to the lungs. This explains why during the rainy season, many people get pneumonia because it is the time when carriers bring a large amount of germs into the body.
How to recognize symptoms that may indicate pneumonia?
Symptoms that signal you might have “pneumonia” include:
- High fever and chills
- Coughing and shortness of breath
- Chest pain when breathing in and out
At first glance, pneumonia symptoms may seem similar to those of a common cold or flu. However, the key difference is that pneumonia does not cause sore throat or runny nose, whereas common colds usually have these two symptoms. Additionally, in severe pneumonia, you may feel sharp chest pain when breathing because the infection causes fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity. If you or someone close to you has these symptoms, especially during the rainy season, you should see a doctor immediately.
How is pneumonia diagnosed with certainty?
When unusual symptoms are noticed and you consult a doctor, the doctor will diagnose by taking your medical history and asking about symptoms. Then, the doctor will listen to your lungs. If the lungs are infected or inflamed, the lung sounds will be coarse and rough due to fluid or pus inside. Normal lungs produce smooth sounds, like a gentle breeze passing through. After listening, the doctor can immediately suspect abnormalities and will then order a chest X-ray to check for patches, spots, or signs of other diseases. Once the results are obtained, appropriate treatment will be considered.
How is pneumonia treated after diagnosis?
The main treatment for pneumonia is “antibiotic therapy.” The golden rule in treating pneumonia is that the sooner the patient receives antibiotics, the higher the survival rate and chance of full recovery. Especially for pneumonia caused by bloodstream infections, receiving antibiotics within half an hour greatly increases survival rates. Conversely, delayed antibiotic treatment beyond half an hour reduces survival chances.
Therefore, in treating pneumonia, it is crucial to closely monitor abnormal symptoms and not to self-medicate thinking it is just a cold. You should promptly see a doctor, get diagnosed early, and receive antibiotics in time to reduce the risk of severe complications that could be fatal.
Can complications occur from pneumonia?
Typically, antibiotic treatment for pneumonia shows results within 72 hours to indicate the direction of symptom improvement. If symptoms do not improve within 72 hours, the doctor will perform another X-ray to check for complications. Possible complications include lung abscesses or pus formation. If such conditions are found, additional treatments may be necessary. Other complications include pleural effusion (fluid in the pleural cavity) or the infection spreading from the lungs into the bloodstream, which is very dangerous.
If lung abscesses occur, the doctor will adjust the medication to stronger antibiotics. If symptoms still do not improve, surgery may be considered to drain the pus. In cases of pleural effusion, the doctor will assess the type of fluid—whether clear, cloudy, or pus—and if there is a large amount, drainage will be required.
In the treatment process, doctors usually collect sputum samples from patients to culture and identify the type of germ, then adjust treatment accordingly. Early detection allows for effective treatment and recovery without much worry.
How to take care of yourself to stay safe from pneumonia?
Prevention and self-care to stay away from pneumonia follow the same principles as preventing other respiratory diseases, which are:
- Avoid crowded public places, or if unavoidable, always wear a mask, especially if you know you are sick or have a weak immune system. You never know who might be carrying germs, so prevention is best.
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly because we touch many objects daily that may be contaminated with germs. Touching food, rubbing eyes, or inhaling after touching contaminated hands can introduce germs into the lungs and body.
- Get vaccinated, such as the flu vaccine, which helps reduce the risk of pneumonia because if you don’t get the flu, your immunity remains strong and your body stays healthy, lowering the chance of lung infection.
- Maintain good health by getting enough rest, eating nutritious food, and exercising regularly. This builds a strong immune system and reduces the risk of pneumonia.
Pneumonia is a serious and potentially fatal respiratory disease, especially for children, the elderly, and those with weak health. They have a much higher risk of pneumonia than healthy individuals. Therefore, it is important to monitor your symptoms carefully, especially during the rainy season. If you have a high fever, chills, and cough but no sore throat or runny nose, and experience chest pain when breathing, do not ignore these symptoms. See a doctor immediately. Early treatment can significantly reduce the risk of death from pneumonia.
“Our body works like a “domino” where all organs work together as a team and are interconnected. The lungs are one of the main pillars of the body’s function. If the lungs have problems, it will affect the heart, liver, kidneys, and brainto malfunction like dominoes falling. Therefore, do not neglect your lungs. Take good care of them and prevent infections
for a healthy body.”
