CPI(M) general secretary and former Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechury passed away on Thursday, September 12, after prolonged illness. He was 72 years old. He was undergoing treatment at AIIMS, New Delhi. Yechury had a respiratory infection, which led to his premature death due to complications.
Respiratory tract infections can be caused by many pathogens. Chief among them are viruses and bacteria. These pathogens are spread by direct contact with infected individuals or by touching contaminated surfaces. Air quality in most cities in India is so bad that it makes infections more serious.
Sitaram Yechury was admitted to AIIMS on August 19 due to pneumonia. Pneumonia is a common cause of respiratory tract infections in the elderly and children. Sometimes its symptoms become very severe and can even cause death.
That's why today' Health waterIn ' we will talk about pneumonia. You will also know that-
- Why is it so dangerous for children and the elderly?
- What symptoms of pneumonia should not be ignored?
- What tests are done to check it?
- What are the treatment and prevention measures for pneumonia?
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. In this, the lung tissues become inflamed and may produce fluid or pus in the lungs. It is of two types – bacterial and viral. Bacterial pneumonia is usually more serious than viral pneumonia.
Pneumonia can affect one or both lungs. If both lungs are infected, it is called double pneumonia.
Children and the elderly are at greater risk
Pneumonia can happen to anyone of any age, but young children and the elderly are at greater risk. Its main reason is weak immune system. The immune system of young children is not fully developed. While the immune system of the elderly weakens with age. See graphic.
Let us understand the points given in the graphic in detail.
- Young children and the elderly are at a higher risk of any infection due to their weakened immune systems. So they are also at increased risk of pneumonia.
- When people reach the age of 65, many types of diseases start to affect them. In which many stubborn health diseases can also occur. Because of this, the body of the elderly becomes weak and they easily become victims of diseases like pneumonia.
- Very young children and the elderly have poor lung function. So pneumonia affects them more.
- At both these ages, most of the body parts may suffer due to some disease. Therefore, in case of pneumonia, the risk of complications is also high.
In addition to children under 2 and the elderly over 65, there are many risk factors for pneumonia, see:
- If one has any disease related to lungs or heart.
- Those who have neurological conditions that cause difficulty swallowing.
- Conditions such as dementia, Parkinson's disease and stroke increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia.
- People who have been in the hospital for a long time, especially in the ICU or on a ventilator.
- People who smoke.
- Women who are pregnant.
Never ignore these symptoms of pneumonia
Its symptoms depend on the cause of the infection. Symptoms of pneumonia can sometimes be mild and sometimes very severe. Infants, young children and the elderly may have different symptoms. However, some of its features should never be ignored.
What tests are needed to treat pneumonia? Based on the symptoms of the infection, the treating doctor decides which tests should be performed to diagnose the lung condition. Lung condition is detected by doing several important tests like chest x-ray and CT-scan. Apart from this, the cause of infection can be known through blood test. Based on that, giving medicine cures the disease. Let's see in graphic what tests are required before proper treatment of pneumonia.
What is the treatment for pneumonia? Treatment for pneumonia depends on the cause of the infection. Before treatment, it is determined whether the infection is caused by a bacteria, virus, or fungus. Treatment also depends on the severity of the infection and symptoms.
What are the remedies to prevent it?
There is an old saying in the world of medicine, prevention is better than cure. This means that prevention is better than cure. Pneumonia infection can be avoided if a few precautions are taken. Let's see the important preventive tips in the graphic.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
