[아시아경제 영남취재본부 황두열 기자] During the changing seasons with a large daily temperature difference, the number of cases of pneumonia among patients visiting hospitals with cold symptoms is increasing.
Pneumonia is a disease in which the lungs are inflamed by various pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
The lungs, which exist for respiration, are inevitably exposed to air, and in this process, pathogens enter the airways, and inflammation usually begins.
According to the report ‘Statistics Results for Causes of Death in 2021’ released by the National Statistical Office on the 27th, pneumonia ranked third.
Pneumonia is often confused with a cold, flu, or COVID-19 because symptoms such as cough, sputum, and fever appear.
Symptoms of shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain, and headache may appear depending on the individual’s health condition or the site of pneumonia.
In the case of the elderly, infection from external pathogens is easy due to reduced immunity and lung function, but 20 to 30% of them progress asymptomatically, so they miss the treatment time and are diagnosed with pneumonia following symptoms worsen.
If symptoms such as cold symptoms, high fever, shortness of breath, purulent sputum, and lethargy appear, you must be diagnosed with pneumonia by a respiratory physician.
It is known that there are more than 90 types of bacteria that cause pneumonia, in addition to the commonly known pneumococcus.
Most healthy adults can be cured with antibiotic treatment, but patients with chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes, infants with weakened immunity, and the elderly over 65 years of age may lose their lives from pneumonia or complications.
Director Lee Kyu-min of the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Daedong Hospital, said, “Pneumonia may have no symptoms, so if the treatment time is missed, the treatment period may be prolonged due to a lung abscess, or in severe cases complications such as pleurisy and severe respiratory distress syndrome may occur.” recommended
What Manager Lee recommends as a habit to prevent all diseases is to wash your hands. He said that you can take care of your personal health just by washing your hands well.
Because of the nature of transmission through the respiratory tract, people at high risk for pneumonia should avoid going out in crowded places as much as possible and pay attention to personal hygiene by washing hands and wearing a mask.
It is necessary to maintain health through various physical activities while smoking cessation, drinking sufficient water, and managing nutrition.
Influenza viruses often cause viral pneumonia or bacterial pneumonia due to secondary infection, so those with underlying medical conditions or the elderly should receive flu vaccination.
In addition, since pneumococcus, one of the many bacteria that causes pneumonia, can be prevented by vaccination, chronic disease patients or the elderly with weakened immunity should pay attention to vaccination to reduce the risk.
Reporter Doo-Yeol Hwang from Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters [email protected]
