Pope Francis has spent a month in hospital, struggling with bilateral pneumonia – but what exactly is this infection? 

What is pneumonia?  

• It’s a serious infection of the lungs.  
• Bacteria and virus (or even a fungus) lodge themselves down in the lungs and cause an infection.  
• It’s often at the base of one or both lungs.  
• The body reacts to the bacteria or virus, causing a reaction to get rid of the infection, resulting in inflamed lung tissue with fluid or pus.  

What are the causes and how do we know we have pneumonia?  

• There are two basic types: community acquired, and hospital acquired (hospitals are dangerous places for infections!). 
• Risk factors: a weakened immune system, which could be a result of age, a chronic illness like diabetes, asthma, some medications, smoking, or admittance to a hospital.  
• Viruses such as influenza, Covid, and RSV can cause pneumonia, which is why they are dangerous.  
• Main symptoms (can be sudden onset): cough, bringing up phlegm, fever/chills, chest pain, feeling short of breath. 

How do we treat pneumonia?  

• It depends on the type.  
• It’s often community acquired and is diagnosed on exam with a chest Xray.  
• Treatment includes antibiotics, fluids, rest, paracetamol. If it’s severe and you have difficulty breathing – go to the hospital.  
• If it’s caused by a virus (influenza or Covid), it’s occasionally treated with an anti-viral medication, however, often paracetamol, fluids, rest are used. Some can end up in hospital with oxygen, or if severe, a ventilator till it gets better.  

How do we prevent pneumonia?  

• This is a reason why vaccination so important, preventing things like influenza, Covid, pneumococcal.  
• Quit smoking. 
• A healthy immune system: eat a balanced diet, regular exercise, mange diabetes, or asthma.  

If you’re short of breath with a temperature, see your doctor! 

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