How do I recognize pneumonia?

Coughing can be a symptom of pneumonia

02/13/2014
Coughing does not always have to be a sign of illness, but is basically a normal and important protective mechanism of the body through which the airways of „unpleasant substances“ as lice or dust are released. However, coughing can also be a symptom of ailments such as a cold, bronchitis or whooping cough. In more severe cases, pneumonia may also be very dangerous, especially for children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Therefore, a doctor should be consulted immediately at the first sign.

Pneumonia is mostly caused by bacteria
In pneumonia, the lung tissue is acutely or chronically inflamed, which is caused in most cases by an infection with bacteria (especially pneumococci), more rarely by viruses, fungi, pollutants, allergic diseases or radiation exposure. The treachery of pneumonia is that it is often not expressed by typical signs of disease. This is true in many cases „classic symptoms“ such as fever, dry cough and pain in the chest area, in other cases occur in addition to the cough only unspecific symptoms such as fatigue or loss of appetite. As a result, the infectious disease is often recognized late, which, however, means a real danger, because a delayed pneumonia can lead to respiratory failure, kidney failure, heart problems or severe sepsis (blood poisoning).

At first signs immediately to the doctor!
Accordingly, at the first signs of pneumonia, a doctor should be consulted immediately, especially for children and the elderly, as well as those with underlying lung diseases (for example cystic fibrosis) or a general immune deficiency (such as HIV infection, cancer, diabetes). Because with these „Risk groups“ the infectious disease has a particularly easy game due to the not yet trained or weakened immune system - therefore, a vaccination against pneumococci is usually recommended for prevention among other things. In addition, there are a number of other factors or events that increase the risk of pneumonia, such as shallow, restricted breathing due to prolonged bed-restraint, tobacco smoking, pulmonary embolism, or the aspiration or invasion of porridge and stomach acid into the trachea.

Special breathing exercises as well as rest and plenty of fluid to support the healing process
„But how do I know if my cough might be a sign of pneumonia??“ - This question can not always be answered unequivocally due to the partially unspecific symptoms. Therefore, a doctor should always be consulted immediately in case of prolonged coughing as well as chest pain or pain when breathing, in order to clarify the cause of the symptoms. This can recognize by an x-ray examination possible signs of inflammation in the form of "shadows", further findings bring laboratory tests and a blood count, which provides the indication of whether there is an inflammation in the body. In addition, it can be determined by this type of pathogens, because in a pneumonia caused by bacteria, for example, usually the number of white blood cells (leukocytes) increased significantly. If there is actually a bacterial pneumonia, it is usually treated with antibiotics, which usually heals the disease after two to three weeks. Besides that, it is recommended in the context of „self-therapy“ Pay attention to as much rest as possible, drink plenty of water (water, tea) and perform special breathing exercises that can facilitate breathing in and out.

Strengthen immune system to prevent pneumonia
In addition, preventive measures can be taken to reduce the risk of pneumonia. Above all, this includes an intact immune system, which is supported by regular physical activity, plenty of fresh air, sufficient sleep and a healthy, balanced diet. In addition, alcohol abuse and smoking should generally be avoided, as this increases the risk of developing bacterial infections - not only pneumonia, but also the so-called „Legionnaires' disease“ and tuberculosis count. „Smoking promotes bacterial infections in several ways. First, cigarette smoke appears to affect the growth of certain bacteria, altering the microbiological composition in different tissues. Since naturally occurring bacteria are hindered in their growth, potentially harmful species can multiply better“, the German Cancer Research Center (dkfz) in Heidelberg. Thus, in smokers, bacterial infections are often more severe than in non-smokers, and more often lead to death, „because the immune system's efficiency is diminished by the fact that the ingredients of the tobacco smoke damage the cells of the innate as well as the acquired immune system.“ (No)