Get to know Bilateral Pneumonia and its Treatment
Bilateral pneumonia is an infectious disease that attacks both sides of the lungs. The infection that occurs can cause the sufferer to experience fever and fluid buildup in the lung organs which makes the chest feel painful, even short of breath.
Bilateral pneumonia occurs when bacteria, viruses, or fungi infect both lungs. Such conditions make it difficult for the air sacs in the lungs to expand because they are filled with fluid or pus.
The severity of bilateral pneumonia largely depends on how many parts of the lung are infected.
Knowing the Risk Factors for Bilateral Pneumonia
Previously it was explained that bilateral pneumonia caused by a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. The following are some of the risk factors that cause a person to have a higher risk of developing bilateral pneumonia:
- Being less than 2 years old or more than 65 years old
- Suffering from malnutrition
- Smoking or excessive exposure to secondhand smoke
- Have a history of lung diseases, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Have difficulty swallowing due to stroke or neurological disorder in the neck
- Having an addiction to drugs or alcoholic beverages
Bilateral pneumonia can also be a serious complication of the flu or COVID-19, especially if the patient the disease has several risk factors mentioned above and has never received a flu vaccine or COVID-19 at all.
Various Symptoms of Bilateral Pneumonia
Symptoms Bilateral pneumonia is not much different from pneumonia on one side of the lung. The difference that may be experienced is chest pain that appears. In bilateral pneumonia, chest pain occurs on both sides.
Apart from chest pain, people with bilateral pneumonia will also experience the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Coughing up phlegm
- Shills
- Difficulty breathing
- Short and fast breathing
- Coughing up phlegm
- Rapid heartbeat
- Tired quickly
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea
Patients with bilateral pneumonia over the age of 65 may show other symptoms
Various Treatment Options and Prevention
The treatment given for bilateral pneumonia is adjusted to cause and how serious the disease is. However, in some cases where the cause is unknown, treatment is given to reduce the symptoms that arise.
Treatment for bilateral pneumonia is actually the same as treating pneumonia in general. The following are several types of treatment that can be given:
1. Antibiotics
Antibiotics can be given to patients with bilateral pneumonia due to bacterial infection. Several types of antibiotics that are commonly used are azithromycin, clarithromycin, or doxycycline.
Some patients do not require hospitalization because their symptoms are not severe. However, in cases of pneumonia that affects young children, the elderly, and people with a low immune system, the sufferer requires hospital treatment by administering antibiotics by injection.
2. Antifungal
To treat bilateral pneumonia caused by fungus, the doctor will prescribe antifungal medication to be taken by mouth. Several types of antifungal drugs that are often given include itraconazole, fluconazole, trimethoprim, amphotericin B, or echinocandins.
3. Antivirus
Bilateral pneumonia caused by a virus usually goes away on its own within a few days or weeks. However, doctors can prescribe antiviral drugs if needed, such as oseltamivir, zanamivir, and peramivir, to reduce symptoms and shorten the time of viral infection.
4. Other drugs
Several other drugs, such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, or aspirin, are usually also given to patients with bilateral pneumonia to relieve fever and inflammation. Doctors will usually also prescribe cough medicine to thin phlegm and remove fluid from the lungs.
5. Oxygen therapy
Oxygen therapy will be carried out when bilateral pneumonia sufferers experience shortness of breath and lack of oxygen. This step is usually done through a tube or oxygen mask to maintain oxygen levels in the blood.
6. Lung fluid aspiration
Severe cases of bilateral pneumonia can cause a buildup of fluid in the space between the lungs and the lining lining them. If this condition occurs, fluid suction will generally be carried out, either by inserting a special tube directly into the lungs or through surgery.
To prevent bilateral pneumonia and reduce some of its risk factors, you need to live a lifestyle
In addition, pneumonia vaccination can also be a way best for preventing pneumonia, especially in children and the elderly. Therefore, don't delay administering the vaccine to avoid pneumonia and its complications. With proper treatment, most sufferers recover within 7–10 days. Meanwhile, in people who have certain conditions or get treatment late, this disease can cause complications such as sepsis, respiratory failure, and even death.
To avoid complications of bilateral pneumonia, immediately consult a doctor if you experience various symptoms
Label : Healthy living
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