Now, every year, 20% of children in the world die of pneumonia before reaching the age of 5. This is due to various reasons. In India, about 4 lakh children die of this disease before the age of 5, and out of these 4 lakh, 2 lakh children die of pneumonia (bacterial disease).
Primary pneumonia, which occurs in healthy lungs.
Secondary pneumonia, which occurs in lungs that are already damaged or in those with previous lung injuries due to infection or congenital conditions.
Who gets this disease?
This disease is common in two different age groups, namely children under two years of age and adults. The disease is more common in children under two years of age and can be fatal, especially in malnourished children. Pneumonia is also more common in drug/alcohol users and pregnant women.
Children who are exposed to the following conditions may develop pneumonia: Use of nasal drops such as oil (due to ignorance and illiteracy), especially in rural areas.
Incorrect feeding methods
Accidental consumption of kerosene (poisoning)
In adolescence
Pneumonia occurs early in most people.
Chills and fever (over 104°F in some cases)
Shivering cold
Cough with phlegm. The phlegm is discolored and sometimes bloody.
Shortness of breath
Chest pain can occur when the disease involves the lining of the lungs. This pain is very sharp and worse, especially when taking a deep breath. This type of pain is called pleuritic pain.
In other cases of pneumonia, symptoms appear gradually. The only symptoms may be a bad cough, headache, and muscle aches.
In some people with pneumonia, coughing is not a major problem because the site of infection in the lungs is far from the large airways.
Sometimes the color of an individual’s skin may turn bluish (a condition known as cyanosis) due to low oxygen levels in the blood.
Precautions to be taken
The following are precautions to take if someone has pneumonia. It starts with maintaining personal hygiene. Covering your mouth with a cloth will help prevent the infection from spreading to others around you.
Lung diseases
Cough
To clear mucus from the airways and prevent toxins from entering! Coughing can be both good and bad for us. It depends on how we cough. If a persistent or severe cough is accompanied by fever, shortness of breath, or bloody sputum, you should seek medical attention immediately. Coughing is a very common symptom of lung disease.
Breathing
This can also be caused by problems in the lungs. It can also be caused by heart disease, anger, and stress. When a sudden fever comes, a persistent fever, or other problems come along with it, you should know about the disease. You should immediately go to the doctor for treatment. Shortness of breath does not occur due to aging. Therefore, if you are short of breath, immediate treatment is required. You should be careful.
Shortness of breath
This is a type of noise. It is produced when breathing in or out. A blockage in the airway, blockage of some tissues, causes wheezing. Wheezing is caused by excessive water or mucus, or a substance that is inhaled and blocks the airway. Wheezing is the first sign when the lungs are severely affected and getting worse.
Chest pain
This noise occurs due to problems in the lungs, heart, and bones. This noise can be normal. It can be severe. It can even be life-threatening. Chest pain occurs when breathing. Chest pain is caused by an infection. There is also a cough and fever. If chest pain occurs, you should immediately seek medical attention.
Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
Coughing up scarlet foam, bloody phlegm, clotted blood, or even pure blood can occur. This can happen due to persistent coughing or due to a serious lung disease. Coughing up blood is a symptom of a respiratory disease.
Cyanosis
This occurs when the skin turns blue or dark blue. Cyanosis occurs when there is a discoloration, especially of the lips and nails. Why does this discoloration occur? It is caused by not enough oxygen in the blood. Cyanosis is caused by severe lung disease.
Inflammation
Swelling in the hands, feet, and ankles is caused by lung disease. Swelling can occur along with heart disease and shortness of breath. Often, both the heart and lungs exhibit similar symptoms. This is because many problems affect both the heart and lungs.
Don’t smoke.
Smoking is one of the worst things that can affect our bodies. Not only does it cause lung diseases like emphysema, COPD, and lung cancer, but it can also severely affect other organs in our body. So, let’s quit smoking!