Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Lately, cases have been increasing, not only in Indonesia, but also throughout the world.
Pneumonia is one of the dangerous diseases. In fact, pneumonia is the number one cause of death due to infectious diseases in the world.
Symptoms of pneumonia can vary depending on the cause. In viral pneumonia, fever tends to rise quickly at the beginning. In bacterial pneumonia, fever will increase gradually.
Another symptom to watch out for related to the cause of pneumonia is the condition of phlegm.
Characteristics of sputum or phlegm. If the virus usually has mucoid phlegm, it is whiter, clearer, and stickier. While in bacteria it is purulent. Purulent means the color is usually more cloudy, can be yellow, green, and usually thicker.
The course of symptoms of viral pneumonia is faster than those caused by bacteria. Usually the worsening can also be faster, as we know with COVID it can get worse in a matter of days and even die.
Pneumonia Treatment
Pneumonia treatment methods are generally divided into two, pharmacological and non-pharmacological. In pharmacological treatment, the doctor will find out the cause of pneumonia to determine the right medicine whether antiviral, antibiotic, or antifungal.
Then the doctor can also add supportive drugs. Usually the patient has a fever, can be given antipyretic drugs, there is a cough that can be given mucolytic drugs, and other supportive treatments.
Non-Pharmacological Treatment of Pneumonia
While for non-pharmacological treatment, usually pneumonia patients with severe cases will experience shortness of breath, so some patients will need oxygen therapy and other forms of supertive therapy such as rest, their nutritional needs are maintained. And some patients with severe pneumonia will need pulmonary rehabilitation.
Pneumonia patients who cannot cough up phlegm will be given inhalation or steam therapy. This inhalation or steam therapy is not only for children, for adult patients it also helps them breathe more easily. Although the goal is actually to overcome narrowing of the bronchi or airways.
Steam therapy will also help break up phlegm and help the patient expel it more easily.
When Should Pneumonia Patients Be Hospitalized?
Not all pneumonia patients need to be hospitalized. There is a Pneumonia Severity Index score that doctors use to determine whether a patient needs to be hospitalized or not.
Scoring is done by looking at a number of things such as risk factors, age, other accompanying chronic diseases, and the patient's condition.
Based on the scoring, we can know whether the patient can be an outpatient or an inpatient. It can also help us determine whether they should be in a regular inpatient room or in an intensive care room.
However, if an individual experiences a cough that does not go away and even gets worse and starts to experience shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fever that does not go down with medication, desaturation (reduced oxygen levels), or decreased consciousness, these are signs for the patient to be taken to the hospital immediately.
The article was created based on the Healthy Monday program in collaboration between EMC Healthcare and Liputan6, with resource persons, Lung and Respiratory Specialists , dr. Herman, Sp.P (EMC Sentul Hospital) and dr. Maria Dewi Caetline, Sp.P (EMC Cibitung & Cikarang Hospital).