Bacterial pneumonia is a serious infection of the lungs that causes symptoms such as coughing with phlegm, fever and difficulty breathing, which arises after a flu or cold that does not go away or that gets worse over time.
Bacterial pneumonia is usually caused by the bacteria in Streptococcus pneumoniae , however, other etiologic agents such as Klebsiella pneumoniae , Staphylococcus aureus , Haemophilus influenzae , Legionella pneumophila can also cause the disease.
Bacterial pneumonia is usually not contagious and can be treated at home by taking antibiotics prescribed by the doctor. However, in the case of babies or elderly patients, hospitalization may be necessary.
Symptoms of Bacterial Pneumonia
Symptoms of bacterial pneumonia can include:
- Cough with phlegm; High fever, above 39ยบ; Difficulty breathing; Shortness of breath; Chest pain.
The diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia can be made by a general practitioner and / or pulmonologist through exams, such as chest X-rays, chest computed tomography, blood tests and / or catarrh tests.
How the transmission happens
The transmission of bacterial pneumonia is very difficult and, therefore, the patient does not contaminate healthy people. It is usually more common to catch bacterial pneumonia due to accidental entry of bacteria into the lung from the mouth or another infection somewhere in the body, by choking on food or due to the worsening of a cold or flu.
Thus, to prevent the onset of pneumonia, it is recommended to wash your hands frequently, avoid staying in closed places with poor air ventilation, such as shopping centers and cinemas, and get the flu vaccine, especially in the case of children and the elderly.
People with a higher risk of infection are asthmatics, patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or with compromised immune systems.
How the treatment is done
The treatment of bacterial pneumonia can be done at home with rest and use of antibiotics for 7 to 14 days, according to the medical recommendation.
However, in some cases, the doctor may recommend that treatment be supplemented with daily sessions of respiratory physiotherapy to remove secretions from the lungs and facilitate breathing.
In the most severe cases, when pneumonia is at a more advanced stage or in the case of babies and the elderly, it may be necessary to stay in the hospital to make antibiotics directly into the vein and receive oxygen. See the drugs used, signs of improvement and worsening, and necessary care for bacterial pneumonia.
