- How to know if it is viral pneumonia
- How to confirm the diagnosis
- How the treatment is done
- How to prevent
Viral pneumonia is an infection of the lung, which inflames the fine tissues responsible for breathing and generates symptoms such as high fever, shortness of breath and coughing with phlegm. This pneumonia occurs more in people with weakened immune systems, so it is more common in children and the elderly.
The main viruses that cause this type of pneumonia are viruses that cause colds and flu, such as Haemophilus influenzae A or B, especially the most aggressive ones, such as H1N1 and H5N1, in addition to others such as parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus and adenovirus, for example, that can be carried in drops of saliva from one infected person to another.
Thus, the viral pneumonia virus is transmissible, however, it rarely causes pneumonia, being more common only the appearance of flu and colds, since the immune system is able to fight these microorganisms. Preventing the development of this pneumonia can be done by avoiding close contact with people with this infection, in addition to having hygiene habits, such as keeping hands washed and sanitized.
How to know if it is viral pneumonia
Symptoms of viral pneumonia include:
- Dry cough, which progresses to cough with transparent, white or pink phlegm; Chest pain and difficulty breathing; High fever, up to 39ºC; Sore throat or ear; Rhinitis or conjunctivitis, which can accompany the symptoms.
Viral pneumonia differs from bacterial pneumonia in that it usually starts more suddenly, produces a more transparent or white phlegm, in addition to having other signs of viral infection, such as nasal congestion, sinusitis, eye irritation and sneezing, for example, however, it can be difficult to differentiate between the two types of infection, without doing any tests.
In the elderly, symptoms of pneumonia can also include mental confusion, extreme tiredness and poor appetite, even if there is no fever. In babies or children, it is also very common to have very rapid breathing that causes the wings of the nose to open too much. See what other symptoms may indicate childhood pneumonia.
How to confirm the diagnosis
To confirm the diagnosis of this disease, the doctor may request samples of respiratory secretions from the nose and throat, for analysis in the laboratory, which should be collected, ideally, by the 3rd day of the disease, but which can be collected by the 7th day after the symptoms to identify the virus.
In addition, tests such as chest X-rays are used to assess lung involvement, and blood tests, such as blood count, kidney function, and blood oxygenation, to assess the degree and severity of the infection.
In any case of suspected pneumonia, it is advisable to have a consultation with the general practitioner or pulmonologist, or to go to the emergency room, to initiate the appropriate treatment and avoid worsening the disease.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for viral infections is guided by the doctor, and should be done with some guidelines such as:
- Rest at home, avoiding going to school or work; Good hydration, with water, tea, coconut water or natural juice; Light diet, avoiding fatty foods.
In addition, the treatment of viral pneumonia or a flu caused by the H1N1 or H5N1 viruses, in people who are at a higher risk of developing pneumonia, such as the elderly and children, also involves the use of antiviral drugs, prescribed by the general practitioner or pulmonologist, such as Oseltamivir, Zanamivir and Ribavirina, for example.
The treatment can be done at home, however, when the person shows signs of severity, such as difficulty breathing, low blood oxygenation, mental confusion or changes in the functioning of the kidneys, for example, hospitalization may be necessary to perform medications in the vein and use of oxygen mask. Find out more details on how to treat viral pneumonia.
In cases where viral pneumonia suffers contamination by bacteria, or when it happens in conjunction with bacterial pneumonia, the use of antibiotics, such as Amoxicillin, Azithromycin, Clarithromycin or Ceftriaxone, for example, for about 7 to 10 is also indicated. days.
How to prevent
To prevent viral infections of any kind, it is very important to keep your hands clean, washing or using alcohol gel, whenever you visit public places, with the bus, shopping malls and markets, in addition to avoid sharing personal items, such as cutlery and glasses.
The flu vaccine, applied annually, is also an important way to prevent infection by the main types of viruses.
