SearchExclusive.com

All You Need to Know about Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a type of lung infection. The infection causes the air sacks in one or both lungs to become inflamed. When this occurs, the air sacks get filled with pus or fluid which leads to a severe cough, fever, and difficulty in breathing. However, symptoms of pneumonia can vary depending on the cause of the infection.

Types of Pneumonia
The classification of pneumonia is done as per the location and the cause of the infection.

The most common type of pneumonia is community-acquired pneumonia. It refers to infection acquired outside of a hospital or medical setting.
If a patient becomes infected with germs causing pneumonia in a healthcare facility, it is termed as hospital-acquired pneumonia.
Aspiration pneumonia is referred to the infection that occurs due to inhalation of germs through food particles, liquid, saliva or vomit into the lungs. It can occur when someone has problem swallowing or has a brain injury affecting the gag reflex of the body. Excessive use of drugs or alcohol and even some medication use can disturb the body’s gag reflex.

Causes of Pneumonia

Many different types of organisms can cause pneumonia.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. This type of infection usually occurs after a cold or flu, but it can also take place on its own.
Viral pneumonia usually occurs in children. It is often mild but can become severe depending on other health factors of the patient.
Fungi present in bird droppings or soil can cause pneumonia when the germs reach the lungs through inhalation. Fungal pneumonia can also occur in people with other health problems or a weak immune system.
Mycoplasma germs can cause pneumonia. These types of organisms have characteristics of both viruses and bacteria. Such cases are usually mild and can often be seen in older children.

Symptoms of pneumonia
Symptoms of pneumonia can be mild or severe because of several factors such as the cause, patient’s age, and overall health complication.

Common symptoms of pneumonia can include any of the following:

Fever and chills
A cough with or without phlegm
Chest pain
Vomiting and nausea
Diarrhea
Difficulty in breathing
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Severe symptoms may be displayed through
Panting or breathing heavily
Rapid heartbeat
Cough with blood

Elderly people (patients over 65 years of age) with pneumonia can also have the following symptoms –

Low body temperature
Confusion
Infants with pneumonia may at times not have any usual symptoms of pneumonia. But some signs which can be seen in them which are as follows:
Increased restlessness,
Crankiness
Tiredness and lack of energy
Poor appetite
Fever
Cough
Vomiting
Important considerations

The symptoms of pneumonia are similar to other types of chest infections or flu. This is why it is important to get a proper diagnosis from a doctor.

People with poor immunity must see a doctor immediately if they experience a persistent cough or fever. A weakened or sluggish immune system can be a result of any underlying medical problem. But it can also result from certain medications or chemotherapy.

There is an increased risk of complications from pneumonia to older people who suffer from any lung or heart problems.

Diagnosis of Pneumonia
Once any of the symptoms of pneumonia appear, it is vital to seek treatment without delay.

Diagnosis of pneumonia begins with a physical exam. This may include the doctor examining the lungs with a stethoscope to check for any abnormal sounds. The doctor may also ask about the patient’s medical history.
Based on the symptoms and the initial exam, the next diagnostic steps may include several tests. The actual tests may vary depending on the age of the patient and the severity of the symptoms.

A chest X-ray can confirm the diagnosis of pneumonia, but it cannot identify the type of germs that caused the infection.
Blood tests can not only confirm pneumonia but in most cases, can also reveal the germ type that caused the infection.
A sputum (fluid inside the lungs) test can help to identify the cause of pneumonia.
A pulse oximetry test checks levels of oxygen in the blood. This is done as pneumonia can hinder the movement of oxygen from the lungs to the bloodstream.
The doctor may order a CT scan in case of any severe symptoms of pneumonia or if the condition of the patient doesn’t improve with initial treatment.

Treatment of Pneumonia
Pneumonia can be treated in a number of ways and it all depends on the severity of the symptoms.

The doctor may prescribe antibiotics, fever reducers, pain relievers and cough medications. Hospitalization may be necessary if the symptoms of pneumonia become severe or do not improve over time. Pneumonia is treatable, but timely intervention is crucial. Even when the symptoms are mild, it is vital to seek a proper diagnosis to rule out any health complication from the infection.

Related Reading

Tips for Buying the Best Dog Food

Most of the dogs do not have a food fuss and may eat almost anything that you feed them. Dogs are not choosy at all when it comes to food and nutrition. Hence, it is important to make sure that the food that you are purchasing for your dog is healthy. The landscape of dog food has been developing by leaps and bounds in recent times. There is a wide variety of options to choose from in the online and offline market. Given the wide range of options that are available today, buying the best dog food might seem to be a confusing task indeed. All the commercial pet food that is available in the market today is regulated by the FDA. Therefore, most of the products do contain nutritious, healthy, and safe ingredients. But it does help to know certain basic factors you should look for while buying food for your dog. Prioritize on the nutritional guarantee The best dog food, which meets the dog’s needs adequately has a statement written on the label of the product, from the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Buy from some of the best dog food brands, such as Fromm Family Foods, Earthborn Holistic, Nature’s Variety Instinct, and The Honest Kitchen.

Different Types of Kitchen Cabinets Available for Your Home

The most important aspect when designing your kitchen is deciding on the type of cabinets. In addition to functionality, kitchen cabinets score on aesthetics as well. Once the layout is planned, you can go ahead with choosing the cabinets. If you’re remodeling your home or just the kitchen, what you need to consider are the types of cabinets that furnish your kitchen. Here are a few types of kitchen cabinets that you can choose from. Base cabinets These kitchen cabinets are mounted on the floor and they are placed after checking out the floor plan. A major part of your job in the kitchen is on these base cabinets, which hold and support the countertops. These base cabinets are combined to carve out kitchen islands. A number of base cabinets are fused/set against one another and installed on site. The base cabinets, in addition to supporting the countertops, serve as drawers to hold your cutlery and appliances. Wall cabinets Mounted on the walls, these cabinets can store everything, right from your cookware to cookbooks. In terms of design, they offer utmost flexibility. Wall cabinet kitchen is available in varying heights, multiple widths, and custom depth options. This customization helps you to fit in your stuff of varying shapes and sizes into the wall cabinets.

How to Pick the Right Dog Food for a Sensitive Stomach

In today’s world, where you are presented with over a dozen choices for every item you would purchase for your own kitchen, it is not surprising that you have an equal number of options for your dog’s food. However, choosing the perfect brand and formula for your dog out of a range of options in the market is not an easy job. Your pet depends on you and trusts you to make the right choice for them. Therefore, it is imperative that you do your research about the products available in the market, understand what your dog needs, know what might be your pet’s problems, and then make a sound decision. What is a sensitive stomach? Dogs are known to have voracious and large appetites. Keeping that in mind, it is normal to assume that they have strong stomachs. They can eat close to anything be it sweets, bakes, chewy gum, hard leather or even woolen socks for that matter! It always so happens that the strongest of them are prone to allergies and can develop a disorder which is medically translated as a sensitive stomach. This might be due to a sudden change in the food habits or even due an infection picked up from somewhere.

All You Need to Know about Cat Food

For cat owners, cat food is a hot topic. You need to think about it in different aspects. The best thing is to know which ingredients are good for cat food and which are harmful. If you are aware of this, you can get an idea about the quality of the cat food just by going through the label. It is always sensible to stick to one brand of cat food. However, you may also want to try and prepare cat food yourself. There are also various options for wet cat food as well. Cat’s love for fish is universal, so you can do without going for expensive cat food. Nevertheless, whether you buy it or prepare cat food at home, you need to ensure that the food contains enough nutrition and calories. You would need to have some idea about the ingredients that must be present in cat food and make a worthy selection for your cat. Basic ingredients present in good cat foods Cats need a variety of nutrients to stay healthy and active; they need various vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, and oils. The following is a brief explanation of the basic ingredients that should be present in cat foods.