The detrimental effect of pneumonia and its mechanism of action

Pneumonia is a disease that affects both the adult and children. This disease has happened to claim a lot of life more especially in children. People who suffers from this disease finds it difficult to breath when undergoing their daily activities.

This disease can be caused either by virus, bacteria or fungi infection, and it has happened to be among the highest killer in children.

According to research,

Pneumonia accounts for 14% of all deaths of children under 5 years old, killing 740 180 children in 2019

Pneumonia caused as a result of bacteria infection can easily be treated with the help of antibiotics but may not actually be easy when it is caused by viral infection.

Normal lungs of human contains air in the air sac. For a person who is infected with pneumonia, the air is replaced with fluid or pus therefore making it difficult to breath.

Pneumonia can be caused by different bacterias or viruses, some of these bacteria and virus includes

Streptococcus pneumoniae

This is regarded as the most common cause of malaria in children

Haemophilus influenzae type b

This is the second most cause of pneumonia in children after streptococcus pneumoniae.

Then for virus, respiratory syncytial virus is the most common cause of pneumonia.
This disease can as well be classified base on the area or where it affects.

Nosocomial pneumonia

This is also known as hospital acquired pneumonia. This is a type of pneumonia gotten during your stay in the hospital. This type of pneumonia can be very serious more than other types as the bacteria involve may be resistant to antibiotics.

community acquired pneumonia

This is the type acquired outside the hospital. This type of pneumonia may be gotten from house or any vicinity around your home.

Another type of pneumonia that we have is the one called ventilator associated pneumonia. This type of pneumonia happens due to the use of any equipment capable of ventilating your home. These includes fan and air conditioner.

Haven known how this disease is being classified, it will also be good enough to understand how this disease gets to our lungs.

mechanism of action

For pneumonia to affect someone it will first start from the upper respiratory tract down to the lower respiratory tract. At the upper stage the normal Flora protects the body by fighting against any invaded microbes that may probably want to find it's way to the lungs.

At the lower respiratory tract, there is always a secretion of cytokines by the neutrophils which results to an activation of the immune system against any microbes. Some of this bacteria may seems so powerful by dominating the body self protection. When this happens the bacteria finds it way down to the lower respiratory tract where it result to inflammation of the lungs.

During this stage, the lungs which is supposed to be filled with air are now being occupied by pus and fluid making it difficult for the person to breath efficiently. At this point treatment should be followed immediately as the lungs is now being infected.

Diagnosis

Pneumonia can be diagnosed base on the physical signs and some other examination like chest x-ray.

For adult, pneumonia can be diagnosed by checking the vital signs of the individual. There is very low chances of getting pneumonia if vital signs and auscultation are all normal.

Also, the C reactive protein should also be checked, as a person with C reactive value less than 20mg/L have a lesser chances of getting infected.

Procalcitonin level is another important way where by you can determine if someone has pneumonia or not. A procalcitonin level of 0.25ug/L or above is simply an indication that the person has pneumonia and simply needs antibiotics.
Any procalcitonin lesser than that should not be considered pneumonia.

children

The World Health Organization has defined pneumonia in children clinically based on either a cough or difficulty breathing and a rapid respiratory rate, chest indrawing, or a decreased level of consciousness

The above signs in children simply indicates a possible sign of pneumonia. Also lack of wheezing can also be referred as a child having Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Conclusion

Pneumonia can be very detrimental if not treated on time. Most people who died as a result of this ailment have little or no idea how you can get infected.

This disease can be more serious if found in children and demands adequate treatment.
I believe that in this article we can at least be able to know how we kind find out if we are infected or not.