Pneumonia , SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT

Danger of pneumonia
We often underestimate the health situation , especially if we rarely get sick . Until awakened by the most common pneumococcal disease pneumonia or inflammation of the lungs. Disease infection in the lungs makes sufferer plagued feel lethargic all the time , inactivity , unhealthy , painful to breathe and most troublesome difficulty breathing.

The fact is, you do not have to be heavy smokers or drinking ( drink heavily ) to get pneumonia , because it can strike anyone , especially high-risk elderly .

Pneumococcal disease is a group of complex caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumonia. These bacteria cause serious infections such as bacteremia / sepsis (bacteria in the blood ) , meningitis ( inflammation of the membrane surrounding the spinal cord or brain ) , pneumonia ( pneumonia ) and otitis media ( ear infection ) .

The World Health Organization (WHO ) estimates that pneumococcal disease kills at about 700,000 to one million children under five years of age . The elderly are not immune to this disease threat because they are the hardest hit by pneumonia each year .

Increasing human age and co - morbidity among the major factors of invasive pneumococcal disease and non-invasive , including pneumonia .

Still less can the attention
Director of the Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Kuala Lumpur , Datuk Dr Abdul Razak Mutallif , explaining Asia recorded the highest cases of pneumococcal disease , including the burden of invasive and non-invasive disease in the world with half of the cases of pneumococcal disease occur in Asia alone .

"While somewhat alarming , the disease still remains less attention . Therefore important to raise awareness of the impact of this disease and encourage everyone to help ensure that Malaysians live free from pneumonia , " he said Sunday BH recently .

Influenza and pneumonia make third killer behind coronary heart disease and stroke in Malaysia . Men 's long age also causes them to face the risk of pneumococcal disease for a longer period .

United Nations (UN ) reports the number of senior citizens (aged 60 years and under ) in Asia will increase from 9.9 percent in 2010 to 23 percent in 2050 , thus emphasizing the importance of preventing pneumonia in the elderly .

Total aged 65 years and below are expected to rise more than 250 percent in many developing countries including the Philippines , Malaysia , India and Bangladesh .

polysaccharide vaccination

The best way to prevent any pneumococcal disease is through vaccination . Pneumococcal vaccine is available in two types are known as conjugate polysaccharide vaccine and vaccine .

Polysaccharide vaccine is used for conjugate vaccine for adults and children.

Polysaccharide vaccine called Prevenar 13 is recommended for adults aged 50 years and older in preventing invasive pneumococcal vaccination . Prevenar 13 conjugate technology that links pneumococcal polysaccharide sugar chains found on the surface of each bacterial serotaip with carrier proteins .

Adult immunization vaccine is launched for the first time in Columbia on April 18, 2011. It is now widely used in 52 countries including the United States, Mexico , Australia , Colombia , Thailand , Philippines and Malaysia

INFO

* According to the United Nations (UN ) , the number of senior citizens (aged 60 years) in Asia will increase from 9.9 percent in 2010 to 23 percent in 2050

- Disease lung infection is danger at all ages, including children under five years old , seniors 50 and over and those with health problems such as congestive heart disease , diabetes and chronic lung disease .

- Easier suffered during cold weather

High-risk groups :

- 50 years old

- Smokers

- Poor nutrition due to health problems or lack of food

- Having problems existing lung including cystic fibrosis, asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( emphysema )

- Having other health problems including diabetes or heart disease

- Weakened immune system due to HIV , organ transplant , chemotherapy or chronic steroid use

- Having difficulty coughing due to stroke, drug or alcohol

- Ever experienced upper respiratory tract infections including influenza

Easily tired , tired , cough lasting

" There's fluid in LUNG cause he was hospitalized for more than two weeks and I might not willing to go through again, " said Rahim Ibrahim's confession ( not her real name ) .

Becoming a smoker since the age teenager again, no real cause for concern Rahim , 65, was due to retire from the military since he never had a serious illness .

" Once in a while there is also fever , cough and colds , but more than that , thank God no , " he said.

Difficulty in breathing

Living the father of four, was changed 360 degrees after celebrating the 60th anniversary of when suffering from cold and cough that lasts more than a week .

" Rarely is very sick so long , but that's the cause of how my lungs until eventually infected in the hospital . Imagine , a cough that usually come and go not just drag rather painful , " he said.

Rahim complained of difficulty in breathing. In fact , to even breathe because chest pain always feels narrow , easily fatigued and tired . Treatment and recovery process from pneumonia quite slow because antibiotics may be given for age and immune system weakening .

Once discharged from the hospital , he advised more rest , stop smoking , drink plenty of water , good hygiene and taking medication on schedule. What is very worrying Rahim exposed to the danger of pneumonia.

vaccination

According to the doctor , he can reduce the risk of pneumonia by avoiding those cold, cough and fever , hygiene such as washing hands often .

" But recently a doctor who performs routine health examination suggested I get a pneumonia vaccine immunization latest as a preventive measure .

He added that although the vaccine did not reduce the number of cases of pneumonia , at least it was able to prevent any serious illness , in the hospital and even death.

" What is important , the health care situation can change our destiny , " he said, grateful for the opportunity to see three grandchildren still growing .