Five Things You Should Know From World Pneumonia Day

World Pneumonia Day held on November 12th, was established in order to generate awareness of pneumonia and the increased need for prevention and treatment of it, especially in a post-COVID19 world. Most people who contract COVID19 will have mild or middling symptoms like a bad cough, some fever and shortness of breath. But many people… too many people who contract the virus are coming down with COVID-19 Pneumonia, a serious illness which can, and has proven lethal for many. Senior citizens and those with pre-existing respiratory disorders most of all.

Pneumonia is a lung infection which causes the tiny air sacs or alveoli within the lungs to become inflamed. The can fill up with so much fluid and pus that it becomes difficult or impossible to breathe unassisted. It causes severe shortness of breath, a deep, unproductive cough, fever, chest pain, chills and massive fatigue.

Even outside of COVID the facts on pneumococcal pneumonia are crazy on their own.

• Pneumococcal disease can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis, and is a common and serious complication of flu
• Pneumococcal meningitis can cause lifelong complications such as hearing loss, seizures, blindness, and paralysis
• Sepsis is common among patients hospitalized with pneumococcal pneumonia

Patients can either contract pneumonia as a complication of a viral infection like COVID or influenza, even the common cold. But bacterial pneumonia and even a fungal infection causing it are also quite common. Pneumonia’s connection to COVID has been documented from the very beginning of the outbreak, to the extent that the infection was originally called “novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia (NCIP)” before being re-catalogued as COVID-19, or for coronavirus disease 2019.

Five key facts about Pneumonia from to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases are:

1. Pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of serious illness throughout the world. In the US, nearly 1 million adults get pneumococcal pneumonia each year, up to 400,000 hospitalizations occur from pneumococcal pneumonia, and more than 20,000 of those hospitalized will die. The death rate is even higher for adults age 65 years and older.
2. Pneumococcal disease is caused by a common type of bacteria, Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) or pneumococcus, which can attack different parts of the body. The bacteria can spread through droplets in the air when a person with the infection coughs or sneezes.
3. Pneumococcal disease can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis (bloodstream infection), which can lead to severe complications.
4. Pneumococcal disease can strike quickly and without warning. Depending on whether the infection causes pneumonia, sepsis, or meningitis, individuals may experience some combination of the following: very sudden onset of high fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, stiff neck, and disorientation. Symptoms may be less specific in older adults, who may experience confusion or lack of alertness.
5. There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines currently recommended in the US: pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23).

Treating Pneumonia

The American Lung Association is one of the foremost resources on all respiratory illnesses and they had a few key recommendations on how to manage pneumonia symptoms while you’re being treated by your doctor.

• Control your fever with aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen), or acetaminophen. DO NOT give aspirin to children.
• Drink plenty of fluids to help loosen secretions and bring up phlegm.
• Do not take cough medicines without first talking to your doctor. Coughing is one way your body works to get rid of an infection. If your cough is preventing you from getting the rest you need, ask your doctor about steps you can take to get relief.
• Drink warm beverages, take steamy baths and use a humidifier to help open your airways and ease your breathing. Contact your doctor right away if your breathing gets worse instead of better over time.
• Stay away from smoke to let your lungs heal. This includes smoking, secondhand smoke and wood smoke. Talk to your doctor if you are a smoker and are having trouble staying smokefree while you recover. This would be a good time to think about quitting for good.
• Get lots of rest. You may need to stay in bed for a while. Get as much help as you can with meal preparation and household chores until you are feeling stronger. It is important not to overdo daily activities until you are fully recovered.

Some patients may take weeks or even months to fully recover from an episode of pneumonia. One of the most important take-aways is not to rush this process. Many people continue to feel fatigue for months after other symptoms start to fade and rest is one of the most important factors in a successful recovery. Limiting contact with family and friends is critical to, especially in the post-COVID pandemic world. Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, and wash your hands frequently.