Caring For A Child Battling Pneumonia
If you think your child has pneumonia, schedule an appointment with their pediatrician promptly. In most cases, pneumonia can be treated at home after your child sees their doctor, but in more serious cases children require hospitalization.
Tips for caring for your child at home:
I hope this information is helpful. Remember, pneumonia prevention is key and that involves your family staying healthy. Remind your child to wash their hands frequently and practice good hygiene, keep them away from those that are sick, feed them healthy and nutritious food and make sure they get vaccinated. I always think that parent instincts are spot-on, so if you are worried that your child may have pneumonia, make sure they are evaluated promptly by the pediatrician.
How To Prevent Pneumonia
Preventive measures can be taken to avoid pneumonia. These preventive measures can also be taught to underprivileged and high-risk group people as steps towards reducing the incidence of pneumonia.
Q What Are Some Additional Natural Changes That Can Boost The Recovery Process
A. A number of at-home products contain compounds that may help boost the healing process like garlic, raw honey, cayenne pepper, tea tree oil and echinacea. Other things that should be changed in the lifestyle are being hydrated , regular steaming, at least 10-12 hours of sleep per day when sick, sitting in a well-ventilated room and eating only healthy food.
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What Is The Survival Rate For Elderly That Have Pneumonia
According to the Centers for Disease Control around a million people in the United States go to the doctor or an emergency room for treatment of pneumonia. Of those who seek treatment, 50,000 die each year.
With community-acquired pneumonia 10 percent who are admitted are placed in an ICU unit. Even in ICU, the death rate of people with pneumonia can reach 25 percent.
Survival depends on many factors. Age is an important factor and more elderly people succumb to pneumonia than any other adult group. Overall health is another important factor as those with existing health issues face a harder time fighting off pneumonia.
Types Of Walking Pneumonia
Walking pneumonia is one of more than 30 different types of pneumonia. It can be divided into a few different subtypes, including:
Mycoplasma pneumonia
This type of pneumonia tends to be mild, and most people recover without treatment. Its caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are about of M. pneumoniae infections each year in the United States.
Chlamydial pneumonia
This type of walking pneumonia is caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteria. While it can cause a serious infection, most people experience only mild illness or no symptoms whatsoever. Its common among school-age children and young adults.
Legionella pneumonia
Legionnaires disease is one of the most serious types of walking pneumonia, as it can lead to both respiratory failure and death. Its caused by Legionella, a type of bacteria found in freshwater that can contaminate water systems in buildings. People can get this disease if they inhale airborne droplets of water that contain the bacteria.
Walking pneumonia symptoms are typically mild and look like the common cold. People may start noticing signs of walking pneumonia between 1 and 4 weeks of being exposed to the pathogen that caused the disease.
Symptoms of walking pneumonia can include:
- vomiting
- loss of appetite
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How Can Walking Pneumonia Be Prevented
Unfortunately, no vaccines are available to prevent walking pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Even if you have recovered from walking pneumonia, you will not become immune, so it is possible to become infected again in the future.
Tips for preventing walking pneumonia include:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. If a tissue isnt available, sneeze or cough into the inside of your elbow or sleeve. Never sneeze or cough into your hands. Place used tissues into a waste basket.
- Wash your hands often with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Wear a mask around sick people if you have respiratory conditions or other chronic health conditions that would make getting pneumonia even riskier for you.
- Get your annual Influenza shot. Bacterial pneumonia can develop after a case of the flu.
- Ask your doctor about the pneumococcal vaccine. Two types of vaccines are available, Prevnar 13® and Pneumovax 23®. Each vaccine is recommended for people at different age points or who are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease, including pneumonia.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Pneumonia In Children
The signs and symptoms of pneumonia in children vary from child to child and also depend on your childs age, cause of the infection, and severity of their illness.
Usual symptoms include:
- Cry more than usual. Are restless or more fussy.
Adolescents have the same symptoms as adults, including:
- Cough.
- Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath.
- Chest pain.
Newborns are at greater risk of pneumonia caused by bacteria present in the birth canal. In young children, viruses are the main cause of pneumonia.
Pneumonia caused by bacteria tends to happen suddenly, starting with fever and fast breathing. Symptoms appear more slowly and tend to be less severe when pneumonia is caused by viruses.
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What Is The Treatment For Pneumonia
Antibiotic medications are the treatment of choice for pneumonia caused by bacterial and fungal infections. The exact choice of medications depends on many factors, including the following:
- The organism responsible for the infection
- The likelihood that the organism is resistant to certain antibiotics
- The patients underlying health condition
About 80% of cases of CAP can be managed at home with the patient taking oral antibiotics. There are numerous treatment regimens available. Initial treatment is called empiric treatment and is based upon the organisms most likely to be responsible for the illness. Once the exact organism has been identified in the laboratory and susceptibility testing performed to determine which antibiotics are effective, the treatment regimen can be further individualized. Over-the-counterpain and fever-reducing medications may be recommended for some people in addition to antibiotics or antiviral drugs for symptom relief. Do not take cough or cold medications when suffering from pneumonia without a doctors approval.
In around 20% of cases, CAP must be managed in the hospital, typically with intravenous antibiotics initially. HAP care is managed in the hospital, typically with intravenous antibiotics.
Drink A Cup Of Ginger Tea
Ginger has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties in recent research . As with turmeric, current research on ginger hasnt looked at whether it helps specifically with chest pain, but its a harmless, hydrating way to try and soothe the uncomfortable effects of pneumonia.
You can find loose or bagged ginger teas at your local grocery or online. Or, you can use raw ginger to make your own ginger tea.
Your fever may develop suddenly or over the course of a few days. With treatment, it should subside within the week.
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Potential Side Effects Of The Pneumonia Vaccines
Both pneumonia vaccines may have some side effects. These may include:
- redness or swelling at the injection site
- muscle aches
- fever
- chills
Children should not get the pneumonia vaccine and the flu vaccine at the same time. This may increase their risk of having fever-related seizures.
Although pneumonia itself isnt contagious, it can be caused by a variety of infectious organisms like viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Washing your hands is the best way to avoid transferring these organisms into your respiratory system.
When washing your hands, be sure to clean them thoroughly using the following steps:
- Wet your hands with clean preferably running water.
- Apply enough soap to cover all surfaces of your hands and wrists.
- Lather and rub your hands together briskly and thoroughly. Make sure to scrub all surfaces of your hands, fingertips, fingernails, and wrists.
- Scrub your hands and wrists for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse your hands and wrists under clean preferably running water.
- Dry your hands and wrists with a clean towel, or let them air-dry.
- Use a towel to turn off the faucet.
If you dont have access to soap an water, you can also clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
What Are The Symptoms And Risk Factor Of Pneumonia
Some major symptoms of pneumonia include fever, coughing up mucus, diarrhea, vomiting, chest pain, difficulty in breathing, rapid breathing or shortness of breath, tiredness, rapid heartbeats, nausea, loss of appetite and chills. One can cure pneumonia at home in 2 to 3 weeks. However, patients who suffer from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and heart disease should consult their doctors at the first sign of pneumonia.
Pneumonia can affect anyone at any time but is more common in children and the elderly. The latter are prone to suffering from healthcare-associated pneumonia, which spreads as a result of being in a hospital or another health care facility for a long period. Community-acquired pneumonia is common in children, as they go to school or other social places. It is always advisable to seek medical advice, though it can also be treated at home. Listed below are a few home remedies to prevent pneumonia.
Risk factors include:
-
Viruses like hepatitis, measles or HIV
- Smoking cigarettes and having related complications, like emphysema of damaged lung.
- Difficulty in swallowing due to chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease or stroke.
- Living or spending lots of time in unhygienic and tight quarters.Air pollution
-
Recovering from surgery or trauma
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When Would I Need To Be Hospitalized For Pneumonia
If your case of pneumonia is more severe, you may need tostay in the hospital for treatment. Hospital treatments may include:
- Oxygen
- Fluids, antibiotics and other medicines given through an IV
- Breathing treatments and exercises to help loosen mucus
People most likely to be hospitalized are those who are most frail and/or at increased risk, including:
- Babies and young children
- People with weakened immune systems
- People with health conditions that affect the heart and lungs
It may take six to eight weeks to return to a normal level of functioning and well-being if youve been hospitalized with pneumonia.
What Happens If I Get Pneumonia
How your pneumonia is treated will depend on what type you have and how severe your pneumonia is. Pneumonia can affect just one section or lobe of your lungs, or every space of both lungs.
If your pneumonia was caused by a bacterial infection, or fluids that collect after aspiration become infected, antibiotics may be prescribed to you. Fungal pneumonias can also be treated with antifungal medications.
When your pneumonia is caused by a virus, antibiotics and antifungals wont help. For some viruses, like influenza, an antiviral medication may be used. Otherwise, supportive care maybe even in a hospital is the best way to treat viral pneumonia.
Severe cases of pneumonia regardless of what caused it may require treatment with more intense therapies like supplemental oxygen, breathing treatments, or even mechanical ventilation.
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When Can I Return To Work School And Regular Activities If I Have Pneumonia
You typically can resume your normal activities if your symptoms are gone, mild or improving and you do not have new or worsening:
- Shortness of breath or tiredness
- Chest pain
- Mucus, fever or cough
If you are generally healthy, most people feel well enough to return to previous activities in about a week. However, it may take about a month to feel totally back to normal.
When To See A Doctor
Anyone who has difficulty breathing should seek medical help for diagnosis and treatment.
It is essential to follow any medical treatment plan that the doctor recommends and request additional help if the symptoms worsen or do not improve after a few days.
A doctor can also advise on some ways to prevent pneumonia from developing again.
It is not always possible to prevent pneumonia, but some lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of developing it or experiencing severe symptoms.
These include:
- avoiding air pollution, if possible
- managing stress levels and getting enough sleep
- practicing good hand-washing to reduce the risk of infection
- following any instructions the doctor recommends for staying healthy
In the case of COVID-19, experts advise physical distancing from other people to prevent the spread of the virus.
Healthful lifestyle habits can help strengthen the body to fight off infections, including those that lead to pneumonia.
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Garlic Onion Lemon Honey Coconut Oil And Lavender Oil
Garlic kills the viruses, parasites, and bacteria that cause pneumonia. It has allicin, an antiviral and antibacterial agent, which helps to strengthen your immune system to fight against the illness. In addition, it can also reduce phlegm in your lungs. You can eat raw garlic, use it to season the food, or follow the ways below.
Here are 7 useful ways on how to get rid of pneumonia naturally and fast at home.
Way 1: Garlic juice, lemon juice, and honey
Ingredients:
- Honey 1 teaspoon
Directions:
- Firstly, you crush a garlic clove by using a press to take 1 teaspoon of its juice.
- Then, you mix this juice with lemon juice and honey.
- Now, you consume 1 teaspoon of the mixture to relieve pneumonia and its pain.
- You should have this mixture for about 3 times per day on the daily basis.
Way 2: Garlic
- At first, you crush these garlic cloves to take a paste.
- Then, you massage this paste into your chest for about 5 minutes.
- It clears your respiratory tract.
- You should repeat this way daily.
Way 3: Garlic cloves and lavender oil
Ingredients:
- Firstly, you grind these garlic cloves by using a blender to make a thin paste.
- Then, you add lavender oil into it and blend them again.
- Next, you massage this paste into your chest for about 5 minutes.
- Now, you let it absorb into your skin.
- You should repeat this way for about 5 times per day on the daily basis.
Ginger Or Turmeric Tea
A persistent cough can result in chest pain. Drinking warm tea made with fresh ginger or turmeric root may help reduce this pain.
The roots of both of these plants can have a natural anti-inflammatory effect in the body.
Chop up a thumb sized piece of either root and boil it in a pint or so of water. If a person prefers strong tea, they can boil it for longer or add more of the root. If the flavor is too sharp, they can try adding a spoonful of honey.
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Natural Home Remedies For Pneumonia Symptoms In Adults
Pneumonia is commonly known as a respiratory condition which characterized by the inflammation in your lungs which are affected due to a bacterial, parasitical, viral, or fungal infections. In other cases, this condition is also caused by the inhalation of some certain toxic chemicals and the consumption of the unhealthy and contaminated foods. Some common symptoms of pneumonia are a cough, shaking chills, fever, and shortness of breath. In addition, a headache, fatigue, sweating, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, chest pain, and muscle pain when coughing or breathing deeply are also other symptoms of this condition. Older adults who are suffering from pneumonia may also experience delirium or confusion.
In the framework of this writing, AllRemedies.com will introduce to you the best natural home remedies for pneumonia symptoms in adults without any side effect. These home remedies are collected completely & carefully from reliable sources. However, it is not intended to give medical advice and it is solely for the informational purpose. Continue reading this article to understand more!
Note: You must consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis and the treatment of this condition. You should just use these home remedies for pneumonia as an adjunct treatment.
Why Does Recovery Take So Long
Almost everyone who comes down with pneumonia will ask themselves or their healthcare provider at least once, Why does it take so long to recover from pneumonia? After all, you felt better within a few days of starting your antibiotic or, in some cases, steroid treatment. Like everything else in medicine, there are many reasons why it takes so long to recover.
When bacteria enters your body, your body goes into defense mode to remove it. Somewhere along the line, you start your antibiotics, and in a few days, you feel better. This improvement is because the bacteria has been dealt with. However, your body is now in cleanup mode, removing all the debrislike the mucus in your lungs.
Your body starts working overtime to clear out all the trash left behind. Your body is using multiple mechanisms to move the mucus out of your lungs. This movement is why you experience a productive cough.
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Tips To Fight The Infection
While medication is usually the go-to treatment that the doctor will give you to treat pneumonia, theyll also probably make some recommendations on what you can do from home. The following are all common home treatments that you can use to support your body while it fights the infection. Remember, however, that these steps arent replacements for taking your medication or following any other advice from your doctor. Listen to your doctors orders and use these home-care tips for the most effective treatment.