Pneumonia And Back Pain
Back pain can be one of the symptoms of pneumonia. This article will provide detailed information on the relation between the two.
Back pain can be one of the symptoms of pneumonia. This article will provide detailed information on the relation between the two.
Pneumonia is a respiratory disease. In most of the cases, it is caused by bacteria known as Streptococcus pneumoniae. Cold, high fever, chest pain, chills, etc., are the prominent signs and symptoms of this disease. But, did you know that pneumonia can be one of the reasons for back pain? Let us take a look.
Can Pneumonia Cause Back Pain
Back pain is usually observed in case of bacterial pneumonia. Most of the time, it is observed that chest and back pain aggravates with breathing. When the person breathes deeply, he experiences pain in the back and in the lower chest. Therefore, if a person complains of back pain that worsens while breathing, chances of pneumonia cannot be ruled out.
But, not all cases of back pain are caused by pneumonia. Similarly, not all cases of pneumonia cause back pain. When suffering from pneumonia, many other symptoms are also observed. Here is detailed information about pneumonia that will be helpful in knowing more about the disease.
SymptomsCommon signs and symptoms of pneumonia, like cold, fever, chills, and cough, etc., are similar to that of influenza or flu. The following symptoms are also observed.
- Shortness of breath
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
How Do You Treat Pneumonia
Treatment for pneumonia depends on the cause. If pneumonia is caused bya bacterial infection, antibiotics will be prescribed to kill the harmfulbacteria. If pneumonia is caused by a viral infection, time and restare best for recovery. Fever reducing medications and cough medicationscan help relieve symptoms and aid sleep.
When To Worry About Chest Pain
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- When to Worry About Chest Pain
Sometimes chest pain is just chest pain. Sometimes it’s only a muscle strain, heartburn or bronchitis. More often than not there are benign reasons, but you should be evaluated by a healthcare professional if you’re worried.
Chest pain can signal a serious condition, heart-related or otherwise. Here’s when you should call a healthcare provider if you’re having chest pain.
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What Are The Treatments For Pneumonia
Treatment for pneumonia depends on the type of pneumonia, which germ is causing it, and how severe it is:
- Antibiotics treat bacterial pneumonia and some types of fungal pneumonia. They do not work for viral pneumonia.
- In some cases, your provider may prescribe antiviral medicines for viral pneumonia
- Antifungal medicines treat other types of fungal pneumonia
You may need to be treated in a hospital if your symptoms are severe or if you are at risk for complications. While there, you may get additional treatments. For example, if your blood oxygen level is low, you may receive oxygen therapy.
It may take time to recover from pneumonia. Some people feel better within a week. For other people, it can take a month or more.
Covid Can Damage Your Lungs To A Great Extent Thus Taking Care Of This Organ Post
Written by Satata Karmakar | Updated : January 3, 2022 4:51 PM IST
Pneumonia, a common lung infection that can affect one or both the lungs and lead to inflammation in the air sacs called alveoli, is one of the most common symptoms of deadly coronavirus infection. COVID-19 causing SARS-CoV2 virus was first identified in China’s Wuhan in 2019, ever since then in the last two years, the virus has mutated and formed several virulent strains which mainly target the lungs. While some people experience only mild to moderate symptoms of the infection, others can end up fighting long-term health issues from the virus. Experts have also stated that the risk of developing a lung infection is higher among those who are infected or have recovered from COVID-19. With the arrival of another contagious strain Omicron, let’s know from the experts the various warning symptoms that the lungs of a COVID recovered patient may show to indicate pneumonia.
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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.
How Bad Does Pneumonia Have To Be To Be Hospitalized
Pneumonia can be life-threatening if left untreated, especially for certain at-risk people. You should call your doctor if you have a cough that wont go away, shortness of breath, chest pain, or a fever. You should also call your doctor if you suddenly begin to feel worse after having a cold or the flu.
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Treatment Options For Pneumonia Chest Pain
If you have chest pain from pneumonia, then you will need to see a physician as soon as possible. Antibiotics can be used to treat pneumonia that is caused by a bacteria. There are several antibiotics that can be used. If one does not work, then your doctor may recommend a different type.
Because coughing is one of the main symptoms of pneumonia, your doctor may recommend that you take a cough medication. The medication not only suppresses the urge to cough, but it can also loosen the fluid in the lungs. If you have a fever, then you may be prescribed a fever-reducing medication.
Most people get over pneumonia without complications. However, others require hospitalization. If you are over the age of 65 and have a chronic medical condition, then you may need to be hospitalized. Patients who have a rapid or slow heart rate, breathing problems and low blood pressure may also be hospitalized.
When Should You See A Doctor
If you suspect you have the symptoms of pneumonia, you should seek immediate medical assistance, especially if you have chest pain after pneumonia. You need to understand that pneumonia is a serious illness and can cause serious complications when left untreated for long enough. It can have life-threatening complications in people older than 65 years. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have the following symptoms:
- Cough with phlegm and high fever
- Shortness of breathing o other breathing difficulties
- Severe chest pain
- Feeling confused, tired and irritated
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Common Symptoms For These People *:
* Approximation only. Some reports may have incomplete information.
How Is Pneumonia Diagnosed
Sometimes pneumonia can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are so variable, and are often very similar to those seen in a cold or influenza. To diagnose pneumonia, and to try to identify the germ that is causing the illness, your doctor will ask questions about your medical history, do a physical exam, and run some tests.
Medical history
Your doctor will ask you questions about your signs and symptoms, and how and when they began. To help figure out if your infection is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, you may be asked some questions about possible exposures, such as:
- Any recent travel
- Exposure to other sick people at home, work or school
- Whether you have recently had another illness
Physical exam
Your doctor will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope. If you have pneumonia, your lungs may make crackling, bubbling, and rumbling sounds when you inhale.
Diagnostic Tests
If your doctor suspects you may have pneumonia, they will probably recommend some tests to confirm the diagnosis and learn more about your infection. These may include:
- Blood tests to confirm the infection and to try to identify the germ that is causing your illness.
- Chest X-ray to look for the location and extent of inflammation in your lungs.
- Pulse oximetry to measure the oxygen level in your blood. Pneumonia can prevent your lungs from moving enough oxygen into your bloodstream.
- Sputum test on a sample of mucus taken after a deep cough, to look for the source of the infection.
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How Can You Prevent Pneumonia
- If you smoke, try to quitsmoke damages the natural defenses in your lungs that protect you from infections
- Ask your health-care provider about getting the pneumococcal vaccination
- Get the flu vaccination each yearsince pneumonia can be a complication of getting the flu, the flu vaccine helps reduce the risk of both the flu and pneumonia
- Wash your hands regularlywhen soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
- Stay away from people who are sick
- If you have an underlying condition that increases your risk of pneumonia , make sure its kept under control
- If you are at a higher risk from pneumonia and you get a cough, fever or shortness of breath, see your health-care provider right away.
- Regular exercise, adequate sleep and a healthy diet can strengthen your immune system.
Treatment For Chest Infections
Most people with bronchitis can be treated at home and make a full recovery. Assessment of the severity of pneumonia is complex. Some patients can be managed at home on simple antibiotics. Those assessed as severe may require admission to the intensive care unit and their illness may be life threatening.Treatment options include:
- Your doctor will advise you about any medications you need to get over this attack.
- Some people need to be admitted to hospital for further treatment, particularly young children and the elderly who are at greater risk of serious complications.
- Review with your local doctor may be needed within 48 hours, especially if you are not improving, and again in six weeks to make sure that you have made a full recovery. A chest x-ray may be needed at this time.
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Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
Chest pain associated with COPD: tightness in the chest, often worse with exertion
COPD refers to a few different conditions in which your airways become inflamed, restricting the flow of air in and out of your lungs. The two main examples are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Symptoms of COPD include:
- chest tightness
Physical activity makes most COPD symptoms worse.
Seek immediate medical help if you have chest tightness and difficulty breathing.
Warning Signs Your Lungs Are Trying To Give You Post
Your lungs can give you some signs which may signal that something is wrong within your body. Especially when it comes to pneumonia, there are certain signs which may help you spot the condition fast and start the treatment before it is too late for you to save your lungs. According to the experts, the onset of pneumonia can be quite sudden, as in without any prior signals. This is why it is important for you to track the actions of your lungs and understand the abnormalities going on inside your system. COVID-19 wrecks havoc on the lungs, and these conditions thereafter can lead to symptoms such as a phlegm-producing cough. Check out for these subtle, yet warning symptoms of pneumonia post-COVID recovery.
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How Is Pneumonia Spread From Person To Person
Pneumonia is spread when droplets of fluid containing the pneumonia bacteria or virus are launched in the air when someone coughs or sneezes and then inhaled by others. You can also get pneumonia from touching an object previously touched by the person with pneumonia or touching a tissue used by the infected person and then touching your mouth or nose.
Symptoms Of Pain In The Lungs After Pneumonia
Patients are troubled by seizures that occur when inhaled and manifest as minor tingling, or acute attacks. These attacks can sometimes be accompanied by shortness of breath and palpitations. In this case, the degree of pain, depends on the severity of the disease, the speed and quality of its treatment.
The symptoms listed above most often indicate the presence of an adhesion process in the body.
Spikes are a pathological fusion of organs. Spikes are formed as a result of chronic infectious pathologies, as well as mechanical injuries or internal bleeding.
In a patient with pneumonia, adhesions can occur between the pleura sheets, one of which lining the lungs and the other the thorax. When inflammation of the pleura or the flow of inflammation from the lungs to the pleura, the fibrin is released, gluing the pleura to each other. The area of the glued leaflets of the pleura is called spike.
Spikes are divided into two types single and multiple. In critical cases, they envelop the pleura whole, causing its displacement and deformation and thus making breathing difficult. This pathology has a very severe course, sometimes aggravated by acute respiratory failure. Limited mobility of respiratory organs, frequent acute attacks of pain during breathing, the presence of mechanical obstruction require immediate surgical intervention.
Doctors detect the presence of adhesions in the lung area by X-ray examination of the chest, CT or MRI of the thoracic cavity.
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What May Be Advised To Help Manage The Problem
This will depend on the cause that is found for your chest pain. Follow the links above to the separate leaflets for more information about the treatment for the different causes.
If the problem is not an emergency, your doctor may refer you to a consultant for further specialist investigations, as described above.
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How Can I Help My Child Feel Better
Your child should drink fluids throughout the day, especially if he or she has a fever. Ask the doctor before you use a medicine to treat a cough. Cough suppressants stop the lungs from clearing mucus, which might not be helpful for lung infections like walking pneumonia.
If your child has chest pain, try placing a heating pad or warm compress on the area. Take your child’s temperature at least once each morning and each evening. Call the doctor if it goes above 102°F in an older infant or child, or above 100.4°F in an infant under 6 months of age.
With treatment, most types of bacterial pneumonia go away within 1 to 2 weeks. Coughing can take up to 4 to 6 weeks to stop.
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Key Points About Pneumonia
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Pneumonia is an infection of one or both of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
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There are more than 30 different causes of pneumonia, and theyre grouped by the cause. The main types of pneumonia are bacterial, viral, and mycoplasma pneumonia.
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A cough that produces green, yellow, or bloody mucus is the most common symptom of pneumonia. Other symptoms include fever, shaking chills, shortness of breath, low energy, and extreme tiredness.
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Pneumonia can often be diagnosed with a thorough history and physical exam. Tests used to look at the lungs, blood tests, and tests done on the sputum you cough up may also be used.
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Treatment depends on the type of pneumonia you have. Antibiotics are used for bacterial pneumonia. It may also speed recovery from mycoplasma pneumonia and some special cases. Most viral pneumonias dont have a specific treatment and just get better on their own. Other treatment may include a healthy diet, more fluids, rest, oxygen therapy, and medicine for pain, cough, and fever control.
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Most people with pneumonia respond well to treatment, but pneumonia can cause serious lung and infection problems. It can even be deadly.
Bacteremia And Septic Shock
If bacteria caused your pneumonia, they could get into your blood, especially if you didnt see a doctor for treatment. Its a problem called bacteremia.
Bacteremia can lead to a serious situation known as . Its a reaction to the infection in your blood, and it can cause your blood pressure to drop to a dangerous level.
When your blood pressure is too low, your heart may not be able to pump enough blood to your organs, and they can stop working. Get medical help right away if you notice symptoms like:
Your doctor can test your mucus or the pus in your lungs to look for infection. They may also take an X-ray or a CT scan of your lungs.
Your doctor will likely treat your lung abscesses with antibiotics. They may do a procedure that uses a needle to remove the pus.
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Help Prevent The Spread Of Infections:
- Sneeze and cough into a tissue then throw it away right after use and wash your hands. If you dont have a tissue, sneeze and cough into your sleeve.
- If you have a cold or the flu, stay home from work, school and public places
- Regularly clean common areas of your home
The signs and symptoms of pneumonia vary depending on your age and what type of pneumonia you have. Symptoms can range from mild to very severe. The most common symptoms of pneumonia:
- Fever
- Feeling very tired and unwell
- Chest pain
If you have any of these symptoms its important to see your health-care provider right away. Since symptoms can vary depending on your age, see your health-care provider if you notice any health-related changes.
If you have a chronic condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, you may also notice a worsening of your condition.
Your health-care provider may suspect pneumonia after asking you what symptoms you have and for how long youve had them. A physical exam, including listening to your lungs with a stethoscope for abnormal sounds, can help with the diagnosis.
If your health-care provider suspects you may have pneumonia, the following tests can help confirm the diagnosis:
Your health-care provider may send you for other tests if required.
If you have any regular symptoms, see your health-care provider to be assessed as soon as possible.