Is pneumonia caused by cold?
Many people believe that pneumonia is caused by cold while others think that it is ‘serious’ cold, and so it is common to hear them say ‘cover yourself or your baby with cloth very well so you don’t get pneumonia’. However, medical experts say pneumonia is not caused by cold. Pneumonia is an infection in […]
Many people believe that pneumonia is caused by cold while others think that it is ‘serious’ cold, and so it is common to hear them say ‘cover yourself or your baby with cloth very well so you don’t get pneumonia’.
However, medical experts say pneumonia is not caused by cold. Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs. It is also one of the major killers of children under-five.
According to a public health expert, Dr Shola Dele-Olowu, pneumonia is not caused by cold but by infectious agents typically bacteria and viruses. Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common bacterial cause of the disease.
She said a possible reason why people may think pneumonia is caused by cold is because some of the symptoms are similar to those of typical upper respiratory tract infections. “She said the disease is most common in children but also affects adults.
Another physician, Dr. Ezie Patrick C. explained that pneumonia is caused by inhalation of bacteria or viruses and this is especially common during the dry and cold seasons. He said the germs infect the lungs, multiply and severely damage the tissues thereby making it unable to perform its normal functions.
Dr. Patrick who is also the publicity secretary, Nigerian Medical Association, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter said this resultant damage in the lungs makes the individual have the following symptoms: Cough, fever, breathlessness, noisy breathing, chest pain and generalized weakness.
“People think that pneumonia is just about cold environment, which is far from the truth. The worst case of pneumonia is in countries that are very hot, for example Nigeria,” said Dr. Francis Ohanyido, another public health expert.
Pneumonia symptoms
•Cough
(You may cough up yellow or greenish mucus, and even bloody mucus for some types of pneumonia)
•Shortness of breath
•Fever, which may be mild or high
•Shaking chills
Others include:
•Excessive sweating and clammy skin
•Sharp chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough
•Headache
•Loss of appetite, low energy, and fatigue
•Confusion, especially in older people
Dr Patrick explained that “Bacterial pneumonia in children is quite age specific meaning that it is probable by knowing the age of a child to predict specifically the type of bacteria that might be implicated in causing the disease.
“In adults, pneumonia can be acquired in the community or iatrogenically acquired from health facilities. The community acquired pneumonia can also be caused by a list of specific bacterias most of which are caused by droplet infection from coughing and sneezing,” he said.
According to the medical experts, pneumonia can be prevented through:
-Improving hygiene, such as washing hands after shaking, practicing good cough etiquettes , that is by using tissues and disposing them appropriately afterwards, and sneezing into your sleeves and not into handkerchiefs , as handkerchiefs can store the germs in your pockets, and ensure continuous re-infection.
-Vaccination of children, adults and the elderly with vaccines targeted at preventing the immunized individuals from being affected by the germs when they come in contact with them. It is important to take children for routine immunization, give them nutritious food, and maintain clean environment.
-Reducing ones exposure to cold which can irritate the lungs and create an easier environment for germs to move in and multiply.
-Cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol intake, use of steroids recurrent influenza infection, pollution and illnesses like HIV also predispose people to pneumonia.
-While breastfeeding is not a preventive measure alone itself, it helps boost a child’s immunity against the disease, says Dr Shola Dele-Olowu and Dr Ohanyido. Early initiation of breastfeeding strengthens a child’s response to the disease because of some protective substances in the breast milk, they said.
Pneumonia is a serious illness and requires prompt attention in the hospital, said Dr Patrick Ezie C. “the goal of the treatment is to identify what is causing the infection; this is done by collecting sputum samples and testing them in the laboratory. Once the germs are identified, a course of broad spectrum antibiotics usually lasting for three weeks depending on the severity are prescribed,” he said.
Other necessary investigations for the diagnosis of pneumonia include: chest x-ray, bronchoscopy, and blood tests among others.
Dr Patrick advised the public to note that pneumonia is diagnosed by doctors. He warned against the habit of frequently visiting road side chemists. “This can lead to mortality as many people have died from self-treatment assuming that it’s just a common cold. Also early presentation in the hospital reduces the deaths that arise from complicated cases of pneumonia,’ he advised.