What is Pneumonia? Symptoms and Treatment

In these days when the coronavirus pandemic shows no signs of slowing down, the approach of autumn raises concerns among experts about the possibility of an increase in flu and pneumonia cases alongside COVID-19 infections. Scientists emphasize the importance of vaccination to prevent the addition of flu and pneumonia outbreaks to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly highlighting the pneumonia vaccine. So, who should get the pneumonia vaccine? Does this vaccine also protect against coronavirus? Dr. Esra Sönmez, a Pulmonologist at Anadolu Health Center, states that pneumonia and related diseases cause approximately 2 million adult deaths worldwide each year and answers frequently asked questions about pneumonia and the pneumonia vaccine...

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia, or its medical name "pneumonia," is defined as a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, and, rarely, parasites. This infection in the lungs occurs due to the accumulation of inflammatory cells in the alveoli, which are small air-filled sacs in the lungs. Alveoli filled with inflammatory material cannot perform their respiratory functions. As a result, in severe cases of pneumonia, the patient may develop respiratory failure.

How is Pneumonia (Pnömoni) Transmitted?

The transmission of the disease to healthy individuals occurs through the direct inhalation of droplets released into the air during coughing, sneezing, or talking by infected individuals. Crowded places, enclosed areas, schools, military facilities, and dormitories where people live in groups are locations with a high probability of pneumonia transmission. There is a common belief among the public that pneumonia is caused by getting a cold; however, pneumonia can also occur in the summer months. Getting a cold can temporarily weaken our immune system, increasing the likelihood of developing pneumonia by making us susceptible to infections. However, pneumonia cannot be contracted simply by getting a cold without exposure to the infectious agent, whether it be a virus or bacteria.

What Are the Risk Factors for Pneumonia (Pnömoni)?

Some factors that can be listed as risk factors for pneumonia include advanced age, smoking, the presence of chronic heart or lung diseases, substance abuse, altered consciousness, and certain neurological diseases that impair the cough reflex, as well as foreign body aspiration and exposure to harmful gases.

What Are the Symptoms of Pneumonia (Pnömoni)?

In typical pneumonia patients, symptoms begin abruptly and loudly. The first noticeable symptoms are usually chills, shivering, a sudden rise in fever, cough, purulent sputum, and chest pain triggered by breathing. If left untreated, the rapid progression of pneumonia can lead the patient to respiratory failure within the first 48-72 hours. In atypical pneumonias, symptoms start more subtly. After fever, fatigue, and headache, a dry cough and/or light-colored sputum may occur. Wheezing and shortness of breath may develop over time. Fatigue, muscle aches, severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may accompany these symptoms.

How is Pneumonia (Pnömoni) Diagnosed?

In patients presenting to the doctor with the complaints mentioned above, the diagnosis is made through a physical examination revealing pathological respiratory sounds, elevated infection markers in the blood, and the presence of pneumonic infiltration on chest X-rays. Sputum cultures, serological tests in blood/urine, nasal and throat swabs, and cultures from intubated patients' airways are used to identify the causative agent and determine drug resistance.

What Is Done in the Treatment of Pneumonia (Pnömoni)?

When treating pneumonia, the decision for hospitalization or home treatment is made considering the patient’s risk factors and factors indicating the severity of pneumonia. Treatment is started without waiting for culture results based on the possible causative agent. Antibiotics form the basis of treatment for bacterial pneumonia, antivirals for viral pneumonia, and antifungals for fungal pneumonia. Timely initiation of appropriate treatment can be life-saving.

Rest, antipyretics, analgesics, cough suppressants, oxygen therapy if respiratory failure has developed, rehydration of fluids lost during the febrile process, and a vitamin-rich high-calorie diet should support treatment.

What Should Be Considered to Prevent Pneumonia (Pnömoni)?

The most important way to prevent pneumonia pathogens, which are transmitted through respiratory droplets, is to reduce close contact with infected individuals and to wear masks. Measures such as maintaining a balanced and regular diet, avoiding smoking, and taking vitamins and minerals regularly have a protective effect against the onset of the disease. It is recommended that individuals in high-risk groups receive vaccinations.

Who Should Get the Pneumonia (Pnömoni) Vaccine?

Healthy individuals aged 2 to 65 do not need to get the pneumonia vaccine. However, those in high-risk groups—such as children under 2 years old, adults over 65, individuals with cardiovascular or chronic lung diseases, diabetics, patients with cirrhosis, those without functioning or removed spleens, individuals with chronic kidney failure, organ transplant recipients, lymphoma/multiple myeloma patients, cancer patients, those undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, AIDS patients, and individuals living in nursing homes—should receive the pneumonia vaccine.

Does the Pneumonia (Pnömoni) Vaccine Protect Against COVID-19?

No, the pneumonia vaccine does not provide protection against COVID-19. Studies conducted to identify secondary bacterial infection agents that develop during COVID-19 infection have shown that these agents are hospital-acquired bacteria. Therefore, vaccines against pneumococci, which are the most common pathogens acquired from the community, do not protect against bacterial infections that develop during the course of COVID-19 infection.

During the pandemic, the pneumonia vaccine is not recommended for individuals who do not have the medical and risky conditions mentioned above. This means that individuals who are not in high-risk groups do not need to receive the pneumonia vaccine during the pandemic.

Are There Side Effects of the Pneumonia (Pnömoni) Vaccine?

The pneumonia vaccine is recommended to be administered in healthcare institutions due to the risk of allergic reactions. Local side effects associated with the vaccine may include pain at the injection site, swelling in the injected limb, fever, tenderness at the injection site, redness, a sensation of heat, swelling, and hardening. The vaccine should not be administered to individuals known to be allergic to any of the active or auxiliary substances in the vaccine.