Pope Francis has passed away at 88 due to complications arising from bilateral or double pneumonia, a condition when air sacs in both your lungs fill with fluid or pus. This is triggered mostly by a virus but can be caused by bacteria and fungus too.
It is considered severe because the condition worsens very quickly while the symptoms might seem manageable in the beginning. “Sometimes the most common viral infections can result in such pneumonia. That’s because it causes diffuse inflammation, which means the inflammation is widespread, affecting a larger area or the organ without being localised to a specific spot. It leads to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), where the lung is severely damaged, leading to difficulty breathing and a reduced oxygen flow into the bloodstream,” says Dr Nikhil Modi, Senior Consultant, Respiratory and Critical Care, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi
What is bilateral pneumonia?
When someone comes down with pneumonia, it impacts the lungs differently. When it affects one lung, your second lung is a backup while the lung with pneumonia recovers. However, when you have bilateral pneumonia, both your lungs are affected, which compounds your breathing difficulties. The oxygen levels go down rapidly too.
What about signs and symptoms?
They are the same as pneumonia like cough, congestion, high fever, wheezing, rapid or difficulty breathing, extreme fatigue, a rapid pulse rate and chest pains and tightness. The chances of toxins as well as an inflammatory response spreading through the blood becomes higher, so the patient’s condition deteriorates rapidly. Such patients always require hospitalisation to drain the fluid from the lungs. Negligence can lead to sepsis and even death.
Why do patients lapse into a serious condition even after initial recovery?
Even after initial recovery, the exaggerated inflammatory response from the first infection damages and compromises the lungs severely. It even strains other organs, leading to kidney, liver or heart damage, especially if the body doesn’t get enough oxygen. So there’s a huge risk of people recovering from double pneumonia developing complications because the lungs and immune systems are still weakened or scarred.
The risk increases with underlying health conditions. Some patients may develop antibiotic resistance and recurrent infections if they have not followed recommended dosage.
Who is more vulnerable to double pneumonia?
Some people are at a higher risk of getting pneumonia because of their age or underlying health conditions. Children less than two years old, or who are malnourished, the 65-plus, smokers and those with diabetes, sickle cell anemia, heart disease, asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are most vulnerable.
Keep your oximeter at hand
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Watch out for a low oxygen saturation (below 90) reading on the pulse oximeter. The doctor may do an X-ray and blood tests to identify the pathogen and suggest antibacterial and antiviral medication accordingly. They will often recommend the basics: a lot of rest and staying hydrated. Use a humidifier to keep your airways open. Stay away from activities that may tire you out.
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