Bilateral pneumonia in coronavirus

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Most people with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms such as cough, fever, and shortness of breath. But some people who become infected with the new coronavirus develop severe pneumonia in both lungs. Bilateral pneumonia in coronavirus is a serious illness that can be fatal.

What is pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that causes the tiny air sacs inside the lungs to become inflamed. They can fill with so much fluid and pus that it becomes difficult to breathe. The person may have severe shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, chills, or fatigue.

Your doctor may recommend cough medicines and medicines that lower the temperature. In the most serious cases, hospital admission and ventilation may be required.

Pneumonia can occur as a complication of viral infections such as COVID-19 or the flu, and sometimes even colds. But bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms can also provoke this symptom.

What is coronavirus pneumonia

The disease was originally called NCIP-induced pneumonia. The World Health Organization has renamed it COVID-19.

The symptoms of covid pneumonia are as follows:

• Fever, dry cough and shortness of breath are common early signs of COVID-19;
• fatigue;
• chills;
• muscle or body pain;
• headache;
• loss of smell or taste;
• sore throat;
• congestion or runny nose;
• redness of the eyes;
• skin rash.

If COVID-19 infection is causing bilateral lung damage, you may notice the following:

• fast heartbeat;
• dyspnea;
• rapid breathing;
• dizziness;
• heavy sweating.

How many people with COVID-19 get pneumonia

About 15% of cases of COVID-19 infection are accompanied by severe complications. This means that oxygen treatment in a hospital may be required. About 5% of people suffer from critical manifestations of the coronavirus. They need a ventilator.

People who get pneumonia can also have a condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which causes breathing problems.

The new coronavirus is causing severe inflammation in the lungs. It damages the cells and tissues lining the air sacs in the lungs. In these sacs, the oxygen we breathe is processed and delivered to the blood. The damage leads to tissue rupture and blockage of the lungs. The walls of the sacs can thicken, making breathing difficult.

Interesting! Covered ears with coronavirus or not

Who is more susceptible to bilateral pneumonia

Anyone can have bilateral pneumonia with coronavirus, but more often it occurs in people over 65. Patients 85 and older are at greatest risk.

The prognosis in an adult largely depends on age and concomitant diseases, the state of immunity. People who live in nursing homes or have health problems also have a higher chance of contracting a complicated form of COVID-19. At risk are people with such chronic ailments:

• moderate to severe asthma;
• damage to lung tissue;
• high blood pressure;
• pathology of the heart and blood vessels;
• diabetes;
• liver disease;
• renal failure.

Obesity, or a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more, also puts a person at a disadvantage. Such patients are also considered to be at risk for the addition of bilateral pneumonia.

A person with a weakened immune system may be more likely to face severe COVID-19. This includes smokers, people who have had bone marrow transplants, those who have HIV or AIDS, and anyone who takes medications that slow the immune system, such as steroids. The prognosis in an adult patient may not be entirely favorable.

Free testing for COVID is available in most cities and regions of Russia. Some places require recording, while others receive almost immediately, without delay. Check with your local health department about testing availability.

How is COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosed?

Your doctor can diagnose COVID-19 pneumonia based on your symptoms and laboratory test results. Blood tests can also show signs of covid pneumonia. These include low lymphocytes and elevated C-reactive protein. Your blood may also be low in oxygen. Computed tomography of the chest can show patchy areas of damage in both lungs.

Are there treatments for 2-sided coronavirus pneumonia?

Pneumonia may require hospital treatment with oxygen and a ventilator. Researchers are investigating whether certain medications and treatments used for other conditions may help manage severe COVID-19 or associated pneumonia. Now, in this regard, scientists are of particular interest in relation to the drug Dexamethasone, as well as corticosteroids.

In no case should such a condition be treated at home. Bilateral pneumonia requires emergency care in a hospital setting.

The Ministry of Health has approved a number of antiviral drugs for the treatment of patients hospitalized with coronavirus. Many of them contain Favipiravir as an active ingredient.

In Europe, the emergency use of antimalarial drugs (Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine) has been revised amid serious concerns about their safety and effectiveness against the virus. Previously, the Ministry of Health included them in the list of recommended ones, but as new data on the low effectiveness of such medicines become available, health authorities around the world have to rewrite the actual data.

Prevention of bilateral pneumonia

You should not tempt fate, even if you are a physically strong person and are sure that you will have a good prognosis in case of infection. If you are at high risk for bilateral coronavirus pneumonia, be sure to take the following measures to prevent infection:

1. Wash your hands often. Do this with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds.
2. Use a disinfection gel with at least 60% alcohol. Wipe your hands with them until they dry.
3. Try not to touch your face, mouth, or eyes until you wash your hands.
4. Avoid the sick. Stay home and visit public places only when absolutely necessary.
5. Wear a face mask if you need to go outside.
6. Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces in your home that you touch frequently, such as countertops and keyboards.

Russians, faced with bilateral pneumonia, are thinking about how to treat it at home, which is a big mistake. It is important to have regular tests and x-rays of the lungs. You need to constantly be under the supervision of a specialist.

Although vaccines for COVID-19 are now available, they do not directly protect against pneumonia. The vaccine used for pneumonia protects against bacteria, not coronavirus. However, it can support overall health, especially if you are an elderly person or have a weak immune system. Talk to your doctor about whether you should be given any vaccine to prevent complications from coronavirus.

Outcomes

1. The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus can cause bilateral pneumonia in some patients.
2. This complication is accompanied by rapidly increasing shortness of breath. The patient's body tries to compensate for the need for oxygen through faster breathing and increased heart rate.
3. At the current stage of the pandemic, doctors have not yet developed a 100% effective treatment. The work on the selection of therapy continues.