[건강한 가족] High fever, cough, phlegm, no pain, vaccination is the best measure

Pneumonia in the elderly without danger to health
The lung is the representative respiratory organ of the body. If the immune system is low, it is a place where foreign bacteria / viruses invade and where the infection is well developed. Old people

It is vulnerable to pneumonia because of its weak ability to defend bacteria. Pneumonia is the gateway to sepsis leading to a serious inflammatory reaction of the whole body. Many older people suffer from "pneumonia," "sepsis".

I am in a state of "long-term failure" that does not work properly and I die. Pneumonia is the first step in health care for seniors.

Pneumonia is a disease in which bacteria and viruses invade lung tissue and become inflamed. Pneumonia in people over 65 is called geriatric pneumonia. According to data from the National Statistical Office (2017), pneumonia is the fourth leading cause of death among Koreans after cancer, heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. The effect of pneumonia on life increases with age, as in the 70s (4th place) and 80 years (3rd place). The pneumonia mortality rate has quadrupled from 9.4 per 100,000 in 2007 to 37.8 in 2017. Pneumonia is one of the major problems in preventing health longevity in a society aging.

The pneumonia mortality rate is more than four times 10 years new

If you develop pneumonia, you will experience mild cold symptoms at first. Then, as the disease progresses, symptoms such as high fever, cough, sputum, chest pain, and shortness of breath appear. The problem is that these symptoms do not appear clearly in elderly patients. Instead, they tend to complain of nonspecific symptoms such as general weakness, anorexia, myalgia, and joint pain, or the symptoms of the underlying disease become more severe. "Older people do not have typical symptoms of pneumonia," he said. "Even though pneumonia is severe, there are times when the chest x-ray shows normal results."

In the absence of obvious symptoms, the patient will only visit the hospital after the worsening of pneumonia. Even if you go to the hospital, the initial diagnosis is delayed and the treatment will probably be delayed. It has been reported that elderly patients with pneumonia have an average symptom duration of 6.1 days prior to their arrival at the hospital and that it takes more than 4 hours to obtain antibiotics in the emergency department. Most patients with pneumonia recover in 1 to 2 weeks, but the cure rate is slow even after treatment.

Older people have a lot of lung function due to aging. About 70% of normal lung function at 60 years and less than 50% at 80 years or older. Pneumonia is a condition characterized by insufficient lung function, which poses problems of ability to deliver oxygen to the body or to evacuate polluted air. Park Ji-young, professor of respiratory medicine and allergy at the Sacred Heart Hospital of Hallym University, said that "the elderly suffer from a structural problem in the lungs , so it's not cured in case of pneumonia and that complications such as heart, kidneys, etc. occur well during treatment. "

It is important to start treatment as soon as possible. The faster the administration of antibiotics, the lower the mortality rate. Due to the diversity of organisms responsible for pneumonia, it is essential to use appropriate antibiotics once they have been identified by means of a review to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. However, depending on the severity of the disease or the underlying disease, it is possible to perform the test selectively and start antibiotic treatment immediately according to the guidelines. Professor Jung Ji-yeong said, "Even if you do a bacterial test, only 30% to 40% of users are able to identify the bacteria responsible." In mild cases,

Pneumococcal and influenza vaccines must be correct

The best way to prevent pneumonia is vaccination. The pneumococcal and influenza vaccines are good for both. Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most common causes of pneumonia. The pneumococcal vaccine is a 13-dose vaccine that protects against 13 strains and a 23-dose vaccine that protects against 23 strains. Experts recommend that 23 vaccines be given one year after the 13th vaccine. The government is giving a free 23-year vaccine to people over 65 years old. Park Ji-young said, "The vaccine not only prevents pneumonia, but also makes sure that symptoms do not go away, even in pneumonia."

Influenza viruses are also likely to cause complications such as pneumonia and sepsis. Pneumococcal vaccines with influenza vaccine are very effective in preventing and reducing the risk of worsening. Health care is as important as vaccination. Older people should eat six to eight hours a day with a balanced diet to maintain their immunity. It is good to maintain the rhythm of life by exercising regularly and increasing the body's resistance to avoid overwork, overeating, smoking.

Do not lie down immediately after eating

Aspiration pneumonia is common in the elderly. The lungs are irritated by foreign substances such as saliva and food, which are inhaled through the airways. The risk of incidence is high in case of frequent swallowing disorder in patients with cerebrovascular disease and dementia. To prevent aspiration pneumonia, chew slowly and slowly when eating food, so you do not get stung, do not lie down straight after eating.

Keep your mouth watering

If oral hygiene is poor and foreign substances such as saliva, food and plaque enter the airways and lungs, aspiration pneumonia may occur. In particular, the elderly do not benefit from immediate immunity to foreign substances because of their immune function. Always keep your mouth moist and clean the entire oral cavity, including the tongue and the palate.

I doubt I can eat it

When the weather is cold and nothing is going away, respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and colds increase. People who have a cold or bronchitis are at risk of infection by bacteria or viruses, which can lead to pneumonia. If you have high fever, cough, sputum, have taken your medication and have symptoms for more than a week, you should seek medical attention.

Wash your hands well

It is important to wash your hands regularly as there are many contact infections in infectious diseases. Rinse thoroughly between hand, palm and fingers for more than 30 seconds with liquid soap. It is also a method to use when you cough or cough with a tissue or tissue. With bare hands, cover your mouth and nose with your sleeves rather than your hands and let them cough.

Kim Sunyoung reporter [email protected]