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Pneumonia
The difference between interstitial pneumonia and pneumonia
Interstitial pneumonia, also known as diffuse pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, mainly refers to a disease characterized by the replacement of the lung interstitium with some invisible fibrous tissues, leading to lung atrophy and difficulty breathing as the main manifestations. The pathological site of pneumonia is mainly in the alveoli and lung parenchyma, and patients mainly show symptoms such as coughing, expectoration, and fever, generally not experiencing difficulty breathing. Additionally, interstitial pneumonia and pneumonia have typical and distinct changes in imaging. Through imaging, it is basically possible to differentiate almost completely between interstitial pneumonia and pneumonia without the need for any special techniques.
Pneumonia symptoms in children
Children presenting with pneumonia primarily exhibit symptoms related to respiratory infections, with fever often as a typical manifestation. Common symptoms include sudden chills, high fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, and vomiting, followed by an irritative dry cough. As the condition progresses, the dry cough turns into a productive cough with phlegm, accompanied by difficulty breathing, chest pain, and expectoration. Some may also show signs of oxygen deprivation such as cyanosis of the lips and changes in nail color. Active chest X-ray and routine blood tests are necessary for diagnosis.
Is bronchopneumonia the same as pneumonia?
Some patients might ask if bronchopneumonia is a type of pneumonia. Undoubtedly, bronchopneumonia is a type of pneumonia, categorized anatomically. It can be classified into lobar pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, and interstitial pneumonia. During X-ray imaging, bronchopneumonia typically shows as irregular patchy shadows distributed along the lung markings, with soft and blurry edges, without signs of consolidation. It often occurs in the lower lobes of both lungs. The treatment principles for bronchopneumonia are similar to those for common pneumonia, mainly involving the use of antibiotics, cough suppressants and expectorants, fever reduction, and other symptomatic treatments.
Can pneumonia vaccines prevent mycoplasma pneumonia?
Can pneumonia vaccines prevent Mycoplasma infections? First, we need to understand what pneumonia vaccines are. In our country, the most commonly used pneumonia vaccines are aimed at Streptococcus pneumoniae, which are divided into polysaccharide vaccines and conjugate vaccines. Polysaccharide vaccines are mainly suitable for individuals over two years old and include the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine. This vaccine can prevent infections caused by twenty-three serotypes that often lead to S. pneumoniae infections, with over 90% of pneumonia caused by these twenty-three serotypes. However, the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine does not prevent infections caused by other serotypes of S. pneumoniae. Additionally, the conjugate vaccine only prevents infections caused by either seven or thirteen serotypes. Since Mycoplasma is neither a bacterium nor a virus, it cannot be prevented by pneumonia vaccines, and currently, there is no vaccine available specifically for Mycoplasma infections.
How many days does the pneumonia vaccine take effect?
Pneumonia is a common infectious disease of the respiratory system. For the elderly who are frail, infants and young children who repeatedly suffer from pulmonary infections, and adults with immune deficiencies, it is an option to get vaccinated against pneumonia. Generally, antibodies are produced in the body 2 to 3 weeks after vaccination, which may protect against most types of pneumococcal bacteria. Different pneumonia vaccines vary in the duration the antibodies last in the body, with most lasting about one year. For bivalent and trivalent pneumonia vaccines, the immune protection can last about five years.
Symptoms of pneumonia in infants
Pneumonia is a particularly common infectious disease of the respiratory system. In infants and young children with pneumonia, the main clinical symptoms include fever, crying, vomiting, and so forth. Since infants cannot express their discomfort, it is difficult to make a diagnosis. However, when a patient presents with fever, we first need to consider the possibility of a lung infection. We can determine whether there is an infection of the lungs through listening to the chest, routine blood tests, imaging examinations, etc., and then treat the pneumonia with effective anti-inflammatory therapy.
Symptoms of pneumonia in children
Pneumonia is a particularly common infectious disease of the respiratory system, and infants and young children are especially susceptible to pneumonia because their immune systems are much weaker than those of healthy adults. When infants and young children develop pneumonia, their symptoms differ from adults; they often exhibit only fever, crying, nausea, vomiting, etc. The symptoms of coughing and phlegm are relatively less obvious, making the diagnosis of pneumonia in infants and young children somewhat more difficult. If a patient exhibits fever, auscultation and routine blood tests can be used to preliminarily determine the presence of an infection. If pneumonia is suspected, further comprehensive imaging examinations can be conducted to confirm the diagnosis.
How many doses are there for the pneumonia vaccine?
Currently, there are two types of vaccines commonly used to prevent pneumococcal diseases. One type is the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine, suitable for high-risk populations over two years old. The other type includes the 7-valent or 13-valent conjugate vaccines, used for vaccinating infants under two years old. The vaccination schedule for the 7-valent or 13-valent vaccines follows a "three plus one" program, which means three primary immunization doses with at least one month between each dose, followed by a booster dose. For the 23-valent vaccine, high-risk individuals over two years old generally require only a single dose; however, immunocompromised patients may need a booster shot, typically recommended five years after the initial vaccination.
What department should I go to for pneumonia?
Pneumonia, as the name suggests, is inflammation of the lungs and belongs to the category of respiratory diseases. Therefore, the primary department to consult is Respiratory Medicine. In places where there is no Respiratory Medicine department, such as community health service centers or township health clinics, patients would have to consult the general internal medicine department instead. Of course, if the symptoms of pneumonia are severe and the condition is critical, and it happens outside of regular outpatient hours, then the patient must be seen by the emergency medicine department. The emergency medicine department will manage and triage pneumonia patients, and then decide their next steps, such as whether to transfer them to the ICU, a regular Respiratory Medicine department, or keep them for observation in the emergency department.
What can you eat with pneumonia?
What can pneumonia patients eat? Pneumonia is usually an acute illness, often accompanied by symptoms such as excessive phlegm, cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain, which demand strict dietary considerations. A good diet ensures that pneumonia patients get enough fluids and calories, which helps in the treatment of pneumonia. Patients can consume foods rich in quality protein, high calories, and vitamins, such as eggs, animal liver, cornmeal, buckwheat flour, and a moderate amount of fruits and vegetables. Foods like black fungus, seaweed, kelp, and mushrooms can also be included more frequently. It is important for patients to drink plenty of water. Pneumonia patients may experience fever and sweat a lot; drinking more water can help replenish fluids in a timely manner, prevent excessive loss of fluids, and more frequent urination helps in faster elimination of metabolic waste from the body, aiding in the recovery from the disease.