Complications of Pneumonia to Watch Out For
Complications of pneumonia can occur when the disease is not treated immediately or is not treated appropriately. This condition is more common in people with pneumonia with a weak immune system and suffering from certain diseases.
Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Complications of pneumonia can affect the lungs, other organs around the lungs, or the entire body. Therefore, pneumonia needs to be addressed according to the type of pneumonia and its severity so that complications of pneumonia can be avoided.
Complications of Pneumonia
The following are some complications of pneumonia that you need to be aware of:
1. Bacteremia
Bacteremia is a complication of pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection. This condition occurs when bacteria that cause pneumonia enter the bloodstream and spread the infection to other organs.
Bacteremia can also cause septic shock , which is a drastic drop in blood pressure which disrupts blood flow to the organs, causing the organ to stop functioning.
Apart from low blood pressure, septic shock is also characterized by several symptoms, such as fever, fast breathing, fast heartbeat, chills, and stomach disorders such as nausea, pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
2. Lung abscess
The next complication of pneumonia is a lung abscess . Lung abscess is a buildup of pus in the lung cavity characterized by various symptoms, such as cough with phlegm with a foul odor or bloody cough, high fever, bad breath, chest pain, shortness of breath, night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue. .
Lung abscess is a complication of pneumonia that cannot be underestimated because it can cause death. Therefore, you need to consult a doctor if you experience symptoms of a lung abscess.
To deal with it, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to be consumed for several weeks. However, if your condition does not improve, the doctor will take steps to remove the pus from the lungs.
If your pneumonia is not treated, there can be a buildup of fluid in the space between the membrane that covers the lungs and the membrane that covers the inner wall of the chest cavity. This condition is called a pleural effusion and can be detected on examination.
This buildup of fluid can cause the lungs to become unable to breathe and take in oxygen. In fact, in pneumonia itself, the ability of the lungs to take in oxygen has decreased. This will reduce the supply of oxygen to all organs throughout the body and exacerbate existing shortness of breath.
4. Breath failure
Respiratory failure is a serious complication of pneumonia. This condition occurs when the lungs are unable to work properly, so that oxygen intake into the body decreases, while carbon dioxide is abundant.
If this condition occurs, the acid-base balance in the body can become chaotic and interfere with the work of all organs. If pneumonia has progressed to respiratory failure, the patient needs additional oxygen through a mask or even use of a breathing device called a ventillator .
5. Kidney failure
If you have complications of pneumonia in the form of bacteremia or septic shock, your risk of developing kidney failure is higher. The reason is, when this condition occurs, the heart cannot supply enough blood to the kidneys, so kidney function will be impaired.
This condition can be experienced by all people with pneumonia, but sufferers who suffer from certain medical conditions are more at risk for developing it.
Kidney failure is characterized by a variety of symptoms, such as swelling of the legs and feet, urinating less and less, shortness of breath, nausea, and weakness. If pneumonia has resulted in kidney failure, your doctor may recommend dialysis or a kidney transplant .
The complications of pneumonia can be life threatening. Therefore, both mild and severe pneumonia must be taken seriously to prevent complications.
Watch out for symptoms of pneumonia, such as coughing, fever and shortness of breath. The symptoms of pneumonia are similar to the symptoms of COVID-19 , so you are advised to consult with your doctor to be sure and get the right treatment.
Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Complications of pneumonia can affect the lungs, other organs around the lungs, or the entire body. Therefore, pneumonia needs to be addressed according to the type of pneumonia and its severity so that complications of pneumonia can be avoided.
Complications of Pneumonia
The following are some complications of pneumonia that you need to be aware of:
1. Bacteremia
Bacteremia is a complication of pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection. This condition occurs when bacteria that cause pneumonia enter the bloodstream and spread the infection to other organs.
Bacteremia can also cause septic shock , which is a drastic drop in blood pressure which disrupts blood flow to the organs, causing the organ to stop functioning.
Apart from low blood pressure, septic shock is also characterized by several symptoms, such as fever, fast breathing, fast heartbeat, chills, and stomach disorders such as nausea, pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
2. Lung abscess
The next complication of pneumonia is a lung abscess . Lung abscess is a buildup of pus in the lung cavity characterized by various symptoms, such as cough with phlegm with a foul odor or bloody cough, high fever, bad breath, chest pain, shortness of breath, night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue. .
Lung abscess is a complication of pneumonia that cannot be underestimated because it can cause death. Therefore, you need to consult a doctor if you experience symptoms of a lung abscess.
To deal with it, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to be consumed for several weeks. However, if your condition does not improve, the doctor will take steps to remove the pus from the lungs.
3. Pleural effusion
If your pneumonia is not treated, there can be a buildup of fluid in the space between the membrane that covers the lungs and the membrane that covers the inner wall of the chest cavity. This condition is called a pleural effusion and can be detected on examination.
This buildup of fluid can cause the lungs to become unable to breathe and take in oxygen. In fact, in pneumonia itself, the ability of the lungs to take in oxygen has decreased. This will reduce the supply of oxygen to all organs throughout the body and exacerbate existing shortness of breath.
4. Breath failure
Respiratory failure is a serious complication of pneumonia. This condition occurs when the lungs are unable to work properly, so that oxygen intake into the body decreases, while carbon dioxide is abundant.
If this condition occurs, the acid-base balance in the body can become chaotic and interfere with the work of all organs. If pneumonia has progressed to respiratory failure, the patient needs additional oxygen through a mask or even use of a breathing device called a ventillator .
5. Kidney failure
If you have complications of pneumonia in the form of bacteremia or septic shock, your risk of developing kidney failure is higher. The reason is, when this condition occurs, the heart cannot supply enough blood to the kidneys, so kidney function will be impaired.
This condition can be experienced by all people with pneumonia, but sufferers who suffer from certain medical conditions are more at risk for developing it.
Kidney failure is characterized by a variety of symptoms, such as swelling of the legs and feet, urinating less and less, shortness of breath, nausea, and weakness. If pneumonia has resulted in kidney failure, your doctor may recommend dialysis or a kidney transplant .
The complications of pneumonia can be life threatening. Therefore, both mild and severe pneumonia must be taken seriously to prevent complications.
Watch out for symptoms of pneumonia, such as coughing, fever and shortness of breath. The symptoms of pneumonia are similar to the symptoms of COVID-19 , so you are advised to consult with your doctor to be sure and get the right treatment.
