pneumonia

Pneumonia risk higher with breast cancer treatments, personalized treatment protocols may help reduce pneumonia mortality

Pneumonia risk has been found to be higher in patients undergoing breast cancer treatment. There has been a consensus among the medical community that pneumonia in cancer patients was a result of a weakened immune system and exposure to multiresistant bacteria – also known as superbacteria – causing the lung infection. Cancer patients, in particular, ...click here to read more

Pneumonia vs. lung cancer: Causes, symptoms, risk factors, and complications

Pneumonia and lung cancer both affect the lungs, but while the former is easily treatable and the latter is oftentimes life threatening. Different types of pneumonia can occur in lung cancer patients – who are more susceptible to the infection – complicating the course of the disease and prolonging the recovery. Both illnesses may begin ...click here to read more

Pneumonia patients likely to suffer from depression, cognitive impairment: Study

Pneumonia patients are more likely to suffer from depression and cognitive impairment, according to research. The study uncovered that pneumonia patients are twice as likely to develop cognitive impairment, while hospitalized older patients are at a higher risk for other health complications like a heart attack and stroke. Senior author Dr. Theodore J. Iwashyna said, ...click here to read more

In COPD patients, pneumonia survival in hospitals improved with inhaled corticosteroids: Study

In COPD patients, pneumonia survival in hospitals is improved with inhaled corticosteroid treatment. The findings of the study uncovered that lower in-hospital mortality was seen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who received a combination of long-acting inhaled bronchodilators (IBD) therapy and corticosteroids, compared to patients on IBD alone. Inhaled corticosteroids – although effective ...click here to read more

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP): Causes, treatment, and prevention

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is a type of pneumonia that is contracted during one’s stay in a hospital – typically occurring within 48 hours. Common bacteria that cause it include ram-negative bacilli and Staphylococcus aureus. Hospital-acquired pneumonia is particularly dangerous as it is often resistant to antibiotics. The risk for hospital-acquired pneumonia can be quite high ...click here to read more

Is pneumonia contagious when on antibiotics?

We know that pneumonia is contagious, but is it still contagious when you are on antibiotics? Before we answer that question, let’s first explore how long pneumonia is contagious for. When beginning antibiotic treatment for pneumonia, patients may typically observe improvements in health within two to three days. If by chance you actually get worse ...click here to read more

Pneumonia vs. Cold: Difference in symptoms, causes, and treatments

In order to properly treat any condition, incidental or serious, you must be able to first properly identify it. Differentiating a cold (sometimes called, infectious rhinitis) from pneumonia is no different, and understanding the symptoms of each leads to better fighting the condition. Pneumonia is normally considered the worst of the two, and before antibiotics ...click here to read more

Pneumonia vs. pneumonitis, differences in symptoms, causes, and treatment

Pneumonia and pneumonitis are two serious respiratory infections, which – if not treated early on – can lead to life-threatening consequences. Although both conditions affect the lungs, there are distinct differences that help differentiate between the two conditions. Breathing problems are a primary characteristic of either infection. Impaired breathing can limit oxygen supply to the ...click here to read more

Pneumonia risk doubles in elderly wearing dentures overnight: Study

Pneumonia risk doubles in elderly sleeping in dentures. Poor oral health is a risk factor for pneumonia among seniors. Researchers at the Nihon University School of Dentistry in Japan investigated association between several oral health behaviors and the risk of pneumonia among the elderly. At the beginning of the study, 524 randomly selected seniors were ...click here to read more

Bronchitis vs. pneumonia, differences in symptoms, causes, and treatment

Bronchitis and pneumonia are two respiratory conditions that at first may appear to be the same, but there are unique differences distinguishing the two. In both conditions, inflammation is present, but for bronchitis it is inflammation of the bronchi, and in pneumonia it is inflammation of the lungs. Both conditions affect the lower part of ...click here to read more