Most of us know what pneumonia is or have heard about the condition at some point in time. For those who don't, it is an infection in the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi that leads to inflammation and swelling of the lung tissues. The good news is that pneumonia is treatable and can be cured with prompt care. The bad news is that if left untreated, it can affect both your lungs, leading to a condition called double or bilateral pneumonia. Speaking with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Manav Manchanda, Director and Head - Respiratory, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Asian Hospital, Faridabad, explains why it occurs, lists its symptoms, and also sheds light on the treatment options.
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What Is Double Pneumonia?
Dr Manchanda describes double pneumonia as a lung infection that affects both your lungs.
He says that the illness can be brought on by bacteria, viruses, or fungi that make your lungs' air sacs swell with pus or fluid.
According to him, double pneumonia can be significantly more severe than pneumonia affecting only one lung and can put the patient in a more vulnerable state.
Symptoms Of Double Pneumonia
The signs and symptoms of double pneumonia are similar to those of unilateral pneumonia.
These include:
- Coughing up phlegm
- Congestion
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort
- Fever and chills
- Perspiration
- Fast heartbeat and respiration
- Exhaustion
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea and vomiting
Is It More Concerning Than Regular Pneumonia?
Dr Manchanda says, “Though patients have more severe symptoms, double pneumonia does not always result in twice as severe symptoms as pneumonia in one lung. This is due to the fact that certain symptoms, such as chest discomfort, can affect both sides simultaneously.”
Whether one lung is infected or both, pneumonia is a dangerous illness that can be fatal, he also notes, adding that if left untreated, double pneumonia can be life-threatening.
On the positive front, healthy people can recover from pneumonia in 3-5 days with the right care. In fact, you should be able to get back to your regular activities in about a week if you don't have any underlying medical issues, says Dr Manchanda.
However, fatigue and minor symptoms like a cough might last longer.
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Treatment Options And Preventive Measures
According to the doctor, bilateral pneumonia treatment depends on a number of variables. This starts with your doctor working towards determining whether the pneumonia is fungal, bacterial, or viral.
The next step is to assess the severity, which is frequently rather severe in cases of double pneumonia.
When it comes to treating the condition, antibiotics like amoxicillin or azithromycin have a decent chance of curing bacterial pneumonia if you have it.
“However, there isn't much that medical professionals can do in terms of medicine while treating viral pneumonia,” says Dr Manchanda, adding that your physician's main goal while treating viral pneumonia will be to minimise symptoms.
The fundamentals are to get plenty of rest and drink enough water.
As far as prevention goes, maintaining proper cleanliness may help lower the chance of contracting pneumonia, even if you may not be able to completely avoid it.
Other lifestyle modifications that might be helpful include eating a balanced diet, stopping smoking, exercising frequently, and limiting alcohol use. Additionally, one must aim to minimise the effects of risk factors such as smoking, binge drinking, and health issues like diabetes.
Dr Manchanda signs off by recommending annual flu vaccination, which lowers the chance of contracting pneumonia as a secondary illness by protecting against the flu.