How pneumonia is contagious and how to prevent it

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by infections with bacteria, viruses or fungi. Although pneumonia itself is not contagious, the microorganisms that cause this disease can be transmitted from one person to another, and it is easier for the disease to settle in people with weakened immune systems, such as in the elderly, children, people who smoke or people who have some nutritional deficiency, for example.

Thus, it is important to adopt strategies that can reduce the chances of having pneumonia, such as washing hands thoroughly, vaccinating against flu each year, and controlling allergic rhinitis crises.

How to prevent pneumonia

The prevention of pneumonia occurs through measures that can strengthen the immune system, avoiding not only this, but also other diseases caused by microorganisms and that can be easily transmitted from one person to another. So the top 7 tips to avoid pneumonia are:

1. Keep well hydrated and well nourished, with a balanced diet and about 2 liters of water per day, as a very active immunity and able to fight against the causative agents, such as viruses and bacteria, before the infection reaches the lungs. In addition, it is recommended to reduce the consumption of alcoholic beverages, since alcohol consumption may interfere with immunity and facilitate the aspiration of secretions and vomiting, favoring the occurrence of pneumonia;
2. Avoid smoking, because smoking causes inflammation in the tissues of the airways that facilitate the proliferation of microorganisms, in addition to a decrease in lung capacity to promote expulsion of the microorganism;
3. Controlling crises of allergic rhinitis, by avoiding situations that trigger allergy, such as dust, animal hair, pollen or mites, for example, since inflammation caused by allergy can act as a gateway to viruses, bacteria and fungi;
4. Keep the air conditioner clean and in proper condition because they usually leave the air very dry and spread agents that cause allergies;
5. Humidify the air by using the humidifier or by placing a basin with water in the rooms at night, especially in winter, when the air becomes drier and increases the amount of air pollution and airway irritation;
6. Keep your hands clean, with frequent washes or use of alcohol gel, whenever you are in public environments, such as malls, buses or subways;
7. Avoid close and crowded places, especially in times of infection epidemics, as this facilitates transmission. See what are and how to avoid the most common winter diseases;
8. Vaccinate annually against influenza because vaccines are prepared to protect against the most dangerous viruses that circulate in the environment throughout the year, being very important to be made for children up to 5 years old and with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiopathies and lung diseases.

In addition, people who have chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory diseases or liver diseases, for example, should always keep them well treated and controlled, with the correct use of medicines and medical monitoring, since the decompensation of these diseases compromises immunity and facilitates infection of the lungs.

How to prevent childhood pneumonia

Babies and children up to about 2 years old already have a predisposition to infections due to the immune system still in development. For this reason, it is important not to expose the child to contact with people with respiratory infections, such as colds and flu, besides avoiding crowded or excessively polluted environments and cigarette smoke, especially in periods of epidemics of infections.

Feeding should also be well balanced, preferably with exclusive breastfeeding until around 6 months, so that the child's defenses are well developed, and initiate the introduction of new foods as directed by the pediatrician. Check out which food is right for you and which food routine is right for your baby.

In addition, children should also be vaccinated annually for influenza, especially those with repeated infection histories or who have lung problems such as bronchitis and asthma.

Is pneumonia serious?

Most often, pneumonia is not serious, and can be treated at home according to your cause, usually with antibiotic tablets such as Amoxicillin and Azithromycin, and some care such as physician-directed rest and hydration. Check out some more guidelines for the treatment of pneumonia.

However, in some cases, pneumonia can progress severely, causing signs such as difficulty breathing, confusion and changes in the functioning of other organs. In these cases, hospitalization, use of drugs in the vein and even use of oxygen to aid breathing are necessary.

Some factors that determine the severity of a pneumonia are:

• A type of microorganism, which may be more aggressive, such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, for example, which are very dangerous because they have a great capacity for infection and are resistant to many antibiotics;
• Immunity of the person, which is important to create barriers and prevent infection of the lungs, being impaired in the elderly, babies and people with autoimmune diseases, AIDS, cancer or decompensated diabetes, for example;
• Time to start treatment, as rapid detection and early treatment prevents the infection from getting worse and becomes more difficult to treat.

Thus, in the presence of signs and symptoms that indicate pneumonia, it is important to undergo a medical evaluation for a rapid diagnosis and the start of treatment as soon as possible.