Archive for December 25th, 2010

PNEUMONIA OR INFLAMMATION OF LUNG

Saturday, December 25th, 2010
The usual cause of pneumonia is the pneumonia germ, which exists in many varieties. Pneumonia can, however, be caused by the streptococcus or other germs, or by viruses. Pneumonia was once the most feared of diseases, but sulfonamides and antibiotics now control it. The condition can be diagnosed by use of the X-ray, since it produces a congestion and solidification of the lungs which shows in the X-ray pictures. In a typical case, pneumonia follows a cold or some infectious disease. There is a chill. A sharp stabbing pain is felt in the side; the pain is made worse by breathing. Then comes coughing, with bloody or brownish expectoration, and fever. Headache, nausea and vomiting occur, and sleep is difficult because of the general misery and pain. Prostration and weakness occur often. The outpouring of blood and serum into the lung cause it to solidify, so that there is insufficient breathing space and difficulty in the circulation of blood through the lungs back to the heart. As a result fingernails and skin turn blue, indicating shortage of oxygen. The patient will recover suddenly by what used to be called crisis, or gradually by lysis. With the development of the antibiotic drugs, particularly such drugs as sulfadiazine and penicillin, the pneumonia now is brought quickly under control. What used to be a six-weeks illness has been shortened to one week in most instances. The greatest danger of pneumonia is to the young and to the very old. The condition is more dangerous to women than to men. The sustaining of the patient’s heart action is obviously of the greatest importance, in order to maintain body strength until the disease is broken up and the patient begins to convalesce. Unlike other infectious diseases, pneumonia may occur more than once in the same person, and as a result certain types of people seem to be frequently its victims.
*33/318/5*

PNEUMONIA OR INFLAMMATION OF LUNGThe usual cause of pneumonia is the pneumonia germ, which exists in many varieties. Pneumonia can, however, be caused by the streptococcus or other germs, or by viruses. Pneumonia was once the most feared of diseases, but sulfonamides and antibiotics now control it. The condition can be diagnosed by use of the X-ray, since it produces a congestion and solidification of the lungs which shows in the X-ray pictures. In a typical case, pneumonia follows a cold or some infectious disease. There is a chill. A sharp stabbing pain is felt in the side; the pain is made worse by breathing. Then comes coughing, with bloody or brownish expectoration, and fever. Headache, nausea and vomiting occur, and sleep is difficult because of the general misery and pain. Prostration and weakness occur often. The outpouring of blood and serum into the lung cause it to solidify, so that there is insufficient breathing space and difficulty in the circulation of blood through the lungs back to the heart. As a result fingernails and skin turn blue, indicating shortage of oxygen. The patient will recover suddenly by what used to be called crisis, or gradually by lysis. With the development of the antibiotic drugs, particularly such drugs as sulfadiazine and penicillin, the pneumonia now is brought quickly under control. What used to be a six-weeks illness has been shortened to one week in most instances. The greatest danger of pneumonia is to the young and to the very old. The condition is more dangerous to women than to men. The sustaining of the patient’s heart action is obviously of the greatest importance, in order to maintain body strength until the disease is broken up and the patient begins to convalesce. Unlike other infectious diseases, pneumonia may occur more than once in the same person, and as a result certain types of people seem to be frequently its victims.*33/318/5*

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