The Third Leading Cause of Death in Korea, Pneumonia: What to Prepare Before Winter Comes

[Image source=Clipart Korea]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] As the season changes with large temperature differences between day and night, the number of patients diagnosed with pneumonia among those visiting hospitals with cold symptoms is also increasing.

Pneumonia is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the lungs due to various pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

The lungs, which exist for breathing, are inevitably exposed to air, and in this process, pathogens invade through the airway, usually starting inflammation.

According to the "2021 Cause of Death Statistics Results" report released by Statistics Korea on the 27th, pneumonia ranked third.

Pneumonia is often confused with colds, flu, or COVID-19 because symptoms such as cough, sputum, and fever appear.

Depending on individual health conditions and the affected area of pneumonia, symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, muscle pain, and headache may also appear.

In the elderly, due to weakened immunity and lung function, they are easily infected by external pathogens, but 20-30% progress asymptomatically, missing the treatment period and being diagnosed with pneumonia after symptoms worsen.

If symptoms such as cold symptoms, high fever, difficulty breathing, purulent sputum, and lethargy appear, it is essential to be diagnosed for pneumonia by a respiratory specialist.

The causative bacteria of pneumonia are known to include more than 90 species beyond the commonly known pneumococcus, so it is important to identify the causative bacteria and provide appropriate antibiotic treatment for pneumonia.

Healthy adults mostly recover completely with antibiotic treatment, but chronic patients with hypertension, diabetes, or infants with weakened immunity, and seniors over 65 years old should be cautious as pneumonia or complications can be life-threatening.

Dr. Lee Gyu-min, head of the Respiratory Department at Daedong Hospital, said, "Pneumonia can be asymptomatic, and if the treatment period is missed, the treatment period may be prolonged due to lung abscesses, or in severe cases, complications such as pleurisy and acute respiratory distress syndrome may occur," recommending good lifestyle habits.

Dr. Lee recommends handwashing as a habitual practice to prevent all diseases. He said that simply washing hands well can take care of personal health.

Due to the nature of transmission through the respiratory tract, people at high risk of pneumonia should avoid going out to crowded places as much as possible and pay attention to personal hygiene such as handwashing and wearing masks.

Maintaining health through quitting smoking, sufficient water intake, nutritional management, and various physical activities, and building immunity through balanced nutrition and easy exercise are necessary.

Since viral pneumonia caused by the flu virus or secondary bacterial pneumonia often occurs, those with underlying diseases or the elderly should get flu vaccinations.

Also, pneumococcus, one of the many bacteria causing pneumonia, can be prevented by vaccination, so chronic patients with weakened immunity and the elderly should pay attention to vaccination to reduce risk.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.