Pneumonia is the third leading cause of death after stroke and myocardial infarction. In Vietnam, community-acquired pneumonia is the most common infectious disease among clinical infections, accounting for 12% of lung diseases.

Community-acquired pneumonia is a community-acquired infection of the lung parenchyma, including inflammation of the alveoli, alveolar ducts and sacs, terminal bronchioles, or interstitial inflammation of the lungs. Common features are pulmonary consolidation syndrome and alveolar opacity or interstitial lesions on chest radiographs. The disease is usually caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and some other agents, but not by mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The disease usually occurs in winter or when exposed to cold. Advanced age, alcoholism, and immunosuppression are risk factors for pneumonia. Traumatic brain injury, coma, long-term hospital stay, antibiotic use, bronchiectasis, etc. are risk factors for pneumonia caused by Gram-negative bacteria and P. Aeruginosae. Pneumonia caused by viruses (especially influenza viruses) accounts for about 10% of patients. Patients with severe viral pneumonia often develop bacterial superinfections.

When infected with community-acquired pneumonia, patients often have acute symptoms within a few days. Typical manifestations are high fever, chills, cough with purulent sputum, pleuritic chest pain (if pleural damage is present).

There are signs of infection syndrome with characteristic fever, dry lips, dirty tongue... In elderly patients, immunocompromised patients, the initial manifestations of pneumonia may not be aggressive.

Manifestations of consolidation syndrome (increased fibrillation, dull percussion, decreased alveolar murmur), crackles may be heard if there is extensive lung damage.

Source: Health & Life Newspaper.