The Vatican said on Tuesday that Pope Francis, who is still entering the hospital, is suffering from bilateral pneumonia.
Dr. James Mosser, Director of the Center for Infectious Diseases at the Houston Methodist Institute for Research, said that the term simply means pneumonia in both lungs. He added that, without examining a patient, he could not say anything specified about his condition.
In general, pneumonia is an infection of the small bronchi of the lungs. When the body runs an inflammatory response, small pockets in the lungs are filled with immune cells; Symptoms can include fever, cough and vibration chills. To diagnose the disease, the doctor usually asks the patient to say “e”, as if the person sings. Dr. Paul Putinger, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Washington, said, through a doctor’s headset, it seems that “E” of pneumonia patients such as “A”.
Most people with pneumonia recover well at home and do not need to be transferred to the hospital. But for the elderly, pneumonia can be a “fatal situation”, as said by infectious disease experts.
“The death rate increases after the age of 85,” added Dr. Peter Chen Hong, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at the University of California, San Francisco. Pop is 88, and it is missing part of the lung one after pulmonary surgery in 1957.
The most likely cause of pneumonia is the infection caused by bacteria, streptococcal inflammation, according to Dr. Chen Hong. He said: “The cause No. 1, 2 and 3 of pneumonia is pneumonia.”
The disease can respond to antibiotics, but bacteria can sometimes come out of the lungs and in the rest of the body, which leads to blood rot, which is a dangerous condition. Dr. Chen Hong said the vaccine can help relieve the risk of poisoning, but it does not prevent the condition.
Dr. Putinger pointed out that although calm pneumonia can include both lungs, it is usually limited to one pulmonary lobe. He said that most bilateral pneumonia is caused by viruses, including influenza, or other bacteria. Dr. Putinger said that other causes include the respiratory virus, RSV, Legion, Mysoplasma and Chlamydia.
He agreed with Dr. Chen Hong on the possible gravity of the Pope’s condition.
“It is a very frightening situation,” said Dr. Putinger.
