We are in the autumn season and with winter approaching, the alert for respiratory diseases arises, among them, pneumonia. According to WHO (World Health Organization), pneumonia is the leading cause of death for children under five years old worldwide. Here in Brazil, the situation is reversed: those over 60 years old make up the majority of cases. In times of Covid-19, many have doubts regarding pneumonia.
According to pulmonologist Jéssica Polese, “the common pneumonia, the one we already know - is bacterial - and its treatment is done through antibiotics, while the viral one, like the one occurring with the Coronavirus, has a huge degree of inflammation, affecting not only the pulmonary alveoli but also the interstitium, the regions between the vessels and alveoli.” “For differentiation in diagnosis, tomographic images are taken and samples are collected using a ‘Swab’ - a sterile cotton swab used for microbiological testing,” explains Jéssica.
“The most important thing at the moment is - for those who can - to respect isolation and at any symptom mentioned above, seek a health unit,” she emphasizes.
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