We hope you’ve read the article on, “All you need to know about Pneumonia.” If not, maybe you should start with it, before trying to understand treatment.
Treatment of pneumonia depends on the type and severity of the pneumonia, so visit a doctor and never engage in self or home treatment.
It breaks my heart that a lot of babies in Africa die every year from pneumonia because of home treatment by their parents who think it’s just mere flu.
Your doctor will prescribe the medications that you or your child will take. Your doctor may suggest over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that can help manage the symptoms of pneumonia. Adults should not smoke around children, especially if they have pneumonia.
In addition, it is crucial to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Staying hydrated helps to thin out thick mucus, making it easier to cough up.
Hospitalization for pneumonia may be required if symptoms are especially bad or if an individual has a weak immune system or other serious illnesses.
In the hospital, patients are generally treated with intravenous antibiotics and fluids. They may need a supplemental oxygen supply, this is crucial for babies.
The clinical treatment of pneumonia should also be complemented by some dietary modifications such as:
- Eating foods that are rich in multivitamins particularly from green vegetables like spinach, sukuma, managu, mrenda, carrots and fruits like avocado, apples and oranges
- Adequate hydration through intake of fluids such as water, vegetable soups, fruit and vegetable juices
- Anti-inflammatory nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids helps to reduce the infection and increase your body immunity from foods such as fish, seeds and nuts.
- Ensuring an adequate consumption of calories throughout the day. This can be though incorporating moderate amounts of fat in the diet to help meet the overall calorie requirements for the day.
- Consumption of protein rich foods either from plant or animal sources to help in the repair of damaged tissue cells caused by pneumonia
- Avoiding refined sugar and alcoholic drinks
How Can You Prevent Pneumonia?
Vaccination helps to prevent the most common cause of pneumonia, and it’s recommended for children under 2 years, adults over 65 years, and those between the ages of 2 and 64 years with certain medical conditions. Its recommended for all the people in the risk group of pneumonia. So, if you or your children have not yet received any vaccination, please, go get it now!
- Along with vaccinations, physicians recommend:
- Regular hand washing
- Covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
- Refraining from smoking
- Exercising 5 days a week
- Staying away from the sputum or cough particles of others with pneumonia
- Eating healthy food choices to obtain essential nutrients for the prevention of pneumonia, particularly Vitamins and minerals rich foods such as fruits and vegetables
- Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months
- Reduce exposure to indoor air pollution through use of improved cooking stoves
