Pneumonia is a condition that occurs due to inflammation of one or both lungs. Wet lungs usually occur due to infection in the lungs.
Pneumonia is actually a term used to describe inflammation of the lungs that causes the formation of fluid deposits in the lung tissue.
This condition can describe several diseases, such as pneumonia due to a bacterial or viral infection (including Corona virus infection or COVID-19), because the air sacs in the lungs are filled with fluid or pus. This disease can have serious consequences if it affects infants, young children, the elderly, and people who have weak immune systems.
Wet Lung Symptoms
Wet lung disease can be recognized from a variety of general symptoms, including:
- Dry cough or cough with yellow, brown, green, or reddish phlegm (coughing up blood).
- Chest pain that gets worse when coughing.
- Breathing heavily or feeling short of breath, even when at rest.
- Fever, chills, and frequent sweating.
- Loss of appetite.
- Tired or looking low on energy.
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Heart beat.
In addition to general symptoms, there are also additional symptoms of wet lungs that appear according to the age of the sufferer, namely:
- In infants, cough symptoms may not be very obvious. Symptoms that can appear are usually the baby becomes fussy and has difficulty eating or drinking.
- In children under 5 years of age, breathing may become rapid and wheezing.
- In adults, additional symptoms can include confusion, drowsiness, and even coma.
Causes of Wet Lungs
There are many things that can infect the lungs to cause wet lungs, namely:
1. Bacterial infection
The most common bacteria that causes pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae. In addition, there are also Legionella pneumophila, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Haemophilus influenzae bacteria. Wet lungs can be caused by transmission of germs from other people or due to long-term use of a ventilator.
2. Viral infection
Viral infections that cause flu, bronchitis, and bronchiolitis are common causes of pneumonia in toddlers. This type of pneumonia is usually milder and can heal on its own in 1-3 weeks without treatment. However, there are also those that can become more severe.
3. Fungal infection
Pneumonia due to fungal infections is more common in people who have chronic health problems or a weak immune system. Infection can also occur after the fungus from the soil or bird droppings is inhaled. Examples of fungi that can cause pneumonia are Pneumocystis jirovecii, Cryptococcus, and Histoplasmosis.
In addition to infection, pneumonia can also occur due to other things, such as aspiration pneumonia which occurs due to the entry of foreign objects, such as gastric fluid, saliva, food, or drink, into the respiratory tract and cause lung disorders. In certain cases, pneumonia can also appear due to pleural effusion.
How to Prevent Wet Lungs?
Prevention of wet lung can be done by implementing a healthy lifestyle, namely:
- Get vaccinated against pneumonia (PCV vaccine) and influenza.
- Do not smoke and reduce consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- Diligently wash your hands, to avoid transmitting germs from other people or from objects contaminated with germs.
- Keeping the environment clean, for example by disposing of garbage in its place and cleaning the house regularly.
- Cover mouth and nose with handkerchief when sneezing.
- Use a mask when there is air pollution or people who are sick with coughs or colds around the house or office.
Wet lung is a health problem that needs to be examined and treated by a pulmonary specialist. If left untreated, this condition has the potential to get worse and damage the lungs.
Treatment of pneumonia or pneumonia is tailored to the severity and cause. For example, if pneumonia is caused by a bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. For pneumonia that is so severe that it causes respiratory failure, treatment requires breathing apparatus and intensive care in the ICU.
To make it easier to consult a doctor, you can find out a specialist doctor at the nearest hospital, you know. There are tens of thousands of doctors that you can choose from on the Alodokter website.