Can severe pneumonia be fatal?

Pneumonia refers to edema and exudation in the cells and tissues around the lungs due to many reasons, such as viral infection. Patients will cough, spit, be afraid of cold, have fever all over, and have difficulty breathing. This is a comprehensive respiratory disease. Many people are afraid of pneumonia and think that pneumonia will definitely lead to death, such as varicella pneumonia. So, is pneumonia serious? Will it be fatal?

If the diagnosis of pneumonia is established, the severity of the disease, the spread of lung inflammation, and the degree of systemic inflammatory response are evaluated. In addition, patients with the following risk factors may increase the severity of pneumonia and the risk of death:

(I) Medical history: age > 65 years; presence of underlying diseases or related factors, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, chronic heart and renal insufficiency, chronic liver disease, hospitalization within one year, suspected aspiration, abnormal mental status, post-splenectomy status, long-term alcoholism or malnutrition.

(ii) Respiratory rate > 30 times/min; pulse ≥ 120 times/min; blood pressure < 90/60 mmHg; body temperature ≥ 40°C or ≤ 35°C; impaired consciousness; presence of extrapulmonary infection lesions such as meningitis or even sepsis (infectious poisoning).

(III) Laboratory and imaging abnormalities: blood white blood cell count >20X109/L; arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaCO2) >50mmHg when breathing air; blood creatinine >106umol/L or blood urea nitrogen >7.1mmol/L; hemoglobin <90g/L or hematocrit <0.30; plasma albumin 25g/L; evidence of infection or disseminated intravascular coagulation, such as positive blood culture, metabolic acidosis, prolonged prothrombin time and partially activated thromboplastin time, thrombocytopenia; chest X-ray lesions involving more than one lobe, the presence of cavities, rapid spread of lesions, or the presence of pleural effusion.

There is currently no universally accepted standard for severe pneumonia. If a patient with pneumonia requires respiratory support (acute respiratory failure, deterioration in gas exchange with hypercapnia or persistent hypoxemia), circulatory support (hemodynamic impairment, peripheral hypoperfusion), and requires intensive monitoring and treatment (infection and toxicity caused by pneumonia or other organ dysfunction caused by underlying diseases), he or she may be considered to have severe pneumonia. Many countries have developed diagnostic criteria for severe pneumonia. Although they vary, they all focus on the extent of lung lesions, organ perfusion and oxygenation status.

For friends who are suffering from pneumonia, they must not smoke or drink, try to eat a light diet, do not eat irritating foods, and do not touch raw or cold foods. The disease is generally not hereditary, so patients can rest assured. Do not use medication blindly during treatment. Instead, treat the disease based on your physical condition and the doctor's advice.