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The sudden death of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, who played Shan Cai in "Meteor Garden," left many fans shocked on Monday.
Her reported cause of death was influenza-induced pneumonia, which can be a mild, severe, or potentially life-threatening acute respiratory infection.
In fact, pneumonia was listed as the fourth leading cause of death in the Philippines last year.
In a previous episode of “Pinoy MD,” pulmonologist Dr. Rosario Layao said that pneumonia is caused by viruses like influenza, bacteria like tuberculosis, or fungi.
Barbie, 48, contracted influenza while on a Lunar New Year trip to Japan with her family.
Influenza
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), influenza or flu is a common infection all over the world. It is caused by four types of viruses, but Type A and B cause seasonal epidemics of disease.
The virus spreads easily in crowded areas via droplets when infected people cough or sneeze.
Among its symptoms include fever, dry cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise, sore throat, and runny nose.
Most patients recover on their own but severe cases and people with risk factors and other co-morbidities may need medical treatment.
Pneumonia
Severe influenza may progress to pneumonia, which can fill lungs with fluid or pus and make it difficult to breathe. People who have weak immune systems are more often at risk of infection and may need hospitalization.
“Nagkakaroon ng infection ‘yung lungs. So ‘pag nagkakaroon ng infection, nagkakaroon ng pamamaga. Parang ‘yung skin infection. So ‘pag may skin infection, namamaga, namumula, masakit. Parang ganoon din sa nangyayari sa lungs,” Layao said.
American Lung Association (ALA) said viral pneumonia is contagious until the symptoms, such as fever, improve.
Symptoms may include cough which may produce greenish, yellow or even bloody mucus, shortness of breath, rapid, shallow breathing, sharp or stabbing chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough, fatigue, nausea and vomiting or confusion especially in older people.
Prevention
One of the best ways to prevent pneumonia from entering our system is through vaccines.
“Very important ‘yung vaccination, bakuna sa trangkaso, at saka bakuna sa pneumonia. Dapat ipa-prioritize natin 'yung mga pasyenteng 55 and above or 'yung mga pasyenteng may mga chronic diseases or co-morbids, katulad ng kidney disease, liver disease, cancer or diabetes,” Layao said.
ALA also suggests washing hands frequently especially after coughing or blowing your nose, going to the bathroom, diapering, and before eating or preparing foods.
Don’t smoke or quit immediately as tobacco damages the lung's ability to fight off infection. People who smoke have been found to be at higher risk of getting pneumonia.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle such as, having a healthy balanced diet, exercising regularly are also good practices to prevent pneumonia.
Treatment
Pneumonia is curable so if symptoms persist, always consult your doctor to get the appropriate treatment.
Influenza-induced pneumonia, as a viral illness, requires antiviral medication is needed to treat it. Pneumonia caused by bacteria, meanwhile, can be treated through antibiotics.
You can also do home remedies such as taking fever-reducing medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen and drinking plenty of fluids. Avoid cough medicine unless advised by a physician.
ALA also advised to use warm drinks, steamy baths, or a humidifier to ease breathing, and stay away from smoke. Rest and get help with daily tasks while recovering.
In such cases that pneumonia is severe that require hospitalization, you may be given intravenous fluids, antibiotics, oxygen therapy, and additional treatments.
—MGP, GMA Integrated News
