Reasons for getting pneumonia - A review from hospitalization after cyanosis appears to full recovery

One November, I visited my mother's nursing home and gave her some food. It got stuck in her throat, causing her face to suddenly turn blue, so we took her to the emergency room. A few days later, she developed pneumonia. I want to share the cause of the pneumonia, the treatment process, and her recovery story.

 

 

✅Definition

 

Pneumonia is an inflammation that occurs in areas such as the lungs.

 

✅Cause

My mother was visited by us and apologized, but it got stuck in her throat, causing cyanosis, and she lost consciousness. As a result, she vomited the obstructed material from her airway, and we performed Heimlich maneuver (airway obstruction emergency treatment).

It seemed to be an aspiration pneumonia caused by foreign substances such as vomit or microorganisms.

 

 

 

✅Symptoms

 

Inflammation occurred in the lungs, accompanied by phlegm and difficulty breathing.

Phlegm sometimes came out with blood, resembling pus.

It was similar to cold symptoms and flu, sometimes accompanied by fever or chills.

✅Diagnosis/Tests

 

Changes in lung shadow through chest X-ray imaging

●CT scan

Collect sputum and culture the causative bacteria.

Blood culture test

Urine antigen test

 

✅Treatment

 

Treatment is administered via intravenous antibiotics.

My mother, due to her advanced age and weakened immunity, was hospitalized for two weeks of treatment.

 

✅Progression/Complications

 

My biggest concern was that pneumonia would worsen, leading to sepsis or shock.

Fortunately, there were no complications, and I was able to be discharged after two weeks of treatment.

 

✅ Prevention methods

 

Flu and pneumonia have vaccines for prevention, so it is recommended that elderly people or those who are eligible for vaccination get vaccinated.

 

✅Treatment process

 

Because my mother has dementia, she continued pneumonia treatment in a ward with caregiver support.

As the guardian, I could only meet the doctor and was unable to visit, only hearing daily updates about the progression of the pneumonia symptoms.

Since it was so severe that they said he might pass away, I was told to prepare, so I even looked into funeral procedures at the crematorium.

After administering antibiotics and ensuring stable rest, the pneumonia symptoms fortunately improved after about 4 to 5 days, and the patient was discharged after approximately two weeks of hospitalization.

Immediately afterward, they took an ambulance and entered the nursing home.

 

The pneumonia has fully recovered, and due to advanced age, her strength was depleted from the pneumonia, so she received hospital prescriptions within the same building, focusing on immune system strengthening with nutritional supplements and IV fluids. Fortunately, she has recovered and is now healthy.

I love my mother who fought illness and won, despite the possibility of complications or recurrence.

Pneumonia that brought me to the brink of death... I am healed and grateful to Baekseong Hospital and Hyosarang Nursing Home.

Chest X-ray image of a pneumonia patient

 

[Appearance after being transferred from the hospital to the nursing home and regaining stability]