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Suggest Remedy For Pneumonia In An Elderly Person
Question: My mpther is eighty five years old. For a number of weeks about three to four she has been suffering from a severe cest infection bordering on pneumonia at least two goes of the same antibiotic were tried to no avail. Three days ago she went unconscious at home an ambulance was called she had a cardiac arrest in the ambulance. She was revived. She has blood sugar level of 20. What is her chance of slipping into a bad coma. The chest infection is still bad her blood pressure was abnormally low. She usually suffers from high blood pressure at times alarmingly high. Both parents suffered strokes/ Her mother dying from a massive stroke at her present age.My son had [nuemonia and they gave him another type of tablet as they told him antibiotics don't always work in episodes of pneumonia or near to it.. Is it possible that antibiotics aren't really the best medicine in my mothers case.. I need to speak to Dr Sharka again about my stuff as he was the doctor I asked questions of the last time
Brief Answer:
All pneumonias on chest x ray are not always pneumonia.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Pneumonia is infection of lung parenchyma.
Pneumonia produce consolidation on chest x ray.
But reverse is not always true. All consolidations looking things on chest x ray are not always pneumonia. Interstial lung disease, lung cancer etc can look like consolidation (pneumonia) on chest x ray.
So antibiotics are not always beneficial. But if it is confirmed pneumonia by CT scan or bronchoscopy report then antibiotics are the drug of choice.
Best treatment of confirmed pneumonia is identification of causative organism (by culture) and starting appropriate effective antibiotic (according to sensitivity report) treatment.
So please let me know
1. CT thorax was done or not?
2. Bronchoscopy was done or not?
3. Culture and sensitivity report done or not?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your mother. Thanks.
All pneumonias on chest x ray are not always pneumonia.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Pneumonia is infection of lung parenchyma.
Pneumonia produce consolidation on chest x ray.
But reverse is not always true. All consolidations looking things on chest x ray are not always pneumonia. Interstial lung disease, lung cancer etc can look like consolidation (pneumonia) on chest x ray.
So antibiotics are not always beneficial. But if it is confirmed pneumonia by CT scan or bronchoscopy report then antibiotics are the drug of choice.
Best treatment of confirmed pneumonia is identification of causative organism (by culture) and starting appropriate effective antibiotic (according to sensitivity report) treatment.
So please let me know
1. CT thorax was done or not?
2. Bronchoscopy was done or not?
3. Culture and sensitivity report done or not?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your mother. Thanks.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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