Notes

Family history: a myocardial disease record on his father's side

He has been diagnosed as having pneumonia by Dr. Chapman in St. Andrew Hospital.
His past history included appendicectomy, cervical spondylosis and hypertension.
Today morning he felt a severe stabbing pain in the left side of his chest and left fingers. The pain .......
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of bacterial pneumonia. It is usually caused by inflammation of the alveoli in the lungs or by alveoli that are filled with fluid and pus, as people breathe pneumonia-causing germs into the lungs and their immune system cannot prevent entry.

It is more likely to occur when people suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, alcoholism, Legionnaire's disease and heart disease.

Pneumonia is characterized by low levels of oxygen and thirst.

Diagnosis is made based on chest X-Ray and the sputum test in laboratory by Dr. Chapman in St. Andrew Hospital.

Mr. Robert Scott, with the confirmation of pneumonia, is treated with the prescribed oral antibiotics for 2 weeks together with oxygen therapy to facilitate smooth breathing, referral to Chest Physiotherapist to lead the ways to cough out the phlegm and a normal saline drip to prevent dehydration. Antibiotics are possible to cause diarrhoea and swelling.

Pneumonia can usually be treated after physiotherapy treatments, if not, Mr. Scott will be considered for an electrocardiographic examination.

It is recommended that Mr. Scott should take the vaccination in a clinic after recovery so as to reduce the risk of further infection. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine are available to prevent pneumococcal disease for adults who are at increased risk of developing pneumococcal pneumonia. The vaccine may not completely prevent older adults from getting pneumonia but it can reduce the severity of future pneumonia.

It is also suggested that Mr. Scott should wash hands, refrain from smoking and drinking, eat healthfully, exercise and stay away from sputum or cough particles from others with pneumonia or throat infection. Mr. Scott should better not to drink too much alcohol.

It is believed that consuming foods like wild-caught salmon, walnuts and dark chocolate can improve mood. Alcohol should not be used to anesthetize himself against problems and deal with depression.