Ahhh, The Joys Of A Lung Infection

Well, I woke up this morning and decided I was through dealing! I have been fighting a nagging cough, chest pains, and this morning I added trouble breathing. I was the first in line at the 'Same Day Clinic' at 9:00am. And here is what I have:

Bacterial Pneumonia:

1) Fever: > 38.3 degrees Celsius or 100 degrees Fahrenheit
2) Chills -- sudden onset
3) Cough -- dry
4) Cough -- productive with sputum that has a rusty color. It may be thick and have a pinkish tone or blood specks (Streptococcus p.).
5) Chest pain -- sharp, especially upon inhalation (Pleurisy)
6) Rapid shallow breathing
7) Shortness of breath (SOB) -- especially with activity
8) Headache, nausea, vomiting, Diarrhea, and weakness may occur with all types, but more often is due to Legionella p.
9) Abdominal pain
10) Fatigue

Pneumonia is not a single disease, so this is the type that I have:

Bacteria (B.P.) or wet p. -- when the body's resistance is lowered due to certain conditions (i.e., age, disease, alcohol, Malnutrition, or how about breathing pollution for 11 days in Hong Kong!) the normal bacteria of the mouth and the throat multiply and invade one or all of the 5 sections (lobes) of the lungs. The infected lobe (or lobes) then fills with fluid and pus (Consolidation), in turn interfering with the lung's normal oxygen exchange.

The infection can spill into the blood stream and invade the whole body. Bacteria can also enter the lungs from the air or from other sites in the body. Infections can either be acquired from the community at large or while in the hospital.

Streptococcus Pneumonia is the most common cause of bacterial (Lobar) Pneumonia.

I am now taking Augmentin, which is a formulation of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. For those inclined to know, below follows a detailed description of the benefits of Augmentin:

Amoxicillin is a semisynthetic antibiotic with a broad spectrum of bactericidal activity against many gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms. Amoxicillin is, however, susceptible to degradation by -lactamases and, therefore, the spectrum of activity does not include organisms which produce these enzymes. Clavulanic acid is a -lactam, structurally related to the penicillins, which possesses the ability to inactivate a wide range of -lactamase enzymes commonly found in microorganisms resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins. In particular, it has good activity against the clinically important plasmid mediated -lactamases frequently responsible for transferred drug resistance.

The formulation of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in Augmentin protects amoxicillin from degradation by -lactamase enzymes and effectively extends the antibiotic spectrum of amoxicillin to include many bacteria normally resistant to amoxicillin and other -lactam antibiotics. Thus, Augmentin possesses the properties of a broad-spectrum antibiotic and a -lactamase inhibitor.

So, Now I am medicated and should start feeling better day by day.

Oh, if you have been around me for the last couple of days (you know who you are) and start getting a sore throat (often described as feeling like you are swallowing glass!)... You probably have Strep. If so, go see a Doctor... And accept my apologies.