The 13 symptoms of pneumonia never to ignore after Queen Camilla’s diagnosis

QUEEN In the UK, pneumonia affects about 220,000 people annually, including Camilla.

After a “chest infection” was previously disclosed, she disclosed today that pneumonia was the reason she had to skip multiple royal engagements.

Camilla, 77, is suffering from persistent fatigue due to pneumonia.

According to a royal source, “The Queen is in excellent form on certain days. One of those things, that’s all.

People of all ages can get pneumonia, a lung infection.

While some people may experience severe symptoms and feel quite ill, most people recover completely with the correct care.

While viral pneumonia typically resolves on its own with rest and plenty of fluids, antibiotics are administered when the cause is bacterial.

It was believed that Camilla’s case would go viral.

It was revealed that Camilla had been diagnosed with a chest infection in the beginning of November.

“A chest infection is an infection that affects your lungs or airways and symptoms include a chesty cough, wheezing or shortness of breath, a high temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above, and chest pains or discomfort,” stated Dr. Andrew Whittamore, Clinical Lead at Asthma + Lung UK and a practicing general practitioner.

The majority of chest infections are mild and go away in three weeks, but some might progress to more dangerous conditions like bronchitis or pneumonia.

Inflammation of the lungs’ airways, known as bronchitis, can be brought on by an infection.

“They can also worsen underlying health conditions such as asthma orCOPD.”

According to Asthma + Lung UK, pneumonia claims the lives of over 25,000 people in the UK every year.

It indicates that the death rate in the UK is higher than that of any other European nation.

Infection-induced inflammation of one or both lungs’ air sacs, which may fill with fluid or pus, results in pneumonia.

Pneumonia risks rise throughout the cold months.

What signs and symptoms are present, and when should you act?

What are the symptoms?

The main distinction between pneumonia and other infections is how severe its symptoms are.

Breathlessness, wheezing, or coughing can all be symptoms of a chest infection.

As for pneumonia, Dr. Whittamore states: “Symptoms can include a cough, difficulty breathing, a high temperature, chest pain, and loss of appetite.”

Asthma + Lung states that the following are typical symptoms:

• Having a cough your cough might be dry, or you might cough up yellow, green, brown or blood-stained mucus
• Feeling weak and tired and generally ill
• Feeling like you cannot catch your breath (shortness of breath)
• Lack of appetite
• Fast heartbeat
• Sweating and shivering
• Chest pain, caused by inflammation of the thin lining between the lung an ribcage

You might also have symptoms such as:

• Confusion (particularly in older people)
• Low blood pressure
• Coughing up blood
• Joint or muscle pain/an achy body
• Feeling sick or being sick

The onset of severe dyspnea and chest discomfort is a crucial indicator that pneumonia has replaced a common respiratory ailment like the flu or a cold.

In contrast to common colds or flus, pneumonia frequently results in breathing difficulties and a stabbing or intense discomfort in the chest that gets worse when you cough or take heavy breaths.

As soon as these symptoms emerge, it’s critical to get medical help.

According to the NHS, the symptoms may appear gradually or as quickly as 24 hours.

999 should always be called in an emergency.

How serious can it be?

According to Dr. Whittamore: “Chest infections can be more common in young children, people over 65, and people who already have lung diseases like asthma or COPD.

“Among these groups, they may also be more severe since the inflammation narrows the airways, making breathing more difficult.

“Also, in young children and older people it may be harder for them to get rid of mucus because their body’s defenses may not beworking as well in the lungs.”

According to an analysis of 2022 asthma + lung data, lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIS) were responsible for 126,229 deaths in the previous five years.

Although influenza, whooping cough, acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis, and pneumonia are all considered LRTIs, pneumonia accounts for the majority of mortality in this category.

Pneumonia accounted for 81.9% of LRTI deaths in England between 2017 and 2021.

The largest risk factor for pneumonia-related deaths is age, with 85% of those who pass away being over 75.

In 2022, Sarah Woolnough, the charity’s CEO, stated: “It’s appalling that the UK has the highest number of pneumonia-related deaths in Europe.

“The state of lung health isn’t good enough and we must do better to protect people from life-threatening chest infections, such as pneumonia.”

The charity has cautioned that the illness can be fatal at any age, although the elderly are most vulnerable.