It S That Time of Year Let S Talk About Pneumonia!

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR…LET’S TALK ABOUT PNEUMONIA!

WHAT IS PNEUMONIA? PNEUMONIA IS AN INFECTION IN ONE OR BOTH LUNGS. THERE ARE 5 MAIN CAUSES: BACTERIA, VIRUSES, MYCOPLASMAS, OTHER INFECTIOIUS AGENTS AND CERTAIN CHEMICALS.

WHO IS AT RISK?

 ANY CONSUMER THAT HAS HAD RECENT SURGERY

 CONSUMER’S WITH DECREASED MOBILITY SUCH AS BEING WHEELCHAIR BOUND

 INCREASED AGE

 CONSUMER’S WITH CHRONIC RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS SUCH AS COPD AND ASTHMA

 CONSUMER’S WITH SWALLOWING DIFFICULTIES

 SMOKERS

 CONSUMER’S WITH CP

SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF PNEUMONIA:

 COUGH, OFTEN WITH YELLOW/GREEN SPUTUM

 FEVER (CAN BE AS HIGH AS 105 DEGREES)

 SHAKING CHILLS

 SHORTNESS OF BREATH

WHAT CAN STAFF AND CONSUMERS DO TO PREVENT PNEUMONIA?

 GET THE FLU SHOT EVERY YEAR

 GET THE PNEUMONIA VACCINE. DEPENDING ON WHICH VACCINE YOU RECEIVE THESE ARE GIVEN EVERY 5-10 YEARS. NOT EVERYONE IS A CANADIATE FOR THIS VACCINE. THOSE THAT ARE INCLUDE: o CHILDREN UNDER AGE 5

o ADULTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS (HEART, KIDNEY, LUNG, DIABETES TO NAME A FEW)

o THOSE RECOVERING FROM A SERIOUS ILLNESS (CHEMOTHERAPY)

o THOSE THAT LIVE IN CARE FACILITIES (SUCH AS GROUP HOMES)

o AGE 65 OR OLDER

 IF YOU SMOKE, STOP!

 FOR THE CHILDREN WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO EDUCATE PARENTS ON THE HIB VACCINE AND SYNAGIS (A MEDICATION THAT CAN PREVENT RSV)

 AS ALWAYS…GOOD HANDWASHING!