Complications of respiratory diseases if not treated promptly

Upper respiratory tract infections such as sinusitis and laryngitis, if not properly diagnosed and treated, can lead to serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

Complications of respiratory diseases if not treated promptly

Upper respiratory tract infections such as sinusitis and laryngitis, if not properly diagnosed and treated, can lead to serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

Common upper respiratory tract diseases such as sinusitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, etc. have typical symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, runny nose, stuffy nose, cough and sore throat. However, many patients are often subjective and buy medicine to treat themselves at home without seeing a doctor, causing the disease to not be completely treated.

The upper respiratory tract includes organs such as the nose, sinuses, pharynx, and larynx, which are in direct contact with the external environment.

Therefore, they are very susceptible to attack by pathogens such as viruses, bacteria or fungi. The upper and lower respiratory systems are connected, so if not treated properly, pathogens can spread to the lower organs, causing bronchitis, pneumonia and other serious complications.

People with immunodeficiency or underlying diseases such as diabetes, cancer, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are susceptible to complications such as respiratory failure, orbital sinusitis, cavernous sinus thrombosis, pharyngeal abscess or sepsis.

The cold weather at the end of the year in Ho Chi Minh City, combined with a weakened immune system, is creating favorable conditions for upper respiratory tract infections to flare up. Many patients are complacent and self-treat, making the condition more serious.

A typical case is Ms. PKG (22 years old, Binh Thanh district, Ho Chi Minh City), who had a fever, sore throat, runny nose, stuffy nose and cough for two weeks when the weather turned cold.

Despite self-medicating, her symptoms did not improve but instead became worse. She had a high fever that did not go down, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and a persistent cough, especially at night.

After visiting the ENT Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Huu diagnosed Ms. G. with sinusitis, purulent nasopharyngitis, congestive pharyngitis, and purulent tonsillitis.

After blood tests and X-rays, the results showed that she had pneumonia due to complications from untreated rhinopharyngitis. After following the prescribed treatment, Ms. G.'s condition improved and she fully recovered after two weeks.

Similarly, NMN (7 years old, Tan Binh district, Ho Chi Minh City) had to be hospitalized for treatment of acute bronchitis after rhinopharyngitis was not treated properly.

The baby had a cough, high fever and wheezing after catching a cold. Despite home treatment, the baby’s condition worsened. An ENT endoscopy and chest X-ray showed acute bronchitis. The baby was treated in hospital and recovered after being admitted.

Dr. Ho Van Huu, ENT Center warns that if upper respiratory tract infections are not treated thoroughly, they can cause complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

In particular, chronic bronchitis can lead to pulmonary congestion and respiratory failure. Other complications such as lung abscess, pleural effusion or death can also occur if not promptly intervened, especially in people with underlying diseases or weak immune systems such as the elderly, children and patients with chronic diseases.

Timely detection and treatment of early symptoms is very important. Patients should pay attention to the following signs: high fever that does not subside when using antipyretics; dry cough that turns into cough with green or yellow phlegm; difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe fatigue; children showing signs of fussiness, loss of appetite, and cyanosis.

To reduce the risk of complications, Dr. Huu recommends that patients should see a doctor immediately if symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection do not improve after 3-5 days.

Patients should also follow their doctor's treatment instructions and not use antibiotics on their own. In addition, maintaining a clean living environment, avoiding dust and smoke, ensuring adequate nutrition and keeping the body warm are also ways to help strengthen the immune system. Cleaning the nose and throat with saline solution daily and getting a flu vaccine are also effective preventive measures.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thai Son, Head of the ENT Department, Military Hospital 175 (HCMC), the number of patients examining diseases related to the upper respiratory tract is increasing sharply, especially sinusitis and pharyngitis.

Sudden changes in weather combined with high humidity and the strong spread of bacteria and viruses in the air are the causes of this disease outbreak.

According to doctors here, the prevalence of this disease is increasing, especially when the living environment is polluted and fine dust in the air increases. Cold weather combined with air pollution aggravates sinusitis.

Doctors also warn that a common mistake is that patients often buy medicine without seeing a doctor, leading to incorrect use of medicine, drug resistance and worsening of the disease. Improper self-treatment can cause dangerous side effects and make the disease more difficult to treat.

To prevent respiratory diseases in the cold season, medical experts recommend that people keep their bodies warm when going out, especially the neck, chest, limbs and feet.

At the same time, it is necessary to wear a mask when going out to protect the respiratory tract from dust and pollution. In addition, maintain the habit of cleaning the house, rinsing the nose with saline and improving resistance through diet and regular exercise. If there are symptoms such as prolonged cough, fever, runny nose, people need to see a doctor promptly to avoid dangerous complications.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/bien-chung-cua-benh-ly-ho-hap-neu-khong-duoc-dieu-tri-kip-thoi-d241082.html