The Pope’s health is always news. The Vatican confirmed that the Pope Francisco86 years old, has a lung infectionwhich is why he was admitted this Wednesday to the gemelli hospital from Rome to be subjected to a “scheduled medical control”.
“The Holy Father is in [el hospital] Gemelli from this afternoon for previously scheduled checks,” said the director of the Holy See press office, Matteo Bruni who also confirmed to TN that he has a lung infection.
The pulmonologist, Oscar Rizzo, head of the Emergency Department of the María Ferrer Hospital, explained to Infobae: “The most common lung infection at the pope’s age is pneumonia, which has a risk that increases with age. Pneumonia at 50 years of age is not the same as at 70 or 80. The risks increase with age and this is basically due to the aging of the immune mechanisms of the elderly”.
Rizzo added regarding treatment: “They can respond to antibiotics and require the administration of intravenous antibiotics, especially if there are risk factors such as decreased oxygenation or the extent of the disease. The fact that he has had a previous pneumonectomy obviously means that he has a slightly lower lung capacity than someone who does not have it and that is also an increased risk.
And he added: “As long as he remains in a stable attitude and promptly receives antibiotics, one could expect a favorable resolution of the infection as long as it has not spread into the blood. Infections that spread to the blood carry a much higher risk.”
For her part, the pulmonologist Gabriela Tabaj (MN 107176), from the Hospital del Tórax Dr. Antonio A. Cetrángolo, told infobae: “Usually, when talking about “lung infection” reference is made to pneumonia. “The case would have to be evaluated in detail, but on some occasions there may be what are called “bronchiectasis” which are sequelae at the pulmonary level that make it difficult to eliminate secretions with their subsequent infection. In these cases, the pneumonias are recurrent, which would not be the case with the Pope, ”he added.
It is estimated, according to data provided by Tabaj, that 4 to 5 million people in the United States develop pneumonia each year, of whom about 55,000 die. “In the United States, pneumonia, along with the flu, is the eighth leading cause of death and is the leading cause of death from infection,” he added.
For the diagnosis in general, “in addition to the clinical and physical examination, a chest X-ray or tomography is needed. In some cases it is also complemented with blood and sputum tests. In older adults, pneumonia can present with more serious pictures. So much so that pneumococcal vaccination is recommended in adults over 65 years of age or in people with previous respiratory or cardiological pathologies”, said the expert.
Regarding the symptoms, the expert indicated: “The most frequent symptoms are cough, which can sometimes cause yellowish or greenish sputum, fever or chills, and difficulty breathing. Sometimes chest pain of the “side stitch” type may appear.
Tabaj explained online with his colleague how the treatment is: “The early initiation of antibiotic treatment in patients with pneumonia is very important and it should be administered within 4 hours of diagnosis, since a reduction in morbidity and mortality, as well as in hospital stay. Adult patients with pneumonia are divided into different groups, depending on the greater or lesser risk of having a complicated evolution, that is, the prognostic factors of severity.
And he added: “For this, severity scales are used, the most used is the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) where each group of patients with pneumonia has a different treatment. Adult patients with pneumonia are divided into different groups, depending on the greater or lesser risk of having a complicated evolution, that is, the prognostic factors of severity.
The Pope had to cancel or reduce his activities several times last year due to pain and in an interview in July 2022 he acknowledged that he needed to slow down, although he has assured on several occasions that you don’t want to operate.
In July 2021, he underwent colon surgery after suffering a type of diverticulitis, an inflammation of the pouches that develop in the lining of the intestine. At that time, he remained hospitalized for 10 days after the operation.
Francis’s predecessor, Benedict XVIwho died in December, resigned in 2013 due to health problems.
General hearing without problems
During this morning, Francis celebrated the general audience and he was seen in good health and without problems and next Sunday the Palm Sunday mass is scheduled.
During the general audience held in the Plaza de San Pedro, the pontiff asked to pray for the migrants who died “in the tragic fire” of a station of the National Institute of Migration (INM) in Juarez Cityin Mexico.
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Pope Francis dedicated prayers to the migrants who died in the fire in Ciudad Juárez
Source-www.infobae.com