Flu is a colloquialism for influenza. The flu is an acute respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses A or B . Most people who get the flu recover completely in 1 to 2 weeks, but some people develop serious and potentially life-threatening medical complications, such as pneumonia. Much of the illness and death caused by…...

If the symptoms of the cough or pneumonia are progressively getting worse it’s time to consult the doctor, says Dr. Carol Barrocas, Internal Medicine Physician with Baptist Health South Florida. Those symptoms could be: chest pain increases, fever does not diminish, breathing becomes more difficult or the cough is stronger. Physical exam, chest x-ray, blood…...

Dr. Carol Barrocas, Internal Medicine Physician with Baptist Health South Florida, says that seniors, at their age, have a weaker immune system, susceptible to any type of infection or disease. She also says, a lot of seniors are also in skilled nursing facilities where they are exposed quite a bit. Dr. Michelle Brewster, Internal Medicine…...

With a digital imaging, Dr. Michelle Brewster, Internal Medicine Physician with Baptist Health South Florida, explains how the pneumonia infection occurs in lungs. Dr. Carol Barrocas, Internal Medicine Physician with Baptist Health South Florida, also explains how the alveoli look and what’s happening when the infection occurs. When there is infection, there’s inflammation on the…...

Dr. Michelle Brewster, Internal Medicine Physician with Baptist Health South Florida and Dr. Carol Barrocas, Internal Medicine Physician at the same place, agree that each patient of pneumonia should be treated individually. Hospitalization depends on the age of the patient, the severity of illness and if the patient has an additional condition like diabetes, high…...

Visiting a physician in order to get a physical exam is the first way to evaluate someone if he is not sure about his respiratory system, says Dr. Deepa Sharma, Family Medicine Physician with Baptist Health Primary Care. The specialist also explains that physicians listen to the patients' lungs and order a chest x-Ray if…...

If anyone is 65 and their symptoms of pneumonia are getting worse, he is considered for hospitalization. However, it’s necessary to include other criteria such as increased respiratory rate (rapid breathing) or lower blood pressure than normal, describes Dr. Carol Barrocas, Internal Medicine Physician with Baptist Health South Florida. Dr. Michelle Brewster, Internal Medicine Physician…...

With a digital imaging, Stacey Baker, Infectious Disease Physician with Baptist Health South Florida, explains what is happening when a patient has pneumonia. Pneumonia happens when people get inflammation along the lung and mucus can form in their airways. Mucus accumulation makes difficult for the patient to breathe, she describes. Most of the times, people…...