How can COVID-19 avoid pneumonia?

Recently, some netizens reported that some infected people in COVID-19 found pneumonia during medical treatment, and even had "white lung" on CT scan. What is "white lung"? How to avoid pneumonia caused by COVID-19 infection? The National Health and Family Planning Commission organized respiratory critical care experts, vice president of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, and director of Beijing Institute of Respiratory Diseases Tong to respond to hot issues of public concern.

Q: Please briefly introduce what is "white lung" and what measures are generally taken to treat it?

A: "White lung" is a colloquial description in clinical work. It's either pneumonia or "white lung". When the medical staff say "white lung", it means that the patient has severe pneumonia. Many times we don't call it "white lung", but describe whether it is unilateral or bilateral, upper or lower. Only when the lesion of both lungs reaches more than 75% can it be called "white lung".

Recently, some patients suffered from common pneumonia. Very few patients with "white lung" also have corresponding treatment methods. Whether it is severe pneumonia, hypoxemia or acute respiratory failure, we have relatively mature treatment methods, and there are corresponding guidelines and strategies from international to domestic.

Recently, according to the rescue work of severe and critical patients in designated hospitals in Beijing, the proportion of "white lung" or severe and critical patients accounts for 3% ~ 4%. The treatment of respiratory failure caused by pneumonia has been very mature in clinic. As long as the doctor sees a doctor in time, the doctor treats him in time, inhales oxygen, uses non-invasive ventilator and invasive ventilator, and even uses extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) in severe cases, a considerable number of patients can get better.

Q: How to prevent COVID-19 infection from causing pneumonia due to untimely treatment?

A: The incidence of pneumonia is high in winter. Young adults have pneumonia, and their body temperature rises immediately, causing fever, respiratory cough and expectoration. These symptoms are obvious, and you often go to the hospital in time. Pneumonia in the elderly may not have fever or obvious respiratory symptoms. Some elderly people cannot show any special symptoms. Family members see that the elderly do not have a fever or cough, and sometimes they do not pay attention to it, which may delay treatment.

The incidence of pneumonia in the elderly is hidden and sometimes there are no obvious symptoms. We can't observe the old people according to their reactions such as fever, cough and expectoration. It should be noted that if the elderly suddenly do not like to eat, the whole person is depressed or sleepy, they should seek medical advice in time. We should closely observe the situation of the elderly.

Here are some suggestions. The cold weather in winter is also the season of high incidence of pneumonia. Even without COVID-19, elderly people with basic diseases are prone to pneumonia. Pay attention to monitoring symptoms such as respiratory rate, chest tightness and shortness of breath. If the oxygen saturation is lower than 93%, go to the hospital in time.