Research Paper on Use of Glucocorticoids

Introduction

When glucocorticoids also known as steroids or corticosteroids are used correctly for a short period, the drugs are very useful in the prevention of inflammation on the respiratory system which may be a result of disorders caused weak immune system. The research indicates that corticosteroids help in lowering deaths in older individuals with acute Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP). Proper administering of steroids on adults infected with CAP reduces clinical failures such as death, shortens the duration for treatment, reduces the days patient may stay in the hospital, and the procedure has few complications. The treatment is not very useful for children, however; the diagnosis can still work on children depending on the state of pneumonia. Besides, for adults who have acute pneumonia and do not use steroids, the patient may experience severe respiratory distress signs and may be forced into mechanical ventilation (Wan et al., 2016).

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Pneumococcal Vaccine

The vaccines prevent children under the age of five years and adults above 65 years from Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria which may bring respiratory infections. The two vaccines that are Pneumococcal polysaccharide immunization and Pneumococcal conjugate immunization which are given to adults and children respectively are beneficial to the body in the production of proteins and antibodies that fights pneumonia bacteria. The vaccine is also helpful to persons who have a deficiency in their immune system examples HIV and addicted smokers. Severe pneumonia affected individuals can be immunized to boost their body to produce proteins that form antibodies which will act on antigens pneumonia bacteria. The vaccine is sufficient for children and older people since their immune systems are generally weak (Bonten et al., 2015).

Use of Cough Medicine

The treatment method is advantageous in a calming cough so that patient could rest. Coughing process is usually associated with loss of fluids from the person's lungs hence may lead to dehydration of the body. The study shows that the counter coughing drugs helps in preventing the cough which may be as a result of pneumonia. Correct use of dose relieves the person from severe pneumonia as well as calms the syndromes (Harris, 2016).

In case the pneumonia patient is allergic to antibiotic treatment then, the best medication should be the use of coughing drugs, corticosteroids to boost the formation of antibodies and vaccines. Corticosteroids are very effective on adults when used for a short period of time but the steroids when misuse can interfere with immune responses of the body.

References

Bonten, M. J., Huijts, S. M., Bolkenbaas, M., Webber, C., Patterson, S., Gault, S., ... & Patton, M. (2015). Polysaccharide conjugate vaccine against pneumococcal pneumonia in adults. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(12), 1114-1125.

Harris, A. M., Hicks, L. A., & Qaseem, A. (2016). Appropriate antibiotic use for acute respiratory tract infection in adults: advice for high-value care from the American College of Physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Annals of internal medicine, 164(6), 425-434.

Wan, Y. D., Sun, T. W., Liu, Z. Q., Zhang, S. G., Wang, L. X., & Kan, Q. C. (2016). Efficacy and safety of corticosteroids for community-acquired pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Chest, 149(1), 209-219.