What is bilateral pneumonia, the serious illness Jordi González suffered in Colombia: "It killed Pope Francis."

Presenter Jordi González has revealed that he was close to death during a stay in Medellín (Colombia) when he was stricken with pneumonia that forced him into a coma for three weeks , he recently told the media.

"What I had was bilateral bronchopneumonia , which is the disease that killed Pope Francis, aggravated by a kidney crisis," the presenter recently said, asserting that it is a condition with a high mortality rate.

This weekend, on Col•lapse, he gave more details: "I went on vacation for a few days and fell victim to a bacteria in the air. I left home in the morning and, when I came back, I was short of breath," he said, visibly thinner. "What little air I got, my body used for my heart and to keep me alive. And I don't remember anything else until many weeks later."

What is pneumonia?

As pulmonologist Joaquín Lamela López, a member of Top Doctors, explained to 20minutos , "pneumonia is a lung infection . It can affect people of any age, but is more serious in very young people, those over 65, alcoholics, patients with congestive heart disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease, or a weakened immune system. In patients with underlying illnesses, it can become life-threatening if left untreated."

In cases like Jordi González's, bilateralism refers to the fact that it occurs in both lungs simultaneously.

"Pneumonia," Lamela continues, "can be caused by a wide variety of microorganisms , including viruses, bacteria, and, less commonly, fungi. The most common cause of pneumonia is the pneumococcus bacterium."

"As the microorganisms multiply, the lung alveoli become inflamed and accumulate fluid," he explains. "These changes are what cause the symptoms of pneumonia."

What are the symptoms?

About them, the doctor recalls that they include:

Furthermore, the expert emphasizes that it is important to differentiate pneumonia from another, much more common respiratory condition , such as acute bronchitis. The latter, he says, "usually does not cause fever; it is usually caused by a virus and, therefore, does not require antibiotic treatment."

How is it diagnosed?

"Diagnosing pneumonia," Lamela clarifies, "usually requires a complete medical history , a thorough physical examination (especially of the lungs and heart), and a chest X-ray. The need for other tests depends on the severity of the disease and the risk of complications."

He also adds that "pneumonia can decrease the amount of oxygen available in the blood. This level is measured with a pulse oximeter or, in the most ill, can be determined by taking a blood sample from an artery."

"Evaluating pneumonia," she says, "begins with a medical history or interview . The doctor will ask what symptoms you're experiencing and when they began. It's important to mention any fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, or pain when breathing."

"People with pneumonia often have crackles upon inspiration , sounds similar to those made when rubbing a small strand of hair with your fingers, and decreased breath sounds in the area of ​​the pneumonia," he adds.

And he concludes: "Based on clinical suspicion and examination, the doctor confirms the diagnosis with a chest X-ray , the best test for diagnosing pneumonia. If the chest X-ray raises concerns, the doctor may order a chest CT scan."

How is it treated?

Lamela explains that a person with pneumonia typically begins to improve after three to five days with antibiotic treatment . "Improvement can be defined," he notes, "as feeling better and having fewer symptoms like cough and fever. Fatigue and a persistent but mild cough may last up to a month, although most people are able to resume normal activities within seven days. Patients treated in the hospital may need three or more weeks to resume normal activities."

"Pneumonia can be treated successfully without complications," he says. "However, they can occur in some patients, especially those at high risk. For example, fluid can build up between the covering of the lungs (pleura) and the inner lining of the chest wall; this is called pleural effusion. If the fluid becomes infected as a result of pneumonia (empyema), a chest tube may need to be placed to drain it."

"Another possible complication is an abscess , a collection of pus in the area infected with pneumonia. And bacteremia, when the lung infection spreads to the blood; this is a serious complication as the infection can spread from the bloodstream to other organs."

Still, he concludes, "most people recover from pneumonia. It is only fatal in some cases: less than 3 percent of people who are hospitalized and less than 1 percent of those treated at home will die as a result of pneumonia or its complications."

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