Pope Francis, the 88-year-old pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church has been suffering from a condition called double pneumonia, also known as bilateral pneumonia. According to  the Vatican News, the pope has been hospitalized with a polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract on February 14.  

“A follow-up chest CT scan, to which the Holy Father was subjected this afternoon—prescribed by the Vatican medical team and the medical staff of the “A. Gemelli” Polyclinic Foundation—revealed the onset of bilateral pneumonia, requiring additional pharmacological therapy,” a message issued by the Holy See Press Office read. 

What’s double pneumonia? 

Pneumonia is an infection of either or both the lungs caused by bacteria, virus, or fungi. The tiny, thin membranous structures in the lungs, also known as  air sacs or alveoli,  become inflamed, and are filled with pus and other liquid. While there are 30 different causes of the respiratory infection, the main types are as follows:

Bacterial pneumonia

It is caused by various bacteria, the most common being Streptococcus Pneumoniae. This form usually infects individuals whose body is weakened in some way by illness, inadequate nutrition, old age, or impaired immunity.

Viral pneumonia

Caused by viruses, this type of lung infection includes the flu (influenza), and is responsible for about one-third of all cases. 

The condition that ails pope is double pneumonia as it involves both his lungs.  However, infection in both the lungs doesn’t necessarily mean that it is severe. Severity of the infection depends on which part of the lung is infected.

“Pneumonia is considered to be severe if vital organs or systems such as the heart, the kidneys or the circulatory system are at risk of failing, or if the lungs can no longer absorb enough oxygen,” says this explanatory note.

The Vatican has said that the pope’s infection is “polymicrobial” in nature. This means that infection is caused by a combination of bacteria, virus, and fungus. 

Diagnosis

When an individual presents with a suspected case of the infection, the healthcare staff samples their lungs with a sputum test or a swab. The individual is also made to undergo an X-ray to ascertain which parts of the lungs are infected. Healthy lungs will appear empty in an X-ray, whereas those that are infected will show up as containing a solid white mass on X-ray or CT scan.

Who is at a risk?

Infants under 2 years and elderly above 65 are at a risk of developing pneumonia of one or both lungs. The former because of an underdeveloped immune system and the latter due to a compromised immune response.

Those with an existing lung condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are also at risk, so are the individuals who smoke tobacco or are on immunosuppressant medications.

Thus, octogenarian Pope Francis who has a history of lung disease falls in the category of individuals especially susceptible to pneumonia.

Treatment

A bacterial pneumonia is generally treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. If the cause is viral, then treatment could take longer  as the available antivirals are not less targeted. In severe cases the patient may need intensive care on a breathing machine. This will facilitate the availability of sufficient oxygen, while the patient’s body fights the infection. If the cause of the illness is a fungus, then antifungal medications may need to be administered.

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