Pope Francis battles double pneumonia; know all about the complex condition

Pope Francis (88) is being treated for double pneumonia following a respiratory infection. According to the latest Vatican report on Thursday, his health remained "stable" with blood tests indicating "slight improvement".

What is double pneumonia?

Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs, in the case of double pneumonia two different organisms are causing the infection. Alveoli in the lungs get filled with pus and fluid restricting oxygen and making breathing extremely difficult.

How is it caused?

Double pneumonia is caused by bacterial, viral or fungal infections.

What are the symptoms?

Coughing, chest congestion, shortness of breath, coughing with phlegm, fever, and fatigue are the common symptoms.

How serious is the illness?

Pneumonia is a serious disease that can even be life-threatening. It is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. Since both lungs are affected in the case of this condition it gets complex to treat.

The Vatican stated that the Pope is infected with "polymicrobial", which means it is caused by a combination of pathogens.

Treatment

In the majority of the cases, pneumonia will heal in a few weeks. If the treatment is not sought in time it could lead to secondary infections causing respiratory failure, and affecting other organs | AP, AFP, Reuters