The death of Val Kilmer on Tuesday has caused reminders of the risks of pneumonia.
The actor, better known for his role as Iceman in “Top Gun”, along with “Batman Forever”, “The Doors” and many other films, was 65 years when he succumbed to respiratory infection in Los Angeles, said Associated Press.
Kilmer’s daughter, Mercedes, confirmed the cause of death, noting that the actor had previously recovered from throat cancer after a 2015 diagnosis.
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What is pneumonia?
The Cleveland clinic defines pneumonia as an infection in the lungs caused by bacteriavirus or fungi.
The death of Val Kilmer on Tuesday at the age of 65 has caused reminders of pneumonia risks. (AP images)
This can make the lung tissue swell and create an accumulation of liquid or pus in the lungs.
Dr. Marc Siegel, Clinical Professor of Medicine at Nyu Langone Health and Senior Medical Analyst of Fox News, said the risk of pneumonia depends on the underlying health conditions of the patient and the strength of the person’s immune system.
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“Val Kilmer had a history of throat cancer, but we do not know if he was receiving a recent treatment that would have made it immunocompromised and more susceptible to severe pneumonia,” Siegel told Fox News Digital.
“We don’t have information about the exact type of pneumonia that I had.”
Bacterial Pneumonia Versus Viral
Most cases of pneumonia acquired in the community are bacterial or viral.
Bacterial pneumonia is normally more serious than viral pneumonia, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
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It can be caused by an infection of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, also called pneumococcal disease. Other bacteria that can cause the respiratory condition include Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, clamidia pneumoniae and legionella (disease of the legionaries), according to the previous source.
“Val Kilmer had a history of throat cancer, but we do not know if he was receiving a recent treatment that would have made him immunocompromised and more susceptible to severe pneumonia,” a doctor told Fox News Digital. (Associated Press)
“Pneumococcus is an important cause of pneumonia, it can be deadly,” Siegel said. “Invasive pneumococcal disease can have a mortality rate of up to 20% in adults.”
The risk of bacterial pneumonia increases with age and chronic diseases, the doctor added.
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Viral pneumonia can sometimes come from viruses that include flu, common cold, COVID-19 and respiratory syncitial virus (RSV), according to Cleveland Clinic.
This type of pneumonia generally improves on its own.
Viral pneumonia can sometimes come from viruses that include flu, common cold, COVID-19 and respiratory syncitial virus (RSV), according to the Cleveland clinic. (Istock)
In less common cases, some fungi (molds) or protozoa can cause pneumonia.
“The biggest concern is that it could extend to the bloodstream and cause sepsis, which is definitely potentially deadly,” Siegel warned.
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Atypical pneumonia are caused by mycoplasma, legionella and types of chlamydia (no ETS) and the whore, the doctor added.
Treatment and prevention
Diagnosis and early treatment are key to recovery, especially in patients at risk, Siegel said.
High risk groups include very young, very old and immunocompromised people, those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and people who smoke.
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For those over 60, the centers for disease control and prevention recommend the pneumococcal vaccine.
“The effective version, known as Previnar, can work against 20 different strains,” said Siegel.
