Emmanuel O., 16

Emmanuel is a quiet and reserved boy who is often found reading his books. He likes to read novels in his free time. He would like to be a neurosurgeon. He started feeling unwell with joint pains, fever, chest pain, stomach upset and vomiting and was brought to the hospital.

A few days before being taken to the hospital, Emmanuel started feeling unwell with joint pains, fever, high temperature, chest pain, Stomach upset and vomiting. He went into the school clinic, got some medication but the condition worsened. He lost appetite. On second visit to the clinic, the nurse felt that he required advanced observation hence was referred to Ashburn hospital. Had Emmanuel been ignored or left untreated, the nature of his disease would have been fatal. The doctor acted fast by treating him. We have since ascertained that he resumed learning and improved well.

Pneumonia should be treated with antibiotics. If left untreated, pneumonia may lead to the permanent lung damage, respiratory failure, septicaemia (infection entering blood stream and causing sepsis), pleural effusion (accumulation of fluid in the space between the lung and chest wall, which can make breathing difficult), and other life-threatening complications.