LONDON (AP) — Vatican officials say Pope Francis has a complicated respiratory infection and will need more targeted drug treatment. The 44 -year-old pope is suffering from a “ respiratory tract infection .”What is a respiratory tract infection ? Basically, it means a mix of bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites is growing in someone’s lungs .“Often, people get bronchitis or respiratory infections, and it’s often a lung infection,” said Dr. Maur Sauler , an expert at Yale University School of Medicine. He said such problems were common in older people who may have weakened immune systems or have underlying health problems . He lost part of his right lung decades ago after being hospitalized with pneumonia . Breathing assistance, including oxygen support or chest physiotherapy, may be needed to help clear the fluid that has built up in the lungs . Hopkinson said the pope should be given the right medication . Antibiotic treatment usually takes a few days to about two weeks. The pope, who may be given a variety of medications, including those that people usually take for conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, will also undergo physiotherapy to keep his chest as clear as possible . Dr. Peter Opens haw , a lung specialist at Imperial College London, said the presence of multiple organisms in people with complex medical conditions was not uncommon but could be difficult to manage . Pneumonia, which is also a leading cause of death, can be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics do not work in isolation, and a person’s immune system is also important in fighting off pneumonia, noting that older people’s immune systems are not usually as resilient.
