Rome (AP) – Pope Francis was Hospitalized Friday For the fourth time since her elected representative in 2013, after receiving a diagnosis of bronchitis last week. Francis had a part of a lung withdrawn as a young man and has recurring bronchitis episodes, especially in winter.
In an evening bulletin, the Vatican said that preliminary tests showed that Francis had a respiratory tract infection, was making a light fever and was in a “just” state in Gemelli Hospital in Rome where he was undergoing drug therapy .
The 88 -year -old Pope also has other health problems: he was part of his Large intestine removed in 2021Use a wheelchair, cane or walker because of bad knee ligaments and suffers from sciatic nervous pain.
Bronchitis is generally triggered by respiratory viruses, from colds to more serious infections such as flu or RSV. The bronchitis sets in when the respiratory tract leading to the lungs are inflamed, causing a mucus that people try to retest.
The immune system decreases with age, leaving older adults particularly vulnerable both to respiratory viruses and complications of them as bronchitis. The pope said he had a cold earlier this month and was subject to repeated episodes of bronchitis.
When symptoms of bronchitis become serious – like causing chest pain, whistling breathing and shortness of breath – it is important to see a doctor. Treatment can include bronchodilators to open the airways and help breathe anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroids to fight swelling and help mucus. Doctors can also treat underlying infection with antiviral drugs or, if the cause was a bacterial infection rather than a virus, with antibiotics.
Sometimes bronchitis can cause pneumoniaA deeper and much more serious infection of the air bags of the lungs. Francis said he had a case of pneumonia in 2023. The treatment varies according to severity but may include the supply of oxygen through a tube or a nasal mask, intravenous liquids – and the treatment of the underlying cause of infection.
Here is an overview of the pontiff health history.
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1957: In his native Argentina, Francis, then at the beginning of the twenty, suffered from a serious respiratory infection which forced doctors to remove a part of a lung. He later recalled that a nurse had saved his life at the time, deciding to double the amount of medication given to him.
July 4 to 14, 2021: he spent 10 days in Gemelli Rome Hospital for what the Vatican said a narrowing of the large intestine. Doctors withdrew 33 centimeters (13 inches) from his colon. Francis came out, saying that he could Eat everything he wantsBut deplores that he did not respond well to general anesthesia.
January 24, 2023: the pope told the Associated Press that diverticulosis, or bulges of its intestinal wall, which had caused the 2021 surgery had returned but was under control.
March 29 to April 1, 2023: Francis spent three days in Gemelli with Respiratory infection After having felt strong pain in his chest and having trouble breathing. Doctors diagnosed acute bronchitis and treated it with intravenous antibiotics, although Francis later said that it was actually acute pneumonia.
June 6, 2023: he suffered unpertified medical checks to Gemelli before returning to the Vatican.
June 7-16, 2023: Francis underwent abdominal surgery to eliminate scar tissue and repair an abdominal hernia and have been released Nine days later. His surgeon, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, revealed that the scars were not only due to abdominal surgery of 2021, but to previous intestinal surgeries that the Pope had suffered.
February 14, 2025: Francis returned to Gemelli for Bronchitis treatment And other diagnostic tests, said the Vatican. The hospitalization came after Francis declared on February 5 that he had a cold, the Vatican reporting a day later that it was bronchitis. On February 9, Francis said he had trouble breathing while delivering his homily during an outdoor mass. An employee finished him for him. Francis gave his weekly catechism lesson on February 12 to an assistant, saying that he could not read it this week because of his bronchitis but that “I hope that next time, I can.”
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Neergaard contributed from Washington.
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