Pope Francis Expected to Be Released From The Hospital in Time for Palm Sunday

Pope expected to lead services fro Palm Sunday

Vatican officials said in a statement that the pope is recovering and even eating pizza while in the hospital.

According to the statement Pope Francis is expected to be released from the hospital this weekend and be present at the Vatican on Palm Sunday.

Seasonal viruses on the rise

There are many different kinds of seasonal viruses, including rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and bacterial pneumonia, that can cause an infection in the respiratory tract and lead to bronchitis.

Age is one of the biggest risk factors for the development of severe illness due to respiratory infections.

“Although these viruses usually cause the common cold, sometimes they can send older adults to the hospital,” Dr. Lauren Ferrante, a Yale Medicine pulmonologist and assistant professor of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at Yale School of Medicine, told Healthline.

Older adults are more at risk for common respiratory infections 

Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security and an infectious disease expert, says there are numerous respiratory infections that have the capacity to send someone to the hospital, including influenza, rhinovirus, RSV, and pneumococcal pneumonia.

The pope may have a greater risk of serious disease since he previously had part of a lung removed.

“Having just one lung would lower the threshold for a respiratory infection to impact oxygenation,” Adalja said.

That said, Ferrante doesn’t expect this to have a major impact on the pope’s recovery.

“The surgery would not have been done if the rest of his lung(s) could not maintain his pulmonary function, so hopefully his trajectory of recovery will not be that different than a person with two intact lungs,” Ferrante said.

In addition, the immune system weakens when we get older, increasing our risk for serious complications from infections like the flu and viruses that cause the common cold in otherwise healthy adults.

Older adults tend to have weaker coughs, which allows more pathogens to enter the lower respiratory tract, Adalja said.

In addition, older adults often have other health conditions that impact the body’s ability to fight infections.

As a result, respiratory infections in older adults are associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

“Aging affects the immune system, which can limit one’s ability to fight off an infection. Sometimes, this can result in an older adult not being able to fight off a respiratory infection at home, with help from their doctor, and they may end up needing hospitalization,” says Ferrante.

Here’s how respiratory infections are treated

Bacterial respiratory infections — like Streptococcus pneumonia — can be treated with antibiotics.

Antibiotics don’t work directly for viral infections. However, some types of viral infections — like flu or COVID-19 — can be treated with antivirals, says Ferrante.

In certain cases, supportive care, like supplemental oxygen, may be used, says Adalja.

Fluids, antihistamines, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be given as well, as long as there are no contraindications with other medications the patient takes.

“For any of these infections, it is also important for the person to rest and check in with their doctor to ensure that they are recovering as expected,” she said.

In some cases a viral infection can increase the risk of a bacterial infection that will necessitate antibiotic treatment.

The bottom line:

Pope Francis is expected to be released from the hospital this week. He was hospitalized for a respiratory infection on Wednesday after experiencing difficulty breathing this week. The pope, age 86, did not test positive for COVID-19. Respiratory infections tend to be more serious in older adults due to comorbid conditions and weaker immune systems, however, treatment and supportive care can aid in recovery.