Inflammation of the lungs is a rather dangerous disease that has a variety of symptoms, and its signs can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from the course of a cold. Pneumonia can develop quite rapidly, which is dangerous not only for he alth, but also for human life.
Very often, inflammation leads to death, despite the fact that it has been successfully treated in many countries. It is very important to diagnose and identify the disease in a timely manner so that adequate treatment can be prescribed.
Feature of the disease
It is very important to understand exactly what inflammation of the lungs is and exactly how it manifests itself. This is an acute process that occurs directly in the chest cavity, which is often bacterial in nature.
It is the lungs that saturate the human body with oxygen. When inflammation occurs, the respiratory organs suffer greatly.
The risk of pneumonia in young children and the elderly is very high, since in this category of people the immune system is weakened and unable toresist invading bacteria. With age, the protective functions are greatly weakened, so the microbes are not completely destroyed and harm the organs.
Classification
In medicine, there are several different forms of pneumonia, in particular, such as:
- typical;
- atypical;
- aspiration character;
- triggered by pathogens.
Aspiration inflammation occurs when foreign objects enter the lungs. Often develops with severe alcohol intoxication or under the influence of drugs. In addition, there may be nosocomial pneumonia, which can develop due to:
- staying a patient in a hospital for more than 2 days;
- Immune system disorders;
- under mechanical ventilation.
The most severe form of pneumonia is croup. It can be listened to in the very first days of the onset of the disease. In addition, the heartbeat increases significantly, and the pressure also decreases.
There is focal inflammation of the lungs, in which there is trembling of the voice and wheezing, shortness of breath becomes more severe. Interstitial pneumonia is characterized by thickening of the lung tissues with indistinct severity. In this case, bilateral inflammation is often diagnosed. In addition, such a disease is subdivided according to the severity of the course and may have:
- easy;
- medium heavy;
- difficult.
Leak severitypneumonia can only be determined by a qualified doctor. Depending on this, the symptoms of pneumonia are determined, according to which the final diagnosis is established and the therapy necessary for a particular case is selected.
Causes of occurrence
The main cause of pneumonia is associated with damage to the lung tissue by various viruses and bacteria, which is mainly observed as a result of a weakened immune system. Pathogenic microorganisms enter the lungs not only by inhalation, but infection can also occur when handling non-sterile medical devices.
The causes of inflammation may be hidden in the infection of the lymph or blood, for example, with sepsis or drug addiction. With the course of certain diseases, the risk of inflammation increases several times. These diseases include:
- heart defects;
- hypovitaminosis and malnutrition;
- cystic fibrosis;
- heart failure;
- immunodeficiency;
- endocrine disorders.
Bad habits lead to a strong suppression of the immune system, which allows the infection to freely enter the body and multiply in the lung tissues. The risk of contracting pneumonia largely depends on lifestyle. Often, the lower parts of the lungs are affected, which, under normal conditions, practically do not participate in the breathing process.
Sedentary lifestyle and physical inactivity does not allow the lungs to function normally, as a result of which mucus accumulates, provoking subsequent reproductionbacteria.
Main symptoms
To make a correct diagnosis, it is very important to know what symptoms are observed in adults and children with pneumonia. In the case of pneumonia, the symptoms largely depend on the primary cause of the pathology and the amount of damage to the lung tissue. However, for all types of pneumonia, the symptoms can be general, that is, they appear in all patients.
First of all, the typical signs include general intoxication syndrome, which manifests itself in the form of fever, chills and malaise. In addition, common symptoms of pneumonia are manifested in the form of sputum, cough, shortness of breath.
Among the signs of pneumonia, one can also distinguish such as:
- permanent cough;
- loss of appetite;
- runny nose;
- temperature;
- fatigue;
- blanching of the skin;
- strong weakness.
Symptoms of pneumonia appear quite sharply and are characterized by fever up to 40 degrees, pain in the chest. A dry cough appears first, and then it becomes somewhat wet, with sputum. The disease is very dangerous because it cannot be diagnosed in a timely manner, which can have dangerous consequences and complications.
Symptoms of pneumonia are often similar to those of a simple cold or flu. At the same time, many patients may not have manifestations of local pneumonia.
When croupous pneumonia affects a significantpart of the lung. It usually starts abruptly and suddenly. Among the main signs of pneumonia in an adult, chills, fever, headache, severe weakness, pain in the side, which greatly increases with movement or coughing, should be distinguished. This condition is also characterized by severe shortness of breath and discomfort in the sternum, cough and sputum. At the same time, there is no runny nose.
A feverish blush appears on the patient's face, breathing becomes rapid and at the same time the wings of the nose swell strongly. The patient takes a position on his side, as this restricts respiratory activity and reduces pain.
In focal pneumonia, the onset is usually not too acute. There are such symptoms of pneumonia: temperature, which rises gradually, dry cough, runny nose, weakness. In addition, there is often an increase in breathing, tachycardia, hard breathing, muffled heartbeat, dry wheezing. When bronchitis is attached, dry rales are additionally heard, and in the case of pleurisy, noises are heard.
Symptoms of pneumonia in adults, if it has an atypical form, largely depend on which pathogens were provoked. Mycoplasma pneumonia manifests itself in the form of severe sore throat, enlarged cervical lymph nodes, runny nose, headache. This form is completely uncharacteristic of sputum and squeezing of the chest.
Signs of legionellosis pneumonia include dry cough, fever, chest pain, diarrhea, kidney damage, slow heart rate.
May show symptoms of pneumonia without fever. In addition, symptoms such as shortness of breath, weakness, cough, and excessive sweating may be observed. A similar condition is observed mainly with reduced immunity activity.
If after a previous bronchitis, flu or cold, symptoms of pneumonia are observed, then you should immediately consult a doctor to prevent complications.
Diagnostics
If there are symptoms of pneumonia in children or adults, then you need to consult a doctor for a comprehensive examination and subsequent treatment. First of all, the doctor prescribes a fluorography. For a clearer picture, you need to take two shots, one from the side and the other from the front.
Then you need to examine the sputum. This will determine the pathogen that has entered the lungs. A general blood test will help to get a complete picture of what the general condition of the body is during the course of the disease. A high erythrocyte sedimentation rate indicates the course of inflammation in the body. Additionally, such types of research can be carried out as:
- tomography;
- biopsy;
- bronchoscopy;
- urinalysis.
The more methods will be used for research, the more complete picture of the course of pneumonia the doctor can get. A proper diagnosis will help the doctor determine and formulate the most appropriate course of therapy.
Features of treatment
Veryit is important to understand exactly how to treat pneumonia in order to prevent complications. Patients with pneumonia are mainly hospitalized in the general therapeutic department. If there are signs of severe intoxication and fever, bed rest, vitamin-rich food, and warm, plentiful drink are prescribed. With severe manifestations of respiratory failure, inhalations are prescribed to patients.
Treatment of pneumonia is carried out with the help of antibacterial drugs. Antibiotics should be prescribed as early as possible to prevent a sharp deterioration in well-being. Chooses the drug, only the attending doctor. When pneumonia occurs, detoxification therapy, expectorant, immunostimulating, antipyretic, antihistamine and mucolytic drugs are indicated. After normalization of well-being, physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises are indicated.
Treatment should be continued until recovery, as determined by laboratory tests. With frequent and repeated manifestations of pneumonia, the issue of surgical intervention is being resolved.
Drug therapy
In the presence of pneumonia in adults, drugs are prescribed to eliminate the inflammatory process. When conducting therapy, doctors use several types of medicines, in particular, such as:
- antibiotics;
- antipyretic;
- expectorants;
- detoxification;
- glucocorticosteroids;
- cardiovascular.
Antibacterial drugs are prescribed in the first place, however, their choice is purely individual and depends on the cause of the disease. The most common antibiotics are Cefotaxime or Ceftriaxone. These drugs can be prescribed to adults and children, as they have a fairly wide range of effects and a minimum of side effects. The dosage is selected purely individually, and the course of therapy is at least 5 days.
It is often necessary to take antihistamines, such as Suprastin, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs. Sometimes hormone therapy is prescribed. With a wet cough, expectorants are required to facilitate the removal of sputum from the body. During the recovery period, the patient is prescribed immunostimulants and vitamin complexes, which helps to strengthen the immune system.
Folk techniques
Treatment of inflammation with folk remedies should be carried out only after consulting the attending doctor. It is very important to combine folk recipes with taking medications. Among the most effective remedies, honey with birch buds can be distinguished. To prepare the medicine, you need to mix 100 g of birch buds with 750 g of honey, preferably buckwheat. Then heat the resulting product in a water bath for about 10 minutes. Take it 1 tsp. before meals.
Medical tar can be used for treatment. To prepare a healing agent, you need to put it in a jar, pour warm water over it, closecover and put for 9 days in a warm place. Take the finished medicine for 1 tbsp. l. before eating.
You can make a compress based on honey and vodka. However, it can be used only in the case of the mildest course of inflammation of the lung tissue, when there is no accumulation of pus.
You need to understand that folk methods are not an alternative to traditional therapy. They can be used along with it under the supervision of the attending physician.
Physiotherapy techniques
During the course of pneumonia, it is important to alleviate the patient's condition, as it is very difficult for the patient to breathe. That is why it is advisable to carry out procedures such as:
- oxygen therapy;
- inhalations;
- artificial ventilation.
Oxygen therapy implies that the patient is supplied with air with a high oxygen content through a mask. This allows you to get rid of respiratory failure and cope with significant lung damage.
Possible Complications
The development of reactive and inflammatory processes in the bronchopulmonary system and other organs provoked by the course of pneumonia is considered a complication of the course of pneumonia. The course and outcome of the disease largely depends on the presence of negative manifestations. Complications may be pulmonary or extrapulmonary. Pulmonary manifestations include:
- gangrene;
- lung abscess;
- obstructive syndrome;
- acute respiratory failure;
- exudative pleurisy.
Among extrapulmonarycomplications include glomerulonephritis, meningitis, endocarditis, anemia, myocarditis, psychosis.
Prophylaxis
In case of pneumonia, the prognosis is determined by a number of factors, in particular, such as the age of the patient, the characteristics of the pathogen, the presence of concomitant diseases, and the characteristics of immunity. Unfavorable in terms of prognosis are various complications of the course of the disease. Especially dangerous is the course of pneumonia in children under 1 year old, provoked by staphylococcus, as well as other dangerous bacteria and viruses. With timely and comprehensive treatment, pneumonia ends in complete recovery.
Prevention measures include hardening the body, maintaining normal immunity, avoiding hypothermia, and eliminating dust. In addition, sanitation of foci of inflammation, cessation of smoking and consumption of alcoholic beverages is required. For weakened and bedridden patients, massage, therapeutic and breathing exercises are indicated for the purpose of prevention.
Vaccinations are prescribed for children from 2 years of age, since the prevention of inflammation is a very important component of therapy. Among the most effective vaccines are the American Prevenar and the French Pneumo-23. The drugs can be administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly. However, it is worth noting that negative manifestations may occur.
Features of pneumonia in children
Inflammation of the lungs in children is one of the most severe diseases of the respiratory system. But ifseek medical help in a timely manner and strictly follow all the recommendations of the doctor, you can achieve a very good result.
The main predisposing factor is hypothermia of the child. It is worth noting that this disease can occur in children of different age groups. The most common cause of pneumonia in children aged 6 months to 5 years is pneumococcus.
After infection, as well as the development of pathogenic microflora, acute inflammation begins, accompanied by fever. In addition, there is pallor of the skin, fatigue, refusal of food, rapid breathing.
The diagnosis is established on the basis of the existing symptoms, as well as after an appropriate study. Treatment requires constant monitoring, since at any moment the child's well-being can deteriorate greatly. Children under 3 years of age are often hospitalized for constant monitoring of their well-being. At an older age, treatment can be carried out at home, but you must strictly follow all the recommendations of the doctor. All means of therapy are selected only by a qualified doctor.
Inflammation of the lungs is one of the most serious and dangerous diseases, which is why it is necessary to carry out diagnostics and subsequent treatment in a timely manner.
