The term "local pneumofibrosis" refers to a pathological process characterized by the growth of connective tissue in a limited area of the lung. At the same time, small cavities are formed in the organ, which outwardly resemble honeycombs. Local pneumofibrosis is not an independent disease, it is always the result of some pathology.
Development mechanism
Human lungs are represented by elastic tissue. The process of breathing directly depends on their indicator of the ability to restore their original shape. If the elasticity is high enough, the body needs to exert great effort to stretch the tissue as much as possible. This increases the level of intrapulmonary pressure. It, in turn, has an effect on the walls of the alveoli from the inside, due to which they straighten out on inspiration.
Under the influence of various unfavorable factors, the connective tissue of a focal nature grows, that is, the process of formation of areas of local pneumofibrosis starts. At the same time, they are affectedalveoli. These structures are represented by inelastic tissue, and therefore the body no longer needs to make significant efforts to straighten them. Against this background, the indicator of intrapulmonary pressure decreases and the walls of the alveoli collapse. The natural result is the exclusion of pathological areas from the respiratory process. This is the main mechanism for the development of pathology.
The disease can also occur against the background of impaired blood and lymph circulation. In this case, local pneumofibrosis is the result of stagnation of fluid connective tissue formed in the vessels surrounding the respiratory organ. Over time, a protein effusion begins to appear, which slowly grows into pathological tissue. Gradually, it affects some of the alveoli (as a rule, those that are located as close as possible to the stagnation zone). In this case, the pathologically altered area also ceases to participate in the breathing process.
Reasons
It is important to understand that local pulmonary fibrosis is a disease that never occurs on its own. It is always a consequence of the development of other (primary) pathologies.
The most common causes of pulmonary fibrosis:
- Bronchitis.
- Regular inhalation of gases, vapors of toxic compounds, dust.
- Pneumonia.
- Vasculitis.
- Tuberculosis.
- Fungal pathologies.
- Syphilis.
- Injuries that damage lung tissue.
- Hypoxia.
- Medication takingdrugs that have a toxic effect on the body.
- Smoking.
- Hereditary predisposition.
In some medical literature, the disease is divided into linear local pneumofibrosis and striatal. In the first case, the cause of the disease is an inflammatory pathology. In this case, the formation of rough scars occurs. Severe local pneumofibrosis is a consequence of chronic diseases.
The risk group includes the following categories of people:
- immune-compromised people;
- smokers;
- workers who, in the course of their work, regularly come into contact with dust, wood chips, flour, cement, asbestos, metal chips, coal, vapors of toxic compounds.
Many of them sooner or later start the process of developing chronic bronchitis. It, in turn, causes inflammation in the lungs. Against this background, sputum stagnates, forming plugs, which contributes to the growth of connective tissue.
In a child, local pneumofibrosis occurs for the same reasons as in an adult. It is important to treat bronchitis, pneumonia and other diseases in a timely manner, and also to prevent the baby from coming into contact with tobacco smoke.
Symptoms
You need to know that local pneumofibrosis of the lungs is such an ailment that can develop for years and does not manifest itself for a long time. The disease is considered complex, but it does not have specific symptoms.
Main featureslocal pneumofibrosis both on the right and on the left:
- Shortness of breath. It has a pronounced character. Appears after exercise.
- Cough. Occurs constantly, gives the patient torment.
- Pale skin. In most cases, the formation of areas of local pneumofibrosis is accompanied by the development of anemia - a condition that is the result of insufficient oxygen supply to the body.
- Sudden weight loss for no apparent reason.
- Permanent feeling of weakness, general malaise.
- Fast onset of fatigue, reduced performance.
- Mild pain in the chest area. If local pneumofibrosis of the right lung develops, discomfort is noted on this side, on the left - on the other.
- Wheezing during breathing process.
These symptoms appear, as a rule, at the initial stage of pathology development. As the disease progresses, the clinical picture is supplemented by signs of heart failure, tachycardia, patients complain of pronounced edema.
Shortness of breath gets worse over time. If at the initial stage it appeared after any physical activity, then it occurs regularly and at rest. Shortness of breath is accompanied by episodes of dry cough. In rare cases, viscous sputum is produced. If streaks of blood are found in the latter, this indicates the presence of life-threatening complications: violation of the integrity of the vessels of the lung tissue, disintegration of the organ.
Diagnosis
When the first warning signs appear, you should consult a therapist or pulmonologist. During the reception, the doctor conducts the primary diagnosis, which consists in collecting anamnesis data and a physical examination. The specialist needs to provide information on what symptoms are bothering, how long ago they appeared, and their severity. During the examination, the doctor assesses the condition of the skin, listens to the patient with a stethophonendoscope, and conducts percussion. These activities make it possible to identify breathing noises, analyze the nature of the latter, and identify the boundaries of the focus of pathology.
Based on the results of the primary diagnosis, the doctor issues a referral for a comprehensive examination of the patient, which includes both instrumental and laboratory methods:
- Regtgen. It is the main way to detect the disease. With the help of X-ray examination, it is possible to detect pathology at the earliest stage of its development, as well as to identify concomitant diseases. In addition, in the process of diagnosis, cancer is confirmed or excluded (its symptoms are similar to those of this disease). The images clearly show areas of local pneumofibrosis on the left, on the right, or on both sides at once. In the focus of pathology, you can even see the shadows of the affected vessels. In advanced cases, areas are visualized that look like honeycombs, and scars, in the process of formation of which there was a deformation of the pulmonary roots.
- Assessment of the function of external respiration. The method is also one of the main ones. In the process of researchcalculate the Tiffno index, functional and vital capacity of the lungs. A decrease in these indicators indicates local pneumofibrosis.
- Bronchological examination. In the process of its implementation, the doctor can obtain information as to whether a local tissue lesion has occurred or whether it is a diffuse pneumofibrosis (a form of the disease in which the lungs are completely destroyed, and not individual parts of them).
- CT, MRI. Additional diagnostic methods that are highly informative. With their help, it is possible not only to determine the location and size of the pathological focus, but also to assess the prevalence of the disease.
- EKG. Appointed in order to identify the extent of damage to the heart. For the same purpose, an ultrasound of the muscle is performed.
- Blood test (clinical, biochemical).
If the course of the disease is accompanied by sputum, it is examined. This is necessary in order to exclude the presence of tuberculosis, as well as to identify components of an allergic or inflammatory nature in it.
Conservative therapies
After analyzing the results of complex diagnostics, the doctor determines how to treat local pulmonary fibrosis. There is currently no specific treatment regimen. This is due to the fact that the formation and growth of connective tissue are irreversible processes. First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the underlying disease.
In most cases, the schemetreatment includes the following items:
- Taking medication. Doctors prescribe antibacterial drugs to suppress the vital activity of pathogens in the lungs. In addition, with a wet cough, expectorants are indicated.
- Physiotherapy. During the procedures, the severity of stagnant processes decreases, due to which sputum discharge improves.
- Breathing exercises. Its goal is to significantly increase lung capacity. Due to this, the patency of the bronchi improves, the alveoli straighten and the maximum saturation of the blood with oxygen occurs.
- Ozone therapy.
Also, people with local pneumofibrosis need to adjust their lifestyle and diet. It is imperative to exclude contact with harmful compounds and dust, avoid stressful situations and follow the principles of proper nutrition.
Surgical treatment
In some people, the development of local pneumofibrosis is asymptomatic, or the symptoms are mild, and the patient does not consider them grounds for seeking qualified medical help. In such cases, the disease, as a rule, is detected randomly during a preventive examination. Bronchoscopy, CT or MRI allows the doctor to find out if the patient needs surgery.
Surgical treatment is prescribed in rare cases. Its implementation is considered appropriate if a secondaryinfection, that is, areas of pneumofibrosis begin to fester. In this case, the surgeon removes part of the lung - the diseased tissue.
Folk methods
The use of non-traditional methods of treatment does not eliminate the need to visit a doctor. Folk methods can be applied only after obtaining the permission of a specialist. This is due to the fact that medicinal herbs can cause a number of unwanted reactions.
The most effective recipes are described below, with the help of which it is possible to stop or significantly slow down the progression of the disease, clear the lungs of sputum and prevent the attachment of a secondary infection:
- Grind rose hips and elecampane (oman) roots. Take 2 tbsp. l. obtained raw materials, pour it with 600 ml of water. Put the container on fire. After the product boils, it should be boiled for about 15 minutes. After this time, remove the container from the fire, the liquid should be infused for about 2 hours. You can add honey to taste. The resulting remedy must be drunk three times a day, 150 ml. The course of treatment is 2 months, while taking breaks is prohibited.
- Take a pinch of cayenne pepper and the same amount of anise seeds, stir them in hot milk. Honey can be added to taste. Drink the resulting remedy daily, before going to bed. The course of treatment is at least 1 month.
- Take 50 g of rosemary, chop. Pour raw materials with 0.5 liters of red wine. To improve the taste, you can add a small amount of sugar. Put the container on the fire, bring to a boil. Then the tool must be infused for 2 days. After that, it must be filtered, poured into a glass bottle and stored in the refrigerator. Reception schedule: 1 tsp daily, 1 hour after any meal.
Decoctions can also be prepared based on thyme, horseradish, flax seeds.
Consequences
In order for patients to realize the seriousness of the problem, doctors always talk about the dangers of local pulmonary fibrosis. This is an insidious disease, which is often detected at the stage of development of complications, and therefore its treatment is difficult.
The main consequences of localized pneumofibrosis:
- Cor pulmonale.
- Secondary pneumonia.
- Respiratory failure.
- Hypertension.
- Malignant neoplasms.
- Hemorrhages.
- Destruction of an organ.
To prevent the development of complications, it is necessary to consult a doctor when the first alarming symptoms appear.
Prevention
Significantly reduce the risk of disease by following the rules:
- Tobacco should be completely quit.
- It is important to avoid contact with harmful compounds. If this is not possible for any reason, respirators or masks must be used to protect the body.
- It is necessary to treat pneumonia and bronchitis in a timely manner. In order to detect the presence of an ailment at an early stage, it is necessary to regularly undergo fluorography orx-ray examination.
In closing
Local pneumofibrosis is a pathology characterized by focal lesions of the lung tissue. The disease is often asymptomatic in the early stages, which presents a certain difficulty in diagnosis. In this regard, if even mild symptoms occur, you need to contact a therapist or pulmonologist. It is impossible to completely cure the disease, all methods are aimed at stopping its progression and alleviating the patient's condition.
