Pneumonia (pneumonia) is an extremely serious disease, it is impossible to ignore its signs in any case, since the consequences can be unpredictable. Doctors still cannot accurately answer the question of why the infection in some people stops in the upper respiratory tract, while in others it moves deeper and attacks the lungs. But one thing experts can say with complete certainty - pneumonia develops only when the immune system is already weakened by some other disease.
The symptoms of pneumonia in an adult are somewhat different than in a child. In general, they depend on the severity of the disease and on the type of infectious agent that caused them.
Causes and symptoms of pneumonia
In an adult, the disease is most often provoked by pneumococci. Having penetrated into the bronchi and alveoli, they give rise to an inflammatory process there. When a liquid component enters the alveoli from the walls of the vessels, the patient has difficulty breathing. Against this background, oxygen starvation develops in the body, because the affected lobe of the lung becomes non-functional. Toincrease blood flow to the tissues, the heart begins to contract actively. All these processes lead to the fact that the first symptoms of pneumonia appear in an adult: a sharp increase in temperature, chest pain, cough with reddish sputum.
In the case when the inflammatory process is caused by other infectious agents: mycoplasmas, legionella, chlamydia - the symptoms will be similar, but such inflammation proceeds somewhat easier. So, the symptoms of pneumonia in an adult in the case when mycoplasmas excite it will be manifested by chills, sore throat, runny nose (optional), fever, shortness of breath, leading to chest pain. If the development of the disease occurred as a result of exposure to chlamydia, the first signs of the disease will be similar to those that occur with a cold: dry cough, sore throat, runny nose, fever. If the causative agent is legionella, symptoms, in addition to those listed above, will be supplemented by loss of appetite, diarrhea.
Common symptoms of pneumonia
Regardless of the type of pathogen, the first signs of the disease are most often the same. This is an obsessive dry cough, moistened over time, fever (may vary between 37-40 degrees). In severe pneumonia, the skin acquires a pronounced bluish tint, breathing quickens.
Such symptoms are completely non-specific, so even doctors sometimes confuse the disease with SARS. And only when the temperature reacheshigh values, shortness of breath appears, leukocytosis is noted, pneumonia is diagnosed. X-rays are taken to confirm suspicions.
How to treat pneumonia in adults
The sick person needs to be hospitalized. He is prescribed bed rest, frequent intake of warm liquids, high-calorie meals. The main method of treatment is antibiotic therapy (the drug is selected for each patient individually, depending on many features). If necessary, it can be supplemented with immunostimulants, expectorants, antihistamines, etc. In case of delayed treatment, complications of pneumonia in adults can lead to death.
