Pneumonia sputum is a phenomenon that people encounter regardless of age. It is worth noting that it is by the color of pathogenic secretions that you can find out at what stage the disease is and whether there are any concomitant pathologies. Inflammation of the lungs is a serious disease that requires mandatory treatment. If this is not the case, the consequences are dire. Let us further consider what the color of the discharge means, how they are studied, and what are the symptoms and treatment of pneumonia in adult patients.
Description
Pneumonia can rarely appear on its own. Usually this disease becomes the result of various chronic ailments that are associated with the respiratory system. According to the classification, pneumonia is:
- Viral. In this case, the disease is caused by certain viruses.
- Mixed. Whereinseveral pathogens become the cause of the disease at once.
- Development of fungal pneumonia.
What to do if sputum does not come out with pneumonia? Sometimes it happens that against the background of the disease, the mucus does not go away. In this case, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible for a diagnostic test.
In fact, with inflammation of the lungs, phlegm is one of the most important symptoms. The first thing doctors pay attention to is the color of pathogenic secretions. For example, if there is blood in the sputum with pneumonia, then this indicates that the person has additional diseases that require immediate treatment.
Any secreted mucus is pathological. Everything usually starts with the nose, and then the process moves to the lungs, and after that the person has a cough.
Sputum testing for pneumonia is very common.
Next, we will find out what symptoms accompany pneumonia in adult patients.
Pneumonia symptoms
Pneumonia sputum can be any color. It is transparent and black. It may also contain a large number of substances, and in addition, the decay products of cells, along with blood particles and various microorganisms. We can safely say that the color of sputum depends on the nature of the disease. Should sputum come out with pneumonia? There is no single answer. In some situations, the disease goes away without this symptom, and then it becomes more difficult to determine the pathology, sohow a doctor cannot take tests for the physical properties of sputum.
Symptoms and treatment of pneumonia in adults are interrelated.
Typical manifestations of this disease are the following symptoms:
- Presence of phlegm.
- Appearance of cough.
- Occurrence of temperature or hyperhidrosis.
- The appearance of pain in the chest.
- Higher breathing rate.
- Irritability, sleepiness and lack of appetite.
- Symptoms of respiratory failure.
- Severely unwell.
To make an accurate diagnosis, the patient must pass a sputum test. Based on the information received, the doctor can prescribe a treatment that will be effective and will get rid of this problem.
Next, let's move on to the classification of secretions and find out what sputum is like with pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.
Classification of secretions
Sputum is classified by its color. She happens:
- Gray or white.
- Yellow highlights.
- Green highlights.
- Dark colored phlegm.
- Red highlights.
- Purulent sputum.
So the color of sputum in pneumonia is very important.
Grey sputum
Gray (white) sputum is a common occurrence for every person, as it can stand out even in the absence of any disease. But sometimes, if branches are observed in large numbers, then they may indicate the presencethe following diseases:
- Presence of respiratory infections.
- Development of chronic bronchitis.
- Sputum may occur with nasal drops.
- In case of allergic reactions, such sputum may also be released.
If a person smokes or lives in an environmentally unfavorable environment, then with a cough, gray mucus may be released.
What else is sputum discharge with pneumonia?
Yellow sputum
In the event that the discharge has a yellow tint, this factor indicates the presence of a sluggish chronic disease of the respiratory canals or an allergy. The yellow color of mucus appears in people in a number of the following cases:
- Presence of acute bronchitis.
- Inflammation of the lungs, which occurs in an acute form.
The appearance of yellow color in sputum indicates that the human body is fighting infection. Thus, we can assume that the immune system is functioning normally. If the sputum is too thick, and its color is saturated, then this indicates the presence of sinusitis. This is such a bacterial infection that requires mandatory medical supervision, and at the same time competent treatment.
In the event that the cough against the background of pneumonia is painful, and the patient also begins to choke, this indicates the presence of asthma. In such a situation, qualified assistance is also required, since such attacks can seriously threaten life.
Green sputum in pneumonia
Such phlegmindicates the presence of chronic infections. Neutrophils decompose, which contributes to the appearance of this color. When inflammatory processes are non-infectious, the patient may have greenish mucus. A similar phenomenon indicates the following pathologies:
- Having cystic fibrosis or pneumonia.
- Development of an abscess or bronchiectasis.
In addition to green mucus, fever may be noted along with weakness, lack of appetite, and a severe and choking cough. The only way out of this situation is to contact a specialist, since self-medication can only aggravate the disease.
What does brown sputum mean in pneumonia?
Dark sputum due to pneumonia
This symptom indicates that there are blood impurities in the substance. Erythrocytes die, this leads to the fact that hemosiderin is released from hemoglobin. Consider ailments when a person may have dark or even almost black sputum:
- With pneumonia, when the disease is in a chronic form.
- On the background of tuberculosis.
- In the presence of lung cancer.
- On the background of chronic bronchitis.
- For pneumoconiosis.
Against the background of the development of croupous pneumonia, even rusty sputum can stand out in patients. It is important to note that people suffering from coughing and noticing sputum with an uncharacteristic shade should not smoke.
Red sputum
When there is staining in scarlet, pink or red, an urgent need to take a sputum test. This phenomenon indicates that there is blood in the substance. The most terrible disease in which sputum of this color is observed is lung cancer.
Such symptoms may still be present in the presence of the following ailments:
- On the background of a lung embolism.
- For pneumonia caused by pneumococci.
- With advanced tuberculosis.
- Against the background of an abscess or pulmonary edema, which is caused by chronic heart failure.
In the event that there is blood in the sputum and against this background an accurate diagnosis is made in the form of pneumonia, you should immediately contact your doctor. This phenomenon speaks of serious pathological processes that are life-threatening to ignore.
In any case, when a person notices a deterioration in his he alth, he has a cough, weakness and fever, and all this is also accompanied by sputum discharge of different shades, you can’t hesitate. You need to see a doctor. Pulmonologists deal with lung diseases.
Purulent sputum
This phenomenon suggests that a person most likely has purulent bronchitis. The smell from the mouth at the same time causes a strong disgust. Diseases in which there is sputum interspersed with pus are as follows:
- For lung abscess.
- Due to asthma, flu or even allergies.
- With SARS, which is accompanied bythe appearance of abscesses.
When there is still blood in the sputum in addition to pus, this is a wake-up call. Carrying out diagnostic activities will determine what exactly the problem is.
Find out how sputum is collected for analysis.
Laboratory studies of secretions and features of their implementation
In the event that the discharge changes its color and has an uncharacteristic smell, the doctor will definitely prescribe the patient to take sputum. A study using a microscope allows you to determine the nature of staining. This means that the doctor can determine which group the bacteria in the patient's body belong to. The study usually takes two hours. Study indicators accurately report the nature of the disease, so you can correctly determine the treatment.
Rules
Let's consider further what conditions must be followed when a sputum sampling test is scheduled:
- You need to brush your teeth. There are a lot of bacteria in the mouth, so if the patient does not follow this recommendation, the test results will be false.
- Don't eat before the test.
- On the eve of the study, you need to drink a mucolytic. The medicine is washed down with plenty of water. This is required in order for the secret to separate better. Otherwise, sputum may not be enough for the study. Experts also recommend drinking more alkaline fluids.
Next, we will find out in what ordera study is underway on discharge from pneumonia.
Conducting a discharge study: how is the procedure?
Sputum examination against pneumonia is carried out in a well-defined order:
- The patient needs to inhale as deeply as possible, and then cough properly. In the event that appropriate measures were taken the day before, sputum will definitely stand out.
- Next, the doctor collects the material. This is done in a sterile container (the necessary plastic container can be purchased at a pharmacy). It is better to buy two containers at once. The required amount of sputum for testing if the patient has pneumonia is determined by a specialist.
- After sampling, the material must be delivered to the laboratory very quickly.
At the end of the study, the patient will receive the result of the analysis, with which he will need to return to the attending physician for decoding. Inflammation of the lungs is a disease that affects all people, regardless of gender and age. Only a microscopic examination will accurately determine the nature of the disease along with the microorganisms that caused pneumonia. This is very important so that the doctor can prescribe effective and adequate treatment for the patient.
Now let's talk about the main aspects of the treatment of pneumonia in adult patients.
Treatment of pneumonia in adult patients
In the event that the patient's cough is wet, that is, when there is sputum discharge, then the basic recommendations of any doctor will be herbal preparations along withbed rest and plenty of warm drinks.
Pneumonia, unfortunately, cannot be cured without antibiotics. In addition, during therapy, the patient requires enveloping preparations that help reduce irritation of the mucosa. Pneumonia at the present stage, unfortunately, is resistant to penicillin, therefore, for its treatment, second and third generation antibiotics are used in the form of drugs such as Clavulanate, Sulfamethoxazole, and the like.
The treatment course also includes inhalations. Such procedures moisturize the mucosa well, helping to thin the sputum, making it easier to leave the body. Traditionally, pneumonia in adults usually begins with a bothersome dry cough that later progresses to a wet, green discharge.
Today, the diagnosis of pneumonia is not a difficult undertaking. It is enough to take an x-ray and consult a therapist. It is more difficult to establish the causative agent of pneumonia. With proper therapy and without the development of complications, recovery usually occurs within three or four weeks.
We looked at what kind of sputum with pneumonia happens.
