Pneumonia is an extremely common and rather dangerous disease. This disease affects all categories of the population, regardless of gender and age. That is why questions about how pneumonia is treated and whether it is possible to carry out therapy at home are so important.
Why does pneumonia occur?
It's no secret that usually inflammation is the result of an infectious lesion of the body. Bacteria are most often the causative agent of pneumonia, although the disease is often associated with viruses and even fungal microorganisms. Of course, the infection can enter from the outside through the upper respiratory tract. However, pneumonia is often the result of a decrease in the activity of the immune system, as a result of which there is an increased reproduction of opportunistic microorganisms.
How to recognize pneumonia?
In fact, the symptoms that accompany pneumonia are far fromalways specific. A similar clinical picture can also be observed with colds or bronchitis. That is why, before understanding how pneumonia is treated, it is worth learning more about the main signs of the disease.
- Cough is definitely one of the symptoms of pneumonia.
- In addition, the disease is accompanied by distinct chest pains, which are aggravated by coughing.
- One of the characteristic signs of the disease is also constant severe shortness of breath.
- In addition, the inflammatory process is accompanied by a significant increase in body temperature, weakness, drowsiness, dizziness and other symptoms of intoxication. And if with bronchitis and colds the fever lasts only a few days, then with pneumonia, such a deterioration in well-being can be present much longer.
See these symptoms as soon as possible to see a doctor. Only a specialist knows how pneumonia is treated. In addition, to begin with, it is necessary to make a correct diagnosis, and without examination, auscultation and X-ray examination of the lungs, it is almost impossible to do this.
How is pneumonia treated?
In fact, the treatment regimen depends on the severity of the patient's condition, as well as on the nature of the pathogen. It is immediately worth noting that during treatment, bed rest and rest are required. But hospitalization of the patient is required only in 20% of cases - most often, treatment is quite possible at home.
To begin with, the doctor prescribes symptomatic treatment. In particular, it is necessary to take mucolytic drugs that facilitate the discharge of sputum and relieve the patient from bouts of suffocating dry cough. Antipyretic drugs are needed only in case of severe fever.
It's no secret that the disease is treated with antibiotics. However, this remedy for pneumonia is only advisable if the causative agent is bacteria. The schedule of admission and the duration of the course of taking such drugs are determined individually.
Extremely important is the nutrition and drinking regimen of the patient. Food should be rich in calories, but at the same time easy to digest. Experts recommend enriching the patient's diet with fresh vegetable salads and fruits, as the vitamins present in them strengthen the immune system and speed up the healing process. The patient needs to drink at least three liters of fluid per day - this provides protection against dehydration, accelerates the elimination of toxins from the body, and also makes it easier to expectorate.
Treatment of inflammation usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks.
