Pulmonary inflammation prognosis. Inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia). Bacterial infections in the etiology of pneumonia

Pneumonia is a disease that has an infectious origin and is characterized by inflammation of the lung tissue when provoking physical or chemical factors occur, such as:

• Complications after viral diseases (), atypical bacteria (chlamydia, mycoplasma, legionella)
• Exposure to the respiratory system of various chemical agents - toxic vapors and gases (see)
• Radioactive radiation, which is attached to the infection
• Allergic processes in the lungs - COPD, bronchial asthma
• Thermal factors - hypothermia or burns of the respiratory tract
• Inhalation of liquids, food, or foreign bodies can cause aspiration pneumonia.

The reason for the development of pneumonia is the occurrence of favorable conditions for the reproduction of various pathogenic bacteria in the lower respiratory tract. The original causative agent of pneumonia is the aspergillus fungus, which was the culprit in the sudden and mysterious deaths of explorers of the Egyptian pyramids. Pet bird owners or city pigeon enthusiasts can get chlamydial pneumonia.

Today, all pneumonias are divided into:

• out-of-hospital, arising under the influence of various infectious and non-infectious agents outside the walls of hospitals
• hospital infections caused by nosocomial microbes, often very resistant to conventional antibiotic treatment.

The frequency of detection of various infectious pathogens in community-acquired pneumonia is presented in the table.

When confirming the diagnosis, depending on the type of pathogen, the age of the patient, the presence of concomitant diseases, appropriate therapy is carried out, in severe cases, treatment must be carried out in a hospital, with mild forms of inflammation, hospitalization of the patient is not required.

The characteristic first signs of pneumonia, the vastness of the inflammatory process, acute development and the risk of serious complications in case of untimely treatment are the main reasons for the urgent appeal of the population for medical help. At present, a fairly high level of development of medicine, improved diagnostic methods, as well as a huge list of broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs have significantly reduced the death rate from pneumonia (see).

Typical early signs of pneumonia in adults

The main symptom of the development of pneumonia is a cough, usually at first it is dry, obsessive and persistent (see antitussives,), but in rare cases, a cough at the onset of the disease may be rare and not strong. Then, as inflammation develops, the cough with pneumonia becomes wet with the release of mucopurulent sputum (yellow-green).

Any catarrhal viral disease should not last more than 7 days, and a sharp deterioration in the condition 4-7 days after the onset of SARS or influenza indicates the onset of an inflammatory process in the lower respiratory tract.

Body temperature can be very high up to 39-40C, and may remain subfebrile 37.1-37.5C ​​(with atypical pneumonia). Therefore, even with a low body temperature, coughing, weakness and other signs of malaise, you should definitely consult a doctor. A second jump in temperature after a light interval during the course of a viral infection should alert.

If the patient has a very high temperature, then one of the signs of the presence of inflammation in the lungs is inefficiency.

Pain when taking a deep breath and coughing. The lung itself does not hurt, as it is devoid of pain receptors, but the involvement of the pleura in the process gives a pronounced pain syndrome.

In addition to cold symptoms, the patient has shortness of breath and pallor of the skin.
General weakness, increased sweating, chills, decreased appetite are also characteristic of intoxication and the onset of an inflammatory process in the lungs.

If such symptoms appear either in the midst of a cold, or a few days after improvement, these may be the first signs of pneumonia. The patient should immediately consult a doctor to undergo a complete examination:

• Pass blood tests - general and biochemical
• Take a chest X-ray, if necessary, and computed tomography
• Take sputum for culture and determine the sensitivity of the pathogen to antibiotics
• Pass sputum for culture and microscopic determination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The main first signs of pneumonia in children

Symptoms of pneumonia in children have several features. Attentive parents may suspect the development of pneumonia with the following ailments in a child:

Temperature

Body temperature above 38C, lasting more than three days, not brought down by antipyretics, there may also be a low temperature up to 37.5, especially in young children. At the same time, all signs of intoxication are manifested - weakness, excessive sweating, lack of appetite. Young children (like the elderly) may not have high temperature spikes with pneumonia. This is due to the imperfection of thermoregulation and the immaturity of the immune system.

Breath

Rapid shallow breathing is observed: in babies up to 2 months of age 60 breaths per minute, up to 1 year 50 breaths, after a year 40 breaths per minute. Often the child spontaneously tries to lie on one side. Parents may notice another sign of pneumonia in a child, if you undress the baby, then when breathing from the side of the diseased lung, you can notice the retraction of the skin in the spaces between the ribs and the lag in the process of breathing on one side of the chest. There may be disturbances in the rhythm of breathing, with periodic stops in breathing, changes in the depth and frequency of breathing. In infants, shortness of breath is characterized by the fact that the child begins to nod his head to the beat of breathing, the baby can stretch his lips and puff out his cheeks, foamy discharge from the nose and mouth may appear.

SARS

Inflammation of the lungs caused by mycoplasma and chlamydia is distinguished by the fact that at first the disease passes like a cold, a dry cough, a runny nose appear, but the presence of shortness of breath and a consistently high temperature should alert parents to the development of pneumonia.

The nature of the cough

Because of the sore throat, at first only a cough may appear, then the cough becomes dry and painful, which is aggravated by crying, feeding the child. Later the cough becomes wet.

Child behavior

Children with pneumonia become capricious, whiny, lethargic, their sleep is disturbed, sometimes they can completely refuse food, and diarrhea and vomiting appear, in infants - regurgitation and refusal of the breast.

Blood analysis

In the general blood test, changes are detected that indicate an acute inflammatory process - increased ESR, leukocytosis, neutrophilia. Shift of the leukoformula to the left with an increase in stab and segmented leukocytes. With viral pneumonia, along with a high ESR, an increase in leukocytes due to lymphocytes is observed.

With timely access to a doctor, adequate therapy and proper care for a sick child or adult, pneumonia does not lead to serious complications. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion of pneumonia, medical assistance should be provided to the patient as soon as possible.

When the respiratory system is normal, a person feels good. From this article you will learn everything about what pneumonia is, what are the symptoms and treatment of pathology, what are the causes and the first signs of the disease. If you quickly identify the disease, you can avoid unpleasant consequences and complications.

What is pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infectious and inflammatory disease. It affects the lower respiratory tract, including the alveoli, lung tissue, bronchi, and bronchioles.

Important! The disease is considered dangerous, because if left untreated, death can occur.

Despite advances in medicine, pathology is registered among thousands of patients every year. Pneumonia is diagnosed in both men and women. Cases of the disease among adults are not as often fatal as in children.

Reasons for the development of pneumonia

Pneumonia can develop as an independent pathology, or it can join an already existing inflammatory process. The etiology of this disease is diverse, so only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

Pneumonia can be:

• infectious;
• non-infectious.

Infectious pneumonia develops under the influence of viral or bacterial pathogens. Most often in adult patients, pathology is caused by the following microorganisms:

Non-infectious pneumonia of the lungs occurs against the background of:

Pneumonia is often suspected after a cold or viral flu. Any bacterial infection can cause inflammation in the lungs.

What increases the risk

To avoid serious problems with the respiratory system, it is important to know what factors increase the likelihood of getting pneumonia. For people of different ages, the danger is their phenomena.

For a young child, the onset of pneumonia can be affected by:

In adolescence, the risk of developing pneumonia is affected by:

• smoking;
• chronic diseases of the nasopharynx;
• heart diseases;
• carious teeth;
• chronic runny nose;
• frequent viral diseases;
• decreased immune defense.

For adults, the risk factor may be:

By avoiding all of these risk factors, you can reduce your risk of contracting pneumonia.

Ways of contracting pneumonia

Many patients wonder if they could have contracted the disease from another person. Pneumonia can be contagious if it is caused by an infection. If it arose against the background of an allergic reaction or a burn of the respiratory tract, then the sick person is not dangerous to others.

The routes of transmission and penetration into the lung parenchyma may be different. Allocate:

• bronchogenic;
• lymphogenous;
• hematogenous.

With the bronchogenic route of infection, pathogenic microorganisms penetrate along with the inhaled air. This means that if there is a sick person nearby, the disease will be transmitted by airborne droplets. The likelihood that the infection will provoke the disease is when there is some kind of inflammation or swelling in the nasal or tracheal tract. In this case, the inhaled air is not properly filtered and infection occurs.

The lymphogenous route of infection is the least common. To do this, the infection must first penetrate the lymphatic system, and only then get into the lung and bronchial tissues.

Hematogenous route of infection - the penetration of infection through the blood. This is possible in cases where the causative agent of the disease has entered the bloodstream, as, for example, during sepsis. This route of infection is rare, but it is quite possible with pneumonia.

Classification of pathology

All pneumonias are divided into:

• out-of-hospital;
• hospital.

Out-of-hospital forms develop at home or in groups and, as a rule, are amenable to traditional methods of treatment, as they are completely eliminated with the help of antibiotics and other drugs. Hospital types of pneumonia mean those that develop within the walls of hospitals against the background of the penetration of various infections. The duration of treatment of such forms is usually longer, since these pathogens are resistant to many drugs.

The classification of pneumonia involves the division of the types of the disease depending on:

• type of pathogen;
• morphological features;
• the nature of the flow;
• prevalence of the process;
• development mechanism;
• severity stages;
• presence of complications.

Determine inflammation of the lungs, and what became the causative agent, can only be a specialist after conducting clinical studies.

Pneumonia can be caused by a virus, bacterium, fungus, mycoplasma, or several pathogens at the same time. To cure pneumonia, it is important to establish which group of infections provoked the disease. Otherwise, the use of drugs will be ineffective.

According to morphological features, pneumonia can be divided into the following varieties:

• croupous;
• parenchymal;
• focal;
• interstitial;
• mixed.

The mechanism of development of pneumonia is distinguished by:

• primary;
• repeated (arising against the background of other pathologies);
• aspiration;
• post-traumatic.

SARS can be difficult to recognize because some of the symptoms are uncommon for this group of diseases.

Depending on the prevalence of the pathological process, pneumonia can be:

• drain;
• focal;
• small-focal (often sluggish);
• segmental;
• equity;
• middle lobe;
• basal;
• total;
• subtotal;
• unilateral;
• bilateral.

Note! Bilateral pneumonia is more severe and often requires inpatient treatment.

According to the nature of the course of the disease, three stages of severity are distinguished. With a mild form, treatment at home is possible. With the development of an exacerbation, a hospital is needed.

Complications, as a rule, occur with untreated pneumonia and in the presence of tumor processes. For example, against the background of oncological tumors, paracancrotic pneumonia can develop. Destructive changes may occur, which leads to irreversible consequences.

Important! If inflammation of the lungs is left untreated, pulmonitis can develop, a disease that affects the alveoli and leads to scar tissue, which is ultimately fraught with cancer.

With the penetration of a bacterial infection, purulent pneumonia may occur. Against the background of such a condition, there is a high risk of developing the most dangerous form of the disease - septic. In the tissues of the lungs, cavities can form, necrotic processes are triggered. Of particular danger is the latent form, since the patient loses a lot of time until the pathology is diagnosed.

When the pathogen shows resistance to the drugs used, prolonged pneumonia is observed in patients. In order not to die from the complications of the disease, it is necessary to know the symptoms of the pathology and respond in a timely manner when they occur.

General symptoms

After the incubation period of the infection that has entered the body has expired, the patient shows signs of the disease.

Rarely does pneumonia start without a cough. Since the inflammatory process mainly affects the respiratory system, normal breathing is immediately disturbed. Initially, the patient will notice the following clinical picture:

• dry cough;
• weakened breathing;
• lethargy;
• respiratory symptoms.

Only with an atypical course of pneumonia, the disease passes without fever. In a sense, this is dangerous, as a person may not take seriously the complaints that have arisen and delay treatment.

Pneumonia is no different from pneumonia, but this pathology has distinctive features from a cold. No cold can last more than a week. After this period, the symptoms should subside and the patient should feel better. If a few days after the onset of the clinical picture, additional signs appeared, and the condition worsened, one can suspect the addition of an inflammatory process in the lung tissue.

With any pneumonia, the symptoms can be divided into three groups.

Intoxication symptoms

Intoxication syndrome develops due to the fact that bacteria that have entered the body begin to release toxic substances. As a result, the patient notes the following phenomena of intoxication:

• an increase in temperature to a mark of 39.5 degrees;
• dizziness;
• headache;
• increased sweating;
• lethargy and drowsiness;
• apathy;
• insomnia.

In rare cases, severe pneumonia may cause nausea and vomiting.

Note! At a temperature caused by pneumonia, drugs to eliminate heat are ineffective.

Pulmonary symptoms

The onset of pneumonia is most often associated with fever, but sputum may not be released at first. The cough is dry but obsessive.

Wetness of the cough does not appear until the fourth day after the onset of symptoms. The color of sputum is rusty. This is usually due to the fact that a certain amount of red blood cells are released along with the mucus.

There may be pain in the back and chest. The lung itself is devoid of pain receptors. However, when the pleura is involved in the process, the patient begins to experience discomfort in this area. This is especially acute when a person tries to take a deep breath.

In general, fever and an acute picture of symptoms can last about 7-9 days.

Symptoms of lung failure

Against the background of pneumonia, pulmonary insufficiency develops. It manifests itself with such symptoms:

• dyspnea;
• cyanosis of the skin due to inadequate access to oxygen;
• rapid breathing.

Pulmonary insufficiency usually occurs with bilateral pneumonia. The larger the area of ​​lung tissue affected, the stronger the symptoms.

The doctor must be able to distinguish pneumonia from other lung lesions. Diagnostics may include several activities. Which methods are necessary, the doctor decides.

First, the doctor will carefully listen to what the symptoms are, what preceded their appearance and how long the patient has been observing this clinical karting. After that, the specialist will ask the patient to undress to the waist to examine the chest.

Note! In the process of breathing, inflamed areas may lag behind in the intensity of translational movements, which allows the doctor to more specifically determine the localization of the pathology.

• auscultation;
• percussion;
• general blood analysis;
• sputum analysis;
• x-ray;
• bronchoscopy;
• Lung ultrasound.

Auscultation is performed by a therapist or pulmonologist using a special device - a stethophonedoscope. It consists of several tubes that amplify the sound and allow the doctor to hear lung sounds clearly. A healthy person will just have normal breathing. With inflammation, you can hear hard breathing in the lungs and wheezing.

Percussion is the tapping of the chest. Normally, when the organ is filled only with air, the sound is distinct, but during the inflammatory process, the lung is filled with exudate, which creates an abrupt, dull and shortened sound.

KLA allows the doctor to assess the presence of the inflammatory process and its intensity. Blood indicators for pneumonia are as follows: increased ESR and leukocytes.

A biological study of secretions from the lungs is carried out in order to clarify the causative agent of pneumonia. Only in this case, the doctor will be able to issue a prescription, with the help of which there will be a quick relief from the disease.

In the picture obtained after the x-ray, the doctor will assess the size and localization of the focus of inflammation. The affected areas are usually lighter than the rest of the healthy tissue (as seen in the photo). He will also determine the presence of peribronchial infiltration inside the organ.

Bronchoscopy and ultrasound are rarely performed, only with advanced and complicated forms of pneumonia. Whether such an examination is necessary or not, the doctor will determine after X-rays and other studies.

Treatment of pneumonia

Self-medication and treatment with folk remedies for pneumonia is prohibited. Any folk methods can only be maintenance therapy at the stage of convalescence (recovery).

Indications for admission of the patient to inpatient treatment:

• lowering blood pressure to below 90/60;
• tachycardia up to 125 beats per minute;
• confusion;
• rapid breathing (from 30 times per minute);
• too low (up to 35.5) or high (40) temperature;
• saturation less than 92%;
• inflammation in several lobes of the lung;
• sepsis;
• concomitant pathologies of the heart, kidneys or liver.

It is very important to take care of creating suitable conditions for the patient:

• full bed rest;
• plentiful drink;
• balanced diet;
• regular ventilation in the patient's room and wet cleaning.

Most often, first aid consists in the correct use of medications.

Medical treatment of pneumonia

Since the causative agent of pneumonia is most often bacteria, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed to combat the disease. If a sputum analysis is performed and the infection is determined accurately, the patient can be transferred to another, more accurate, but gentle drug.

The duration of treatment with antibacterial agents is 7-10 days. In rare cases, therapy can be extended up to two weeks.

Important! Antibiotics can only be prescribed by the attending physician, since a mistake can lead to serious complications.

Most often prescribed:

The dosage is determined only by the doctor, depending on the type of drugs and the results of the studies. Based on the severity of the patient's condition and the presence of concomitant diseases, antibiotic therapy can be carried out in the form of:

• oral administration of tablets;
• injections;
• droppers.

To avoid recurrence of pneumonia, it is very important to complete the treatment to the end. Stopping treatment because of a decrease in symptoms is very dangerous. The causative agent of the pathology will not die, but will only acquire resistance to the antibiotics of the group used.

With a wet cough, you can use agents such as ACC, Ambroxol or Lazolvan. Absorbable mucolytics should not be taken with a dry, unproductive cough, as attacks will become more frequent, and the patient will experience severe pain.

It is important to focus on strengthening the immune system. To do this, it is important to take care of a balanced diet for the patient, a sufficient amount of vitamins.

Acceptable auxiliary folk recipes include the regular use of honey, garlic, onions, decoctions of wild rose, linden and raspberries. All these methods are used exclusively along with the main treatment. It is important to take into account the absence of an allergic reaction, as this can aggravate the course of pneumonia.

Breathing exercises are also carried out under medical supervision. Under some conditions, they may be contraindicated. Recommended gymnastics Strelnikova or Butenko. To prevent stagnation in the lungs, experts recommend inflating balloons.

Prevention

Good prevention against pneumonia:

• maintaining an active lifestyle;
• increased immunity;
• regular walks in the fresh air;
• timely treatment of infectious diseases.

So you can save the body from pathology.

If a person is attentive to the symptoms that occur in the body, pneumonia can be detected at an early stage. This will allow you to heal quickly and without complications.

Watch the video:

Pneumonia or pneumonia is a very dangerous pathology that combines a whole complex of diseases into a single ailment. All of them are quite similar, as they provoke the development of an inflammatory process in human lung tissues.

Only timely and properly organized therapy of pneumonia can guarantee that no complications will follow. Remember, this pathology not only negatively affects the human body, but often causes death.

Regardless of the complete etiology of pneumonia, the cause of its appearance and further development is the same - infection in the alveoli and bronchial epithelium of a person. No one is immune from such a phenomenon, because the causative agent of pneumonia can get into the respiratory tract of any person.

Of course, pneumonia does not always develop due to the transmission of infection by airborne droplets, however, a similar phenomenon takes place in a considerable number of infection situations.

Often, pneumonia develops due to the early presence in the human body of some infection, which caused the development of a non-serious ENT disease, which gave such an unpleasant complication.

Predisposition factors for the development of pneumonia are such things as:

• general hypothermia of the body
• frequent nervous stress
• hormonal problems
• presence of chronic respiratory disease
• weakening of the immune system

It should be understood that there are a huge number of infections that can cause pneumonia (these are bacteria, viruses, and fungi). It is simply impossible to fully protect yourself from them, but it is necessary to maintain the state of the body in good shape.

Remember, the weaker the body and its immunity, the more likely it is to “catch” pneumonia. This is especially true for adults, who often lead a far from normal life, sleep at the wrong time and generally abuse the resources of the body.

First signs

As mentioned earlier, pneumonia is a pathology that causes damage to the tissues of the lungs and some other nodes of the respiratory system. Due to the developing inflammatory process, a person simply cannot feel well and some symptoms of pneumonia appear.

Diagnosis of symptoms is necessary in the early stages of the disease, as this will help to avoid any complications and generally simplify the treatment process.

First of all, you should pay attention to the following signs indicating pneumonia:

• intensifying and often recurring of absolutely any character
• raising the body in different limits
• severe feverish state
• the appearance of shortness of breath
• feeling short of breath
• severe weakness, drowsiness and fatigue
• increased hoarseness and loudness of breathing

Depending on the type of infection that caused the inflammation, the symptoms can be both pronounced and quite weak. In any case, you should pay attention to it and immediately contact the clinic for help. ATIt is important not to forget that pneumonia has a short incubation period (2-4 days), after which it develops at an increased rate and can cause irreparable damage to the health of the patient or even cause death.

Inflammation of the lungs is a complex of diseases affecting the respiratory tract. That is why it is divided into some forms, determined by the degree of damage and the severity of the course of the disease. Determination of the correct characteristics of the inflammatory process is extremely important for the organization of proper therapy.

At the moment, medical workers distinguish 4 main forms of pneumonia in adults:

1. A disease that occurs with an acute type of inflammation. With timely treatment, it is relatively not dangerous for a person, but in its absence it can cause a number of complications. This form of pneumonia can develop as an independent disease, or be a consequence of complications of other respiratory diseases.
2. A disease that occurs with a chronic type of inflammation. This form is characterized by the constant presence of infection in the tissues of the lungs and other organs of the respiratory system. The disease is activated systematically, often with a weakened immune system or the presence of other factors predisposing to pneumonia. It is quite rare, but it is an extremely dangerous disease, especially in the absence of timely and competent therapy.
3. A disease that occurs with an acute type of inflammation that affects most of the lung. Otherwise, this form is called croupous. It is one of the most dangerous forms of pneumonia, therefore, it requires treatment only under the supervision of an experienced specialist. A similar form of pathology occurs due to poor-quality or long-absent therapy for acute or chronic pneumonia.
4. A disease that occurs with a segmental (focal) inflammatory process. This form differs from others in that the inflammation affects separate segments of the lungs and airways. This type of pneumonia, although not so dangerous, should be treated in a timely manner, otherwise it can flow into more severe forms of the disease.

Without special medical knowledge, a series of examinations and analyzes, it is simply impossible to determine the form of inflammation. However, know: the stronger the symptoms of the disease, the more dangerous its form. It is possible to treat a complex type of pneumonia only in a clinic, otherwise the risk of death increases significantly.

Diagnostic methods

Diagnosis of pneumonia solely by analyzing the symptoms is not possible, therefore, if there is any suspicion of the development of pneumonia, it is important for a person to immediately visit a doctor.

The complexity of the diagnostic measures of pneumonia lies in the fact that this pathology often has the same symptoms as those of less serious respiratory ailments. At the same time, developing, pneumonia can cause much more problems than other ENT diseases.

Given this danger of the disease, doctors must include the following procedures in the diagnosis:

• blood, urine and sputum tests
• chest x-ray
• fibrobronchoscopy and computed tomography of the chest

Only based on the result of several diagnostic measures and the nuances of each specific case, the doctor can determine with certainty whether the patient has pneumonia or some other ailment develops.

Self-diagnosis of pneumonia is not only impossible, but also extremely dangerous, because by starting to treat the disease incorrectly, you can accelerate its development or provoke the appearance of complications.

Medical treatment

Since pneumonia in adults is a rather dangerous disease, medications are the basis of its treatment without fail. Their appointment should be dealt with by the attending physician, because only he knows the features of a particular case.

Moreover, it is the specialist who, based on the results of the tests, can find out what type of infection is the causative agent of pneumonia, based on this indicator, the main vector of therapy is determined.

Regardless of the etiology of pneumonia, the main principle of its treatment is the organization of complex therapy, which is aimed at stopping the inflammatory process in the respiratory tract and improving the general tone of the patient's body.

It is important in the treatment of pneumonia to use the following types of drugs:

• antibiotics (for bacterial pathogens)
• antiviral drugs (for a viral pathogen)
• antifungal medicines (for a fungal pathogen)
• expectorants (for problems with sputum expectoration and severe coughing)
• detoxification and glucocorticosteroid agents (in the presence of toxic shock caused by pathology)
• antipyretic drugs (with fever)
• cardiovascular stimulants (with oxygen starvation and severe shortness of breath)
• vitamin complexes and immunostimulants (for any course of the disease)

More information about pneumonia can be found in the video:

Badger fat for pneumonia: instructions for use

It should be understood that self-treatment of pneumonia will not work. First of all, this is due to the fact that the dosage of drugs and the course of therapy is determined solely by the doctor, taking into account all the features of each specific case.

In addition to the main medications, the attending specialist may prescribe:

• oxygen therapy (with oxygen starvation and severe shortness of breath)
• artificial respiration therapy (with oxygen starvation and severe shortness of breath)
• inhalation techniques (for problems with sputum expectoration and severe coughing)
• extremely rare - surgical methods of treatment (for serious lung damage)

Folk recipes

It must be remembered that folk methods are additional in the treatment of pneumonia.

Folk methods of treating pneumonia are by no means the basis of treatment. These methods of treating an ailment can only be used as an aid to the main, medical course.

Folk recipes cannot stop or in any way stop inflammation of the lungs, but they perfectly help in combating the unpleasant symptoms of pathology and in increasing the immune tone of the body of a sick person.

The most interesting, effective and often used folk remedies for pneumonia are:

• Curd compress. Cooking method: take 100 grams of cottage cheese and mix it with a teaspoon of honey, heat the resulting mixture and put it in gauze in a thin layer, then roll it into several layers. Application: apply the gauze with the mixture wrapped in it to the patient's chest, then securely fasten the compress with a terry towel over your shoulder and leave it for 4-8 hours.
• Purification of the lungs from sputum with honey and nuts. Cooking method: take 50 grams of any nuts and honey, chop the first and mix with the second ingredient into a single mixture. Application: the resulting mixture must be eaten by the patient within one day, used until complete recovery. Contraindications: Allergy to the components of the product.
• Cough relief with milk and figs. Method of preparation: heat one glass of unpasteurized milk and mix it with finely shredded figs. Application: the resulting solution should be drunk to the patient twice a day after meals. Contraindications: Allergy to the components of the product and fever.
• Steam inhalation. Cooking method: take 3-4 large potatoes and boil them with their skins in 2-3 liters of water, after boiling, turn off the gas and add 10-20 drops of eucalyptus oil to the water. Application: put the patient in front of this liquid and cover him with a terry towel, he should inhale the steam for 10-20 minutes, the procedure is repeated daily, once a day. Contraindications: allergy to the components of the product, fever and the presence of purulent inflammation in the respiratory tract.
• Vitamin teas. Method of preparation: brew tea and add honey, jam, dried fruits and similar products to it, which will saturate the drink with vitamins. Application: the patient should drink such teas throughout the course of therapy and as often as possible. Contraindications: Allergy to the components of the product.

Do not forget, before using this or that folk method of treating pneumonia, ask your doctor if this practice is appropriate in your particular case.

What not to do with pneumonia

Given the danger of pneumonia, it is important not to forget about those things that can cause any complications in the treatment of this disease.

It is most important to exclude from your life the following list of actions for the period of treatment of pneumonia:

1. smoking
2. consumption of alcoholic beverages
3. any physical and emotional stress (pneumonia can only be treated with bed rest)
4. in the presence of temperature - taking a bath, shower or walking
5. bath or sauna visit
6. eating cold drinks, fatty foods, spicy and too salty foods.

Possible Complications

As noted earlier, pneumonia is dangerous not only for its course, but also for the complications that it can cause. The appearance of complications is rare in the implementation of high-quality and timely therapy of the disease, however, with its low quality or the complete absence of complications, it is only a matter of time.

The most common of them are the following:

• destruction of lung tissue
• obstruction
• pathological pathologies of the respiratory system
• heart problems
• development of pathologies of the spinal cord or brain
• septic shock
• cardiogenic edema or sepsis
• blockage of blood vessels in the chest area

It should be understood that the presence of a number of complications can cause death. Therefore, it is important to treat pneumonia competently and in a timely manner.

To treat pneumonia, of course, is not easy, but possible.

However, is it worth it? Isn't it easier to just prevent the development of the disease? Of course, no one and no one can fully guarantee protection against pneumonia, but you can reduce the risk of its development several times if you follow simple preventive measures.

The general list of those is as follows:

• Eliminate hypothermia of the body.
• Regularly carry out hardening.
• Treat all respiratory diseases completely and promptly.
• Periodically do special breathing exercises.
• Vaccinate against especially dangerous infections.
• Minimize the inhalation of harmful fumes and dust.
• Try to lead a normal lifestyle: exercise, healthy eating, sleep, and so on.

The most serious thinking about the prevention of pneumonia is for those people who are at risk. These include everyone who is affected in one way or another by the previously mentioned factors of predisposition to this pathology.

In general, identifying the first signs of pneumonia in adults and starting to treat the disease is quite simple. The main thing is to follow the advice from the material presented above. We hope that in today's article you have found answers to your questions. Health to you!

Pneumonia is an acute infectious and inflammatory pathology characterized by damage to all structures of the lung - alveoli and interstitium. The disease always proceeds with intraalveolar exudation and characteristic clinical and radiological signs.

Symptoms and treatment of pneumonia depend on the cause of the disease, the state of the patient's immune system, and the method of infection.

Acute pneumonia currently remains an urgent problem. Despite the emergence of effective antimicrobial drugs, the mortality rate from this disease is about 10%. Inflammation of the lungs in mortality is second only to diseases of the cardiovascular system, oncopathology, trauma and poisoning. Pneumonia is the cause of death for AIDS patients.

Pneumonia is an acute infectious inflammation of the lungs, often of bacterial etiology, which is contagious for malnourished and debilitated patients who have undergone surgery, childbirth, and also those suffering from endocrine pathology, oncopathology. Pneumonia is transmitted by airborne droplets from a sick person to a healthy one. Hypothermia, physical and nervous strain contribute to the development of the disease and the appearance of symptoms of pneumonia in adults and children.

Etiology

Pneumonia is a polyetiological disease, most often of an infectious origin.

Bacterial infection is the most common cause of pathology. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the main causative agent of pneumonia. Other pathogens:

1. Gram-positive cocci - pneumococci, Staphylococcus aureus, streptococci,
2. Gram-negative rods - Acinetobacter,
3. "Atypical" - chlamydia, mycoplasma, legionella,
4. Enterobacteria - Klebsiella, Escherichia, Proteus,
5. Anaerobes - actinomycetes, fusobacteria.

Viral infection often precedes the development of bacterial pneumonia. Influenza, herpes viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, cytomegalovirus, as well as weaken the body's immune defenses and create favorable conditions for the reproduction of bacteria and their manifestation of virulent properties.

Pathogenic fungi - causative agents of histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis, candidiasis.

The causative factors of non-infectious pneumonia are injuries, radiation, exposure to certain toxins and allergens.

Etiological signs

• Staphylococcal pneumonia is characterized by the development of necrotic foci in the lung, surrounded by neutrophils. In this case, the alveoli are filled with fibro-purulent exudate, in which there are no bacteria. In severe cases, staphylococcal pneumonia ends with the destruction of lung tissue.
• Pneumonia caused by pneumococci is rarely complicated by abscess formation. Commonplace inflammation usually develops in the lung tissue.

• Streptococci cause necrotic damage to the lung tissue with a hemorrhagic component and lymphogenous dissemination.
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa can lead to the appearance of grayish-red foci of doughy consistency in the lung tissue, as well as pinpoint hemorrhages.
• Klebsiella pneumonia is characterized by the defeat of the entire lobe of the lung, the formation of mucous exudate and extensive areas of necrosis.
• Mycoplasma and viral pneumonias are characterized by inflammation of the interstitium of the lung - its edema and infiltration. There are no pathological changes in the alveoli.

Provoking factors:

Pathogenesis

The upper respiratory tract is most exposed to pathogenic biological agents that can cause a number of pathologies in humans.

Upper respiratory protection factors:

Lower respiratory protection factors:

1. cough reflex,
2. mucociliary clearance,
3. The functioning of the ciliated epithelium,
4. Special structure of the respiratory tract,
5. Lung surfactant,
6. Immunoglobulins A and G,
7. Macrophage link of phagocytosis,
8. T-cell immunity.

These specific and non-specific factors prevent the development of infectious pathology.

There are a number of conditions in which defense mechanisms are violated, the composition of the normal microflora of the respiratory organs changes, and the activity of saprophytic microorganisms decreases.

These states include:

• Irrational nutrition,
• systemic pathology,
• prolonged hospitalization,
• Stay in a nursing home
• Irrational or prolonged antibiotic therapy,
• Smoking,
• Nasogastric or endotracheal intubation
• exhaustion
• Nervous strain.

Infection with pneumonia occurs by hematogenous, lymphogenous and bronchogenic routes.

Bronchogenic pathway the spread of infection is the main one. Large particles with a diameter of more than 10 microns immediately settle on the nasal mucosa and upper respiratory tract. Particles with a diameter of up to 5 microns are in the air for a long time, and then enter the human body. This fine aerosol easily and quickly overcomes the host's defenses. Small particles settle on the mucous membrane of the bronchioles and alveoli, causing the development of the disease. The following pathogens of pneumonia penetrate by inhalation: mycobacterium, influenza virus, legionella and many others.

By hematogenous route the infection penetrates from extrapulmonary foci. So, Staphylococcus aureus with blood flow penetrates into the lung tissue with bacterial endocarditis, bronchitis.

Microbes penetrate into the alveoli of the lungs through the protective bronchopulmonary barrier with a decrease in the overall resistance of the body. Infectious inflammation develops. The exudate formed in the alveoli disrupts the processes of gas exchange in the lungs, which leads to hypoxia, the development of respiratory and heart failure.

Pathomorphology

The leading pathomorphological sign of pneumonia is limited exudative inflammation of the respiratory section of the lungs.

• Lobar pneumonia- inflammation of the lobe of the lung.

• Bronchopneumonia- a disease in which inflammation is limited to the alveoli and adjacent bronchi.

• Drain pneumonia is the fusion of small foci of inflammation into large ones.
• Necrotic pneumonia characterized by the appearance of areas of dead lung tissue, the formation of small cavities in it and lung abscess formation.
• - inflammation of the interstitial lung tissue.

Stages of development of pneumonia:

1. high tide- lasts three days and is accompanied by the formation of fibrinous exudate in the alveoli.
2. red hepatization- lasts three days and is characterized by compaction of the lung tissue. The lungs in structure become like the liver. Blood cells appear in the exudate.
3. gray hepatization- lasts about six days. In the exudate, the breakdown of erythrocytes occurs, leukocytes massively penetrate into the alveoli.
4. Permission- restoration of the normal structure of the lung.

Classification of pneumonia

• On an epidemiological basis Pneumonias are classified into: community-acquired, nosocomial, caused by immunodeficiency, aspiration.
• Origin inflammation of the lungs can be: bacterial, viral, mycoplasmal, fungal, caused by protozoa, caused by helminths, non-infectious, mixed.
• pathogenetically pneumoniae are divided into the following types: Independent pathologies - primary, arising against the background of concomitant diseases - secondary, developing after a chest injury - post-traumatic, postoperative.
• By localization pathological focus: unilateral - right-sided or left-sided, bilateral.
• With the flow: sharp, lingering.

Symptoms

Focal pneumonia- complication, or. The disease begins gradually: the temperature becomes subfebrile, fluctuates, then appears with a hard-to-separate mucous membrane or, sweating, acrocyanosis.
Patients complain of pain in the chest during coughing.

The characteristic symptoms of pneumonia found on physical examination are:

1. Weakening of percussion sound over the area of ​​inflammation,
2. hard breathing,
3. Various wheezing,
4. Crepitus is a high-frequency pathological breath noise detected during auscultation.

If the lesions merge, then the patient's condition deteriorates sharply - shortness of breath and cyanosis appear.

Croupous pneumonia proceeds much more severely than focal and is manifested by more pronounced symptoms. This is due to inflammation of the whole lobe of the lung and part of the pleura.

Pathology develops rapidly: fever, symptoms of intoxication, shortness of breath and chest pain appear. The main clinical sign of the disease is, which eventually becomes productive with the discharge of "rusty" sputum. High fever and cough with sputum persist for 10 days.

In severe cases, the skin turns red, cyanosis and herpetic eruptions appear in the nose, lips and chin. Breathing becomes rapid and shallow, the wings of the nose swell, blood pressure drops, heart sounds are muffled. Auscultation revealed moist rales and crepitus.

Given the risk of complications and the severity of the symptoms of pneumonia, it should be treated in a pulmonology department.

A whole group of diffuse lung diseases, in which there is a steady progression of inflammatory changes in the interstitial tissue. In this case, the parenchyma of the organ is affected - the endothelium of the pulmonary vessels, alveolar septa. The connective interstitial tissue becomes inflamed and swells, gas exchange is disrupted, and the lung elements stick together irreversibly.

The disease develops slowly, often over several years. Shortness of breath is the main symptom of pneumonia in an adult. It is often accompanied by a rise in temperature, a cough with scanty sputum and streaks of blood. Patients have weight loss, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, headache. Auscultation reveals harsh breathing without wheezing.

Interstitial pneumonia usually develops in individuals with congenital and acquired immunodeficiency.

Occult or asymptomatic pneumonia usually develops in weakened and emaciated individuals against the background of a decrease in the overall resistance of the body. Immune cells are in a suppressed, inactive state and become non-aggressive against pathogenic microorganisms. Patients complain only of mild malaise and increased sweating. These signs are the only symptoms of the disease associated with a high level of intoxication of the body. Bacterial toxins circulate in the blood for a long time, are not inactivated and are not completely eliminated by the liver and kidneys. This is how the internal organs are damaged - the brain, heart, blood vessels. Pneumonia without fever, cough, headache and myalgia is a life-threatening disease.

Features of pneumonia in children

The upper respiratory tract of the child is not sufficiently developed: they cannot "keep" the viruses that quickly descend into the bronchi and lungs. A banal runny nose and a slight cough can lead to the development of tracheitis, bronchitis and even pneumonia. That is why it is necessary to eliminate the infection in the child's body as soon as possible and relieve inflammation. At home, you can give the child a massage, rub the chest and back, give a freshly prepared decoction of medicinal herbs or herbal tea.

Classification of pneumonia in children by etiology:

• The causative agents of pneumonia in newborns are usually group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus, gram-negative rods, cytomegalovirus and pathogenic listeria.
• In children from 3 weeks to 3 months - influenza viruses, RSV, pneumococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, bordetella, chlamydia.
• In children from 3 months to 4 years - group A streptococci, pneumococci, influenza virus, adenovirus, RSV, mycoplasma.
• In children from 4 to 15 years old - pneumococci, mycoplasmas, chlamydia.

Pneumonia caused by, pneumococcus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the most dangerous for newborns and infants.

Symptoms of pneumonia in children are in many ways similar to the clinical manifestations of the disease in adults. Shortness of breath and respiratory rate are the main signs of pneumonia, which must be paid special attention when examining a sick child. Shortness of breath against the background of SARS and a respiratory rate of more than 40 per minute are symptoms that threaten the child's life.

Among children, the most common pneumonia caused by "atypical" pathogens - mycoplasmas, chlamydia and legionella. Treatment of such diseases should be carried out with macrolide antibiotics.

Children with pneumonia should only be treated in a hospital to avoid such dangerous complications as acute respiratory and cardiovascular failure.

Severity

1. For pneumonia mild degree characterized by mild intoxication syndrome, subfebrile temperature, shortness of breath after exercise. X-ray signs - a small focus of inflammation.
2. At medium degree symptoms of intoxication appear - fever, chills, weakness, weakness, irritability, lowering blood pressure, tachypnea, shortness of breath at rest. The radiograph clearly shows lung infiltration.
3. Severe degree pneumonia is manifested by pronounced signs of intoxication, fever, impaired consciousness, a sharp drop in blood pressure, the appearance of symptoms, and the development of complications.

Complications of pneumonia

Pulmonary complications

Extrapulmonary complications

1. - a complication of pneumonia on the part of the cardiovascular system, the occurrence of which is associated with circulatory disorders in the pulmonary circulation. Stagnation in the lung tissue leads to the fact that the lungs fill with fluid, and the patient suffocates.
2. Inflammation of various parts of the heart - myocarditis, endocarditis, pericarditis.
3. Sepsis and toxic shock lead to dysfunction of internal organs and are associated with the penetration of microbes into the bloodstream. If urgent treatment is not started, intravascular coagulation will develop, and the patient will die.

Diagnosis of pneumonia

Diagnosis of pneumonia is based on the study of the patient's complaints, anamnesis of life and disease, as well as on the data of additional research methods - instrumental and laboratory.

Clinical signs that make it possible to suspect the disease are fever, intoxication, cough.

On physical examination, a dullness of percussion sound is found, which indicates an existing seal in the lung. On auscultation, specialists note fine bubbling and crepitus.

Instrumental diagnostic methods

Among the additional instrumental methods, the leading ones are:

• Radiography of the lungs in two projections,
• X-ray,
• CT scan,
• electrocardiography,
• echocardiography,
• Ultrasound examination of the organs of the chest cavity.

X-ray of the lungs allows you to make the correct diagnosis and determine the localization of the lesion. Usually the pathological process is located in the lower lobes of the lung.

Pneumonia

Radiographic signs of pneumonia:

1. Changes in the parenchyma of the organ - focal or diffuse shadows,
2. Interstitial changes - increased lung pattern, perivascular and peribronchial infiltration.

A more accurate method for examining patients with suspected pneumonia is computed tomography of the lungs. It is used in the following cases:

• If the x-ray examination does not reveal the lesion, and the patient has characteristic symptoms of pathology,
• With a recurrent course of pneumonia with the location of the focus of inflammation in the same lobe of the lung,
• If the clinic and X-ray diagnostic data do not correspond to each other.

Laboratory diagnostics

Treatment of pneumonia

Treatment of patients with severe pneumonia, as well as in the presence of complications, is carried out in a hospital - in the pulmonology department.

Uncomplicated forms of the disease do not require hospitalization. Treatment of pneumonia of mild and moderate severity is carried out on an outpatient basis by general practitioners, therapists, pediatricians, family doctors.

Treatment of pneumonia at home is possible subject to all medical recommendations. Patients are shown bed rest, plenty of fluids, a complete, balanced diet containing a sufficient amount of proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins.

Traditional treatment

Etiotropic treatment - antibacterial:

• Macrolides - "Azithromycin", "Sumamed",
• Penicillins - "Amoxiclav", "Flemoxin",
• Cephalosporins - Suprax, Cefataxime,
• Fluoroquinolones - "Ciprofloxacin", "Ofloxacin",
• Carbapenems - "Imipenem",
• Aminoglycosides - "Streptomycin", "Gentamicin".

The choice of drug is determined by the result of microbiological analysis of sputum and determination of the sensitivity of the isolated microorganism to antibacterial agents. The duration of taking antibiotics is 7-10 days.

If the causative agent of pneumonia remains unknown, then a combination of 2 antibacterial drugs is prescribed, one of which can be replaced.

Antiviral treatment should be started as early as possible, preferably within the first 48 hours. To do this, use "Ribavirin", "Rimantadine", "Ingavirin", "Acyclovir". These drugs reduce the duration of the disease and the severity of symptoms. They are indicated to prevent unwanted outcomes of viral pneumonia.

Symptomatic treatment It is aimed at eliminating the main clinical manifestations of the disease and improving the patient's condition.

1. Expectorant and mucolytic agents are prescribed to patients who are tormented by a cough with sputum difficult to separate - ACC, Ambroxol, Bromhexin.
2. Bronchodilators are prescribed to patients with the development of shortness of breath - "Eufillin", "Berodual", "Salbutamol". These drugs are best taken by inhalation through a nebulizer.
3. Detoxification therapy consists in the drip administration of a glucose solution and saline solutions - physiological, "Disol", Ringer's solution.
4. Antihistamines - "Cetrin", "Diazolin", "Loratodin".
5. Immunomodulators - "Polyoxidonium", "Pyrogenal", "Bronchomunal".
6. Antipyretic drugs - "Ibuklin", "Nurofen".
7. Multivitamins - "Centrum", "Vitrum".

Video: antibiotic in the treatment of pneumonia, “Doctor Komarovsky”

Physiotherapy

After stabilization of the general condition of the patient and elimination of the symptoms of the acute period, they proceed to physiotherapeutic procedures.

Patients are prescribed:

• Electrophoresis with antibiotics, bronchodilators,
• UHF therapy,
• massage and vibrotherapy,
• corticosteroid inhalations,
• infrared laser therapy,
• ultrasound therapy,
• oxygen therapy,
• magnetotherapy,

Alternative therapy

Traditional medicine can only complement the traditional treatment of pneumonia, but not replace it completely.

Prevention

Effective preventive measures:

• To give up smoking,
• annual vaccination,
• The use of antiviral drugs during epidemics,
• hardening,
• Increasing the overall resistance of the organism,
• Sanitation of foci of chronic infection - treatment of carious teeth, tonsillitis, sinusitis,
• Breathing and therapeutic exercises.

Forecast

Factors on which the outcome of the disease depends:

1. Pathogenicity and virulence of the pathogen,
2. resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics,
3. patient's age,
4. The presence of comorbidities
5. The state of the immune system
6. Timeliness and adequacy of treatment.

Pneumonia associated with immunodeficiency often has a poor prognosis.

If the treatment of pneumonia was timely and adequate, then the disease usually ends in recovery. Most often, the structure of the lungs is completely restored.

Risk factors for death:

• Aspiration,
• Old age - over 65 years old,
• The child is less than a year old
• The prevalence of the pathological process - the defeat of more than 1 lobe of the lung,
• The number and nature of comorbidity,
• severe immunosuppression,
• Certain causative agents of infection are pneumococci,
• The development of septic syndrome,
• Damage to internal organs,
• Exacerbation of concomitant diseases - cardiac and hepatic-renal failure.

Video: pneumonia, “Doctor Komarovsky”

Pneumonia is an acute infectious and inflammatory process that affects the pulmonary alveoli and tissues. The disease can proceed in a latent form, so it is very important to recognize the early symptoms of pneumonia in adults and children, and contact a medical institution in time.

The reasons

Pneumonia is considered one of the most common diseases. Despite the fact that modern methods of treatment successfully cope with inflammation, it is very important to take appropriate measures in a timely manner. Advanced stages of pathology most often end in death.

Most often, infection of adult patients occurs by airborne droplets.. The disease develops against the background of a weak immune system: a decrease in the body's defenses leads to the activation and reproduction of pathogenic bacteria and the occurrence of inflammatory processes.

Viruses also contribute to the spread of bacterial flora. In addition, microbes can enter the respiratory tract when a foreign body enters the oral cavity and pharynx. In rare cases, pathogens can pass from other foci of infection through the circulatory system.

Bacteria most often provoke inflammation:

• pneumococci;
• streptococci;
• mycoplasma;
• chlamydia;
• legionella;
• hemophilic bacillus;
• staphylococci;
• enterobacteria etc.

The causes of the development of inflammatory phenomena in the lung tissue in adults can be:

• complications after past viral diseases - SARS, influenza, colds, when a person has a weakened immune system;
• hypothermia. Under adverse conditions, for example, prolonged exposure to the cold, immunity fails, which leads to the appearance of an inflammatory process;
• various pulmonary diseases - bronchial asthma, obstruction;
• exposure to toxic fumes, radiation, gas.

Less commonly, inflammation can develop as a result of the use of artificial ventilation of the lungs, general anesthesia.

Risk factors in adult women and men are:

• chronic stress, exhaustion of the body;
• unbalanced diet, lack of meat, fish, fruits and vegetables;
• a weak immune system, provoking a decrease in the body's own forces;
• tendency to frequent colds;
• abuse of bad habits, smoking, alcoholism;
• chronic diseases of the heart and kidneys;
• oncological neoplasms;
• HIV infection;
• advanced age. Age-related changes cause a deterioration in the state of the immune system, which leads to a particularly severe course of pneumonia in the elderly.

What is pneumonia

To date, pneumonia is divided into the following forms:

• out-of-hospital. A common type of pathology;
• hospital. It develops when the patient stays in a hospital for more than 72 hours;
• atypical. Occurs as a result of the action of atypical microflora;
• immunodeficient. It is observed in people with HIV infection.

Depending on the origin of the inflammation, the pathology is:

• viral;
• bacterial;
• fungal;
• mycoplasma;
• mixed.

In addition, pneumonia occurs in mild, moderate and severe degrees. It also differs in the development mechanism:

• primary. Occurs as an independent disease;
• secondary. Is a complication of other diseases;
• aspiration. Diagnosed by the penetration of foreign objects into the bronchi;
• postoperative. It is formed during surgical interventions on the pulmonary tract;
• post-traumatic. It develops as a result of chest trauma.

By the nature of the course of the disease can be:

• chronic;
• sharp;
• atypical;
• protracted.

According to the localization of the inflammatory process, the disease is:

• left-sided;
• right-sided;
• bilateral.

What are the symptoms of pneumonia

It is quite difficult to recognize pneumonia in adults on your own: early manifestations of the disease are usually mild.

Cough and chest pain may be the main symptoms.. In addition, there are the first signs of pneumonia in an adult, according to which one can suspect the onset of inflammation:

• chronic cough. At first, it can be dry, with the progression of the disease, the cough becomes productive, with purulent yellow discharge;
• prolonged course of a cold without improvement;
• lack of effect after taking antipyretics;
• pain when coughing in the sternum and back;
• difficulty breathing;
• pale skin;
• loss of strength, lethargy, weakness in the legs;
• increased sweating;
• loss of appetite;
• appearance of fever.

In the classical form, inflammation in adult patients occurs with a temperature of 39-40°C. Atypical forms of pathology are characterized by subfebrile temperature - up to 37.5 ° C.

How does pneumonia manifest itself in adults?

In some cases, the clinical picture may be blurred, without the development of characteristic symptoms and temperature. However, this does not make the disease less threatening.

One of the manifestations of the disease can be a general malaise that has arisen for no particular reason. In this case, the patient needs to take a blood and urine test, undergo a fluorography for prevention and consult with a therapist.

It is very important to distinguish pneumonia from the common flu or cold. In the early stages, many patients are unaware of the disease, explaining poor health, bouts of pain in the head and chills with a common cold.

If you ignore the initial signs of pneumonia, the disease will begin to progress;

• the temperature reaches high levels - 38 ° C and above, may be accompanied by a febrile syndrome and even hallucinations;
• when coughing, blood streaks are observed in the sputum;
• the patient's ventilation worsens, constant pain in the head, frequent sneezing;
• chronic fatigue leads to a severe decline in strength.

Suspicion of a bilateral inflammatory process in the pulmonary tract can cause the following symptoms:

• blue lips;
• difficulty breathing, severe shortness of breath;
• lingering cough;
• loss of appetite, deterioration in performance.

Most often, bilateral inflammation begins with a high temperature - more than 38.5 ° C and is accompanied by fever.

With a viral type of pathology, a runny nose, conjunctivitis, pain in the lymph nodes, nausea, and in rare cases, vomiting can join the symptoms.

Bacterial pneumonia occurs in conjunction with an increase in blood pressure, loss of appetite, weight loss, as well as a cough with yellow mucus.

Diagnostics

At the first suspicion of pneumonia, a blood test is taken from the patient, which will show any changes in the body. One of the indicators is an increase in the level of ESR, as well as leukocytes, the number of which increases in the presence of a pathological process. When the level of lymphocytes is exceeded, the disease is viral in nature, neutrophils - bacterial.

In addition, the following studies will help diagnose pathology:

• Blood chemistry. It will help to detect deviations in the functioning of other internal systems (liver, kidneys, heart), as well as to exclude possible complications.
• To assess the functionality of the broncho-pulmonary system, a blood gas test is performed.
• The state of the pulmonary tract can be assessed using x-rays or computed tomography.
• Sputum examination will allow to identify the pathogen and determine its sensitivity to antibiotics.

In addition, the doctor may prescribe additional diagnostic methods - a blood test for antibodies, a biopsy, tracheobronchoscopy.

How to treat

Pneumonia is treated by general practitioners and general practitioners. With a mild form, treatment in a hospital is indicated for adults; moderate and severe infections require hospitalization.

The main method of treating the disease is taking antibiotics, which are selected depending on the results of the tests. However, if time is lost and immediate antibiotic therapy is required, agents with a wide spectrum of therapeutic activity are used.

Antimicrobial drugs are selected taking into account:

• patient's age;
• concomitant diseases;
• type of pathology;
• the severity of symptoms.

With a mild course of the disease, preference is given to penicillin agents, macrolides, cephalosporins (Flemoklav, Azithromycin, Ceftriaxone). In severe cases, a combination of several agents is recommended - macrolides, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins. The duration of the use of medications is determined by the attending physician, but the duration should not be less than 10 days.

If after 3 days after taking the medicine there is no positive dynamics, the treatment regimen is reviewed.

• To increase the effectiveness of antibacterial treatment, antiviral agents (Arbidol, Tamiflu) can be used.
• For fungal infections, antifungal drugs, such as Diflucan, are indicated. The medicine is selected after determining the type of dispute.
• To restore bronchial drainage, Berodual, Atrovent, Eufillin, Bioparox spray are used.
• Immunoglobulin, Interferon is used to restore immunity.

To relieve symptoms, prescribe:

• mucolytic agents that help extract sputum: Ambrohexal, Ambrobene, Fluimucil, Fluditec;
• antipyretics and painkillers - Ibuklin, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen;
• with severe intoxication, detoxification therapy with sodium chloride, glucose is indicated;
• for spasms and suffocation, bronchodilators are used in inhalations and aerosols (Ipratropium bromide, Salbutamol);
• in severe infections, as well as the lack of effectiveness of the main treatment, hormonal agents are prescribed - glucocorticosteroids (Pulmicort), as well as the removal of pus with the help of surgery.

In other cases, hospitalization and resuscitation are required.

The following physiotherapy procedures contribute to recovery:

• inhalation;
• ultraviolet;
• electrophoresis;
• massage;
• physiotherapy;
• breathing exercises.

Physiotherapy will strengthen the general condition of the body and speed up the process of restoring the functioning of the lungs.

Patients are shown compliance with bed rest, staying warm, avoiding drafts. The room should be systematically ventilated and disinfected. The diet of adult patients should include a large amount of liquid: this will help relieve intoxication.

It is forbidden to abuse salty foods: salt can provoke fluid retention in the body and the appearance of swelling. Patients need to give up alcohol-containing drinks and smoking, as bad habits worsen the prognosis.

Complications

Complications of pathology can arise not only because of the disease itself, but also because of the medication.

The consequences of the inflammatory process in the pulmonary tract can be:

• development of respiratory failure;
• pleurisy;
• abscess;
• pulmonary edema;
• blood poisoning, sepsis.

Prevention

In order to prevent pathology, adults and children should adhere to the following recommendations:

• Don't refuse vaccinations. Vaccination of people with weak immunity, as well as those prone to pulmonary pathologies, will help prevent infection with influenza and SARS.
• Timely treat chronic infections - sinusitis, caries, pharyngitis, tonsillitis. These diseases provoke the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and weaken the immune status.
• It is imperative to get rid of colds: viruses that cause respiratory pathologies are often the cause of pneumonia. To do this, you must follow the doctor's recommendations, take antiviral drugs, drink plenty of water. After the symptoms disappear, blood and urine tests should be performed to exclude the development of complications.
• Avoid interaction with potential sources of the virus. During an epidemic, it is necessary to use a gauze bandage, not to visit crowded places, and also apply oxolinic ointment.

Provided timely treatment to a medical institution, pneumonia does not pose a danger to the life of an adult. That is why it is extremely important not to lose precious time in case of alarming symptoms and to start adequate therapy as soon as possible.