Pneumonia in adults: types and their symptoms, treatment of pneumonia

Pneumonia - types, symptoms, treatment

Pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs) is an inflammatory process that develops in one or two lungs at the same time. As a rule, pneumonia has an infectious etiology, that is, it can be provoked by viruses, fungi or pathogenic bacteria. Treatment of pneumonia in adults is always variable and depends on the type of disease diagnosed.

The mentioned pathology can be a consequence of a common cold. Therefore, when characteristic symptoms of pneumonia appear, it is necessary to consult a family doctor as soon as possible.

Types and symptoms of lung inflammation

Clinical manifestations of lung inflammation are largely determined by the cause of the disease, as well as the prevalence of the infiltrative process in the lung tissue. Focal, polysegmental and partial pneumonia are distinguished by the extent of the lesion. Also, the process can be one- or two-sided. Typical manifestations of pneumonia are general weakness, fatigue, chills, a sharp rise in body temperature to high numbers of 38-40°C. A frequent symptom is a dry cough, which over time becomes wet with difficult-to-separate mucous-purulent sputum. When, during pneumonia, the pleura is drawn into the process, it is accompanied by a pronounced pain syndrome, which intensifies when trying to take a deep breath. A severe course of pneumonia is often accompanied by suffocation, paleness or bluish skin in the area of ​​the nasolabial triangle. In children and the elderly, the symptoms of intoxication can significantly dominate the clinical picture. Depending on the extent of lung tissue damage, there are focal, partial and total forms of pneumonia. Focal pneumonia develops gradually: the temperature rises, a dry cough appears. Croupous pneumonia begins with an increase in body temperature to 39-40°C, severe chills, chest pain, and cough. The disease may be accompanied by suffocation, feverish blushing of the cheeks, more pronounced on the affected side.

Daily fluctuations in body temperature with pneumonia can be within 1.5 degrees. The increase is observed most often closer to the evening. As a rule, jumps in body temperature with timely medical intervention last up to 3 days.

During croupous pneumonia, blood streaks may appear in the patient's sputum.

Doctors should also carry out a full diagnosis and differentiate pneumonia from tuberculosis - the symptoms of these diseases are identical.

Species by condition of occurrence

Community-acquired pneumonia and in-hospital (hospital) pneumonia are distinguished. Inpatient is considered a form that develops in the conditions of a hospital, clinic 48 hours after the patient's hospitalization for other indications. This type of pneumonia is distinguished due to the peculiarities of the course and treatment, since strains of infectious agents that are resistant to antibacterial therapy often develop in the conditions of inpatients and hospitals.

The aspiration form develops as a result of the contents of the oral cavity, nasopharynx or stomach, as well as foreign particles in the form of solid bodies, entering the lower respiratory tract. Bacterial pathogens found in aspirated masses or objects develop and cause a severe type of inflammation with purulent complications: production of purulent sputum, difficulty in its transportation and significant lung tissue damage.

There are several more types and forms of the considered inflammatory process. All data on this, as well as information on how to cure pneumonia, can be found on the pages of our website: https://dobrobut.com/.

General rules for treating pneumonia

Before starting therapy aimed at getting rid of the pathology, the patient must undergo a full examination. Any diagnostic and therapeutic procedures / manipulations are carried out only in hospital conditions. If pneumonia is diagnosed without fever and cough, specialists should rule out the possibility of another disease of the respiratory organs - for example, tuberculosis or oncology.

Choosing a treatment regimen and specific selection of drugs is carried out individually. But there is also a general principle of therapy for the inflammatory process in the lungs:

1. Antibacterial drugs. Must be appointed in a mandatory manner. If the pneumonia proceeds typically and without complications, then antibiotics are prescribed in tablets / capsules, in all other cases intravenous administration of drugs is carried out.
2. Symptomatic therapy. Such drugs as mucolytics, mucokinetics, and antipyretics are used. The purpose of prescribing these drugs is to relieve symptoms, which improves the course of the disease.
3. Physiotherapy. If the patient has one-sided pneumonia without cough and a critical rise in temperature, he may be prescribed various physiotherapeutic procedures in the hospital.
4. Additional methods are also used, which include herbal treatment and breathing exercises. Usually, the course of treatment lasts from 10 days to two weeks.

How to treat pneumonia should be determined by a doctor - self-medication can result in the development of serious complications. A timely and competent course of treatment allows you to avoid the development of chronic inflammation of the lungs and complications.

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