How to distinguish tuberculosis from pneumonia

How to distinguish pneumonia from tuberculosis?

Answers:

Vasily Ushakov

By the wand of the virus.

Irima

fluorography.. sputum analysis ..

Olga Mironova

Pneumonia can cause different bacteria, even bacteria of the bronchial microflora. Tuberculosis causes mycobacterium tuberculosis. The doctor does not exactly confuse. Fluorography will show. Sputum analysis. With tuberculosis, hemoptysis is permissible.

Alexey Mikhailovich

Sometimes very, very difficult. Sputum analysis in VC may not show anything at all, at least 30 times do it! The lack of VC does not say anything, but the presence, - about many things. Sprouted sputum NV VC three months! During this time, you can die.
Localization of the process - TVS usually affects the tops of the lungs. This is always a concern for pneumonia. If there is no good X-ray positive dynamics on the 14th day from the start of the course of antibiotic therapy, then - consultation phthisiatrician, if necessary - bronchoscopy, a tomogram of the lungs and some other methods research. Only the phthisiatrician can decide about transferring to a TB hospital, but he is neither the Lord God nor a psychic.

A clinical blood test was previously very relevant, but now such "evil" and atypical, lightning-fast developing forms of fuel assemblies have gone, it can show nothing. The shift of the formula to the right was characteristic for FA, to the left for pneumonia. A tumor should also be taken into account and should not be discounted. Now the formula of the blood does not say anything.. .

In short, the difficult thing is And - tuberculosis is very dangerous! Not only is it transmitted and can not be completely disinfected from the premises (40-50 years can be a dangerous place where the patient with an open form of tuberculosis was treated! ), so now it proceeds quickly and from it to die - it is easy! To medicines other forms of it are stable!
Therefore - at the slightest suspicion, urgent examination and cons. phthisiatrician! Sometimes to verify the diagnosis, bronchoscopy, lavage of the bronchi (such as washing) are done and the mycobacterium tuberculosis is searched directly in this separable.

What is pulmonary tuberculosis: differential diagnosis and clinic

Often, medical practice identifies pulmonary tuberculosis, differential diagnosis in which it should be carried out with various diseases (pneumonia, atelectasis, sarcoidosis). Currently, pulmonary tuberculosis is one of the biggest problems. The thing is that about 2 billion people are infected with mycobacteria of tuberculosis. This disease has a huge social significance due to the difficulty of treatment, the possibility of an aerosol transfer mechanism, as well as a high index of mortality. What are the etiology, clinic, differential diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis infection of the lungs?

Characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a chronic disease caused by mycobacteria, in which various organs, including the lungs, can be affected. Tuberculosis of the lungs most often occurs in adults. The causative agent of this infection is very resistant to the environment. Thanks to its structure, mycobacteria have acquired high resistance to many modern anti-tuberculosis drugs. The infectious agent is transmitted by the following mechanisms:

• aerosol;
• fecal-oral;
• contact;
• vertical.

The most important is the transmission of mycobacteria through the air when coughing. Air-droplet path is relevant only in the case of an active form of the disease, when bacteria are found in sputum and can be released into the environment. Vertical mechanism is rare. The risk group among those infected is between 20 and 40 years old. Risk factors are:

• crowding of teams;
• close contact with a sick person;
• use of one dish with the patient;
• decreased immunity;
• presence of HIV infection;
• drug use;
• the presence of chronic alcoholism;
• presence of chronic pathology of the lungs;
• general exhaustion of the body;
• malnutrition (lack of vitamins);
• presence of diabetes in history;
• adverse living conditions;
• stay in places of deprivation of liberty.

Clinical symptoms

Clinical manifestations of pulmonary tuberculosis are quite diverse. They are determined by the form of the disease. The most common symptoms are:

• increased body temperature;
• increased sweating at night;
• decreased appetite;
• decreased body weight;
• weakness;
• decreased efficiency;
• dyspnea;
• pain in the chest;
• cough;
• hemoptysis;
• enlarged lymph nodes.

Know these signs are necessary for the correct diagnosis. Differential diagnosis is often based on the symptoms of the disease, and not only the results of laboratory and instrumental research. The most frequent complaint of patients in this situation is a cough. When pulmonary tuberculosis, it is first dry, then with phlegm. The patient can cough for several minutes without stopping. Often when you cough, purulent sputum is secreted. Cough is often combined with shortness of breath, chest pain. In addition to coughing, hemoptysis can be observed.

Diagnostic measures

For today, the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis involves:

• tuberculin test;
• dyskin test;
• microbiological examination of sputum or biopsy;
• lung radiography;
• general blood and urine tests.

The Mantoux test allows you to assess the state of immunity and determine infection. The result of the test can be negative, positive and questionable. A negative result indicates the absence of the disease. An important place is the conduct of differential diagnosis.To clarify the diagnosis of differential diagnosis is carried out with the following diseases: croup pneumonia, eosinophilic pulmonary infiltrate, actinomycosis, atelectasis, lung cancer, infarction.

Differential diagnostics

Each form of tuberculosis has its own characteristics. There are the following types of pulmonary tuberculosis: primary, miliary, disseminated, infiltrative, tuberculoma. Clinical forms include caseous pneumonia. Very often, infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis is detected. Thus in tissues of lungs the compaction sites are formed. The infiltrate can occupy an area of ​​several segments or parts of the organ. It can be very difficult to distinguish from nonspecific pneumonia. The first difference is that in pneumonia, the severity of inflammatory processes is much less, whereas in physical examination (listening to the lungs) there is a marked symptomatology. In infiltrative tuberculosis, on the contrary, changes in tissues prevail over the results of physical research.

Secondly, with tuberculosis and nonspecific pneumonia, different segments of the lung are affected. With tuberculosis, 1, 2 and 6 segments most often suffer, with pneumonia - 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10. Thirdly, the history of the disease is important. With pneumonia, there are often indications of hypothermia or pathology of the upper respiratory tract. Infiltrative tuberculosis can be recognized by the clinic. It does not appear as acute as pneumonia. Cough with tuberculosis is not so frequent, but more prolonged. Intoxication is more pronounced with pneumonia. The temperature rises slightly. With pneumonia, it can reach 40 degrees. Fourth, there are differences in the radiographic picture.

In infiltrative tuberculosis, an inhomogeneous shadow, a cavity with disintegration, calcinates, the focus of the Gon and petricides in the region of the roots of the lungs are found. The Mantoux test for pneumonia is often false positive. Histological examination is of great value. In pneumonia, neutrophils, macrophages are detected, whereas in tuberculosis, epithelial cells, lymphocytes, Pirogov-Langhans cells are detected.

The most valuable distinguishing feature of tuberculosis is the presence of mycobacterium tuberculosis in the sputum.

Tuberculosis and other diseases

In a number of cases, tuberculosis infection can be mistaken for eosinophilic infiltration. This condition is associated with exposure to an allergen. In contrast to pulmonary tuberculosis, it is characterized by:

• an increase in the blood of eosinophils;
• rapid regression;
• presence of dimming with fuzzy contours, which can be localized in any part of the lung.

Similar to tuberculosis, the course is observed with actinomycosis, the main symptom of which is chest pain. Sputum in this disease reveals the structural elements (druses) of actinomycetes. With actinomycosis, subcutaneous infiltrates or fistulas are often formed. Differential diagnosis can be performed with atelectasis. The latter is characterized by a decrease in lung tissue. In contrast to tuberculosis, with atelectasis, the main symptoms are shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, cyanosis. An X-ray image shows a decrease in the volume of the affected segment of the lung or whole lobe. The shadow is uniform, has clear contours. In addition, there is a shift of healthy tissues to the side of lesion.

Difference between caseous and croupous pneumonia

Caseous pneumonia is one of the clinical forms of tuberculosis. It is characterized by a curdled inflammation of the lung tissue. Often it is a complication of fibro-cavernous tuberculosis. It is necessary to be able to distinguish it from focal pneumonia. First, sputum with croupous pneumonia rusty color, with caseous - mucopurulent. Secondly, with croupous pneumonia, auscultatory symptoms are more pronounced. Thirdly, in the laboratory study of croupous pneumonia indicates the detection of pneumococci. In the urine is found urobilin, cylinders, protein. With caseous pneumonia, there is a persistent detection of mycobacteria.

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Fourthly, with X-ray examination in croupous pneumonia, one lung is most often affected. In this case, the lower lobe is affected, whereas in cases of caseous pneumonia, the upper lobe of the lung is involved in the process. After setting the right diagnosis, treatment is performed. For this purpose, anti-TB drugs are used. The first line includes Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, Etambutol, Streptomycin. Thus, tuberculosis has a number of distinctive features, due to which it is possible to exclude other lung diseases.

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Symptoms of tuberculosis

Clinical symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis are manifold, but have no specific signs of disease. This is especially important to take into account in modern conditions, characterized by an unfavorable ecological situation, frequent use of various vaccines, serums and antibiotics, as well as changes in the properties of the pathogen tuberculosis.

It should be borne in mind that there are three circumstances:

• patients with tuberculosis when symptoms of the disease turn to the general practitioner, the therapist, pulmonologist, infectiologist, neuropathologist, less often - to other medical workers, and not to phthisiopathologist,
• Tuberculosis is an infectious disease, and patients can present a serious danger to the people around them;
• treatment of patients with tuberculosis requires the use of specific antituberculous drugs should be supervised by a phthisiatrician with the necessary knowledge and skills.

The examination and physical examination allow only to suspect tuberculosis. For the timely specification of the diagnosis, special research methods are needed: immunological, microbiological, radiation, endoscopic and morphological. They are crucial in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of tuberculosis, the evaluation of the course of the disease and the results of treatment.

Studying complaints and anamnesis

When familiarizing yourself with anamnesis, it is necessary to establish when and how the tuberculosis was diagnosed: when referral to a doctor for any complaints or for examination (preventive or other disease). The patient is asked about the time of the onset of symptoms and their dynamics, previously transferred diseases, injuries, operations. Pay attention to such possible symptoms of tuberculosis, as pleurisy and lymphadenitis, identify concomitant diseases: diabetes, silicosis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, alcoholism, drug addiction, HIV infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchial asthma. Specify whether he received drugs that inhibit cellular immunity (glucocorticosteroids, cytostatics, antibodies to the tumor necrosis factor).

Important information about the stay in regions with high incidence of tuberculosis, in institutions penitentiary system, participation in hostilities, the place and conditions of the patient's family of children. The profession and nature of work, material and living conditions, way of life, the presence of bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol, drugs) are important. Assess the level of culture of the patient. Parents of ill children and adolescents are asked about the anti-tuberculosis vaccinations and the results of tuberculin tests. It is also necessary to obtain information about the health of family members, possible contact with tuberculosis patients and its duration, and the presence of patients with tuberculosis of animals.

When identifying a patient with a tuberculosis patient, it is important to clarify (request in another medical-preventive institution) a form diseases, bacterial isolation, the presence of resistance of mycobacteria to antituberculosis drugs, the treatment and its success.

Typical symptoms of tuberculosis of the respiratory system: weakness, fatigue, deterioration of appetite, weight loss, fever, sweating. cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, hemoptysis. The severity of symptoms of tuberculosis varies, they occur in various combinations.

Early manifestations of tuberculosis intoxication may include symptoms of tuberculosis, such as weakness, increased fatigue, deterioration of appetite, weight loss, irritability, decrease working capacity. Patients often do not associate these symptoms of tuberculosis with the disease, believing that their appearance is due to excessive physical or mental stress. Symptoms of tuberculosis and intoxication require increased attention, especially in persons belonging to the risk groups for tuberculosis. With an in-depth examination of such patients, initial forms of tuberculosis can be identified.

An increase in body temperature (fever) is a typical clinical symptom of infectious and many non-infectious diseases.

With tuberculosis, body temperature can be normal, subfebrile and febrile. It often differs considerable lability and can increase after physical or mental stress. Rise of body temperature patients are usually easily tolerated and often almost do not feel it.

When tuberculous intoxication in children, body temperature rises in the afternoon for a short time to 3, -3, ° C. Such uplifts are observed periodically, sometimes not more than twice a week, and alternate with long intervals of normal temperature. Less often, the body temperature remains within 3, ° C, with a difference between morning and evening temperatures of about one degree.

Stable subfebrile condition with insignificant fluctuations of temperature during the day is not characteristic for tuberculosis and more often occurs in chronic nonspecific inflammation in the nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses, biliary tracts or genital bodies. Elevated body temperature to subfebrile may also be due to endocrine disorders, rheumatism, sarcoidosis, lymphogranulomatosis, kidney cancer.

Hectic fever is characteristic of acute progressive and severe tubercular lesions (miliary tuberculosis, caseous pneumonia, pleural empyema). Intermittent hectic fever is one of the diagnostic features that makes it possible to distinguish the typhoid form of miliary tuberculosis from typhoid fever. Unlike tuberculosis, with typhoid fever the body temperature has a steady tendency to increase, and then remains stably high for a long time.

In rare cases, patients with pulmonary tuberculosis note a perverse type of fever, when the morning temperature exceeds the evening temperature. Such a fever indicates severe intoxication.

Increased sweating is a common symptom of tuberculosis. Patients with tuberculosis in the early stages of the disease often note increased sweating on the head and chest at night or in the morning. The marked sweating (a symptom of a "wet pillow") in the form of profuse sweat occurs with caseous pneumonia, miliary tuberculosis, other severe and complicated forms of tuberculosis, as well as with nonspecific acute infectious diseases and exacerbations of chronic inflammatory processes.

Cough very often accompanies inflammatory, tumorous and other diseases of the lungs, respiratory tract, pleura, mediastinum.

In the early stages of tuberculosis, cough may be absent, and sometimes the patients notice a recurrent cough. With the progression of tuberculosis, the cough intensifies. It can be dry (unproductive) and with sputum (productive). A dry paroxysmal cough appears when the bronchus is compressed by enlarged lymph nodes or displaced mediastinal organs, for example, in a patient with exudative pleurisy. Especially often dry paroxysmal cough occurs with bronchial tuberculosis. A productive cough appears in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in the destruction of pulmonary tissue, the formation of the lymphoblocchial fistula, the breakthrough into the bronchial tree of fluid from the pleural cavity. Cough with tuberculosis can also be caused by chronic non-specific bronchitis or bronchiectasias accompanying tuberculosis.

Sputum in patients with early stages of tuberculosis is often absent or its release is associated with concomitant chronic bronchitis. After the disintegration of the lung tissue, the amount of sputum increases. In uncomplicated pulmonary tuberculosis, mild phlegm is usually colorless, homogeneous and odorless. Attachment of nonspecific inflammation leads to increased cough and a significant increase in sputum, which can become purulent.

Shortness of breath is a clinical symptom of respiratory or cardiovascular failure. In diseases of the lungs, it is caused by a decrease in the respiratory surface, violation of bronchial patency, restriction of chest excursion, violation of gas exchange in the alveoli. Certain significance is the impact on the respiratory center of toxic products of vital activity of pathogenic microorganisms and substances formed during the decay of tissues.

Pronounced dyspnea - with acute pulmonary tuberculosis, as well as with chronic disseminated, fibrous-cavernous, cirrhotic pulmonary tuberculosis.

Progression of tuberculosis can lead to the development of chronic pulmonary heart (CHLS) and pulmonary-cardiac failure. In these cases, dyspnea is markedly increased.

A large share of smokers among tuberculosis patients determines the prevalence of concomitant COPD, which can affect the frequency and severity of expiratory dyspnea, requires a differential diagnostics.

Dyspnea is often the first and the main symptom of such complications of pulmonary tuberculosis, as spontaneous pneumothorax, atelectasis of the lobe or the entire lung, pulmonary embolism of the pulmonary artery. With the rapid accumulation of a significant amount of exudate in the pleural cavity, sudden inspiratory dyspnea may suddenly appear.

Chest pain is a symptom of diseases of various organs: trachea, lungs, pleura, heart, aorta, pericardium, chest wall, spine, esophagus, sometimes abdominal organs.

With pulmonary tuberculosis, chest pain usually occurs due to the spread of inflammation to the parietal pleura and the appearance of perifocal adhesive pleurisy. Pain arises and intensifies with breathing, coughing, and abrupt movements. The localization of pain usually corresponds to the projection of the affected part of the lung to the chest wall. However, with inflammation of the diaphragmatic and mediastinal pleura, the pain irradiates into the epigastric region, the neck. shoulder, heart area. The weakening and disappearance of pain in tuberculosis is possible even without regression of the underlying disease.

With dry tubercular pleurisy, the pain appears gradually and persists for a long time. It increases with coughing and deep breathing, pressing on the chest wall and, depending on the localization of inflammation, can be irradiated to the epigastric or lumbar region. This makes diagnosis difficult. In patients with exudative tubercular pleurisy, chest pain arises sharply, but decreases with the accumulation of exudate and remains blunt until it resorbs.

In cases of acute pericarditis, which sometimes occurs in tuberculosis, the pain is more often blunt, unstable. It decreases in a sitting position when tilted forward. After the appearance of effusion in the pericardium, the pain subsides, but when it disappears, it may reappear.

A sudden sharp pain in the chest occurs when the tuberculosis is complicated by spontaneous pneumothorax. Unlike pain in angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, pain with pneumothorax increases during a conversation and cough, does not radiate to the left arm.

With intercostal neuralgia, pain is limited by the zone of the intercostal nerve and is strengthened by pressure on the intercostal space. In contrast to pain in tuberculous pleurisy, it increases when the body tilts to the affected side.

With neoplasm of the lung, the pain in the chest is constant and can gradually increase.

Hemoptysis (pulmonary hemorrhage) is more often observed with infiltrative, fibrous-cavernous and cirrhotic pulmonary tuberculosis. Usually it gradually stops, and after the allocation of fresh blood, the patient continues to cough up the dark clots for a few more days. In cases of blood aspiration and the development of aspiration pneumonia after hemoptysis, an increase in body temperature is possible.

Hemoptysis is also observed in chronic bronchitis, nonspecific inflammatory, neoplastic and other diseases of the thoracic organs. Unlike tuberculosis, in patients with pneumonia, usually a chill occurs and the body temperature rises, and then hemoptysis and stitching in the chest appear. When a lung infarct is more often, first there is pain in the chest, followed by a rise in temperature and hemoptysis. Long hemoptysis is typical for patients with lung cancer.

Massive pulmonary hemorrhages occur more often in patients with fibrous-cavernous. cirrhotic tuberculosis and gangrene of the lungs.

In general, it should be borne in mind that respiratory tuberculosis often begins as a common infectious disease with symptoms of intoxication and often occurs under the masks influenza or pneumonia, and against the background of broad-spectrum antibiotics (especially fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, rifampicins), the patient's condition may to improve. The further course of tuberculosis in these patients is usually wavy: periods of exacerbation of the disease are replaced by periods of relative well-being. In extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis, along with symptoms caused by tuberculous intoxication, local manifestations of the disease are noted in patients. Thus, tuberculosis meningitis is characterized by a headache, with throat tuberculosis, sore throat and hoarseness, with osteoarticular tuberculosis - back pain or joint, change and stiffness of gait, with tuberculosis of female genital organs - pain in the lower abdomen, violation of menstrual function, with tuberculosis of the kidneys, ureters and urinary bladder - pain in the lumbar region, dysuric disorders, with tuberculosis of mesenteric lymph nodes and intestines - pain in the abdomen and dysfunction gastrointestinal tract. However, patients with extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis, especially in the early stages, do not make any complaints, and the disease is detected only by special research methods.

Physical methods of examination of patients with tuberculosis

Inspection

Not only in medical but also in fiction literature is described the external appearance of patients with progressive pulmonary tuberculosis, which is known as habitus phtisicus. Patients are characterized by a deficiency of body weight, a blush on the pale face, eye shine and wide pupils, dystrophic changes skin, long and narrow chest, enlarged intercostal spaces, acute epigastric angle, lagging (pterygoid) shoulder blades. Such external signs are usually observed in patients with late stages of the tuberculosis process. When examining patients with initial manifestations of tuberculosis, any pathological changes are sometimes not detected at all. However, inspection is always necessary. It often allows you to identify various important symptoms of tuberculosis and should be carried out in full.

Pay attention to the physical development of the patient, skin color and mucous membranes. Compare the severity of supraclavicular and subclavian pits, the symmetry of the right and left halves chest, evaluate their mobility with deep breathing, participate in the act of breathing auxiliary muscles. Note the narrowing or widening of intercostal spaces, post-operative scars, fistulas or scars after their healing. On the fingers and toes pay attention to the deformation of the end phalanges in the form of tympanic sticks and changes in the shape of the nails (in the form of watch glass). Children, adolescents and young people are examined on the shoulder scars after vaccination with BCG.

Palpation

Palpation allows you to determine the degree of skin moisture, its turgor, the severity of the subcutaneous fat layer. Carefully palpate the cervical, axillary and inguinal lymph nodes. In inflammatory processes in the lungs with the involvement of the pleura often mark the lag of the affected half of the chest during breathing, the soreness of the pectoral muscles. In patients with chronic tuberculosis, atrophy of the muscles of the shoulder and chest can be detected. A significant displacement of the mediastinal organs can be determined by palpation according to the position of the trachea.

Voice tremor in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis can be normal, strengthened or weakened. It is better performed over the sites of the compressed lung with infiltrative and cirrhotic tuberculosis, over a large cavern with a wide draining bronchus. Attenuation of vocal tremor right up to its disappearance is observed when there is air or fluid in the pleural cavity, atelectasis, massive pneumonia with obstruction of the bronchus.

Percussion

Percussion makes it possible to detect relatively gross changes in the lungs and thorax with infiltrative or cirrhotic lesions of the lobar character, pleural fibrosis. An important role is played by percussion in the diagnosis of such urgent conditions as spontaneous pneumothorax, acute exudative pleurisy, atelectasis of the lung. The presence of boxed or shortened pulmonary sound allows you to quickly assess the clinical situation and carry out the necessary studies.

Auscultation

Tuberculosis may not be accompanied by a change in the nature of breathing and the appearance of additional noises in the lungs. One of the reasons for this is the obstruction of the bronchi, draining the affected area with dense caseous-necrotic masses.

Weakening of breathing is a characteristic sign of pleurisy, pleural effusion, pneumothorax. Hard or bronchial breathing can be heard above the infiltrated pulmonary tissue, amphoric breathing - over a giant cavern with a wide draining bronchus.

Cramps in the lungs and the noise of friction of the pleura often allow us to diagnose such a pathology, which is not always evident in radiographic and endoscopic studies. Small-bubbly wet wheezing in a limited area is a sign of predominance of the exudative component in the inflammation zone, and medium- and large-bubbling rales are a sign of a cavity or cavity. To listen to wet rales, you should suggest that the patient cough after a deep breath, an exhalation, a short pause, and then again a deep breath. At the same time at the height of a deep breath there are wheezing or increasing their number. Dry wheezing occurs with bronchitis, whistling - with bronchitis with bronchospasm. With dry pleurisy, the noise of friction of the pleura is heard, with pericarditis - the pericardial friction noise.

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How to quickly identify pneumonia in the home?

How to identify pneumonia in the home? Pneumonia is a common infectious disease that affects the lung tissue. The inflammatory process develops in the alveoli and bronchi, leading to the appearance of pathological changes in them. Inflammation of the lungs is most common in children, but it is often diagnosed in adults. The causative agents of the disease are mycoplasmas, staphylococci and viruses. Depending on the type of microorganisms entering the lung tissue, the symptoms may vary.

Causes of pneumonia

Pneumonia occurs not only when it comes in contact with pathogens and viruses, it can also occur in bedridden patients with impaired pulmonary circulation. Therefore, the patient is often advised to turn over. This will help to avoid the formation of pressure sores that cause blood infection. The treatment takes about a month and includes the use of antibiotics, immunomodulators and restorative drugs, as well as physiotherapy. A good effect is given and some folk remedies.

The main signs of the disease are: pain behind the sternum, painful cough with sputum separation, severe fever, increased fatigue, pain in the muscles and joints.

If you have at least one of these symptoms, we recommend that you consult your doctor immediately.

Weakened immunity contributes to the rapid development of the disease, exacerbating its course of bad habits: smoking and alcoholism. The inhalation of tobacco smoke promotes irritation of bronchial mucous membranes. Other reasons for the development of pneumonia are: surgical interventions, chronic heart and vascular disease, endocrine disorders, malnutrition, poor environmental conditions. Inflammation of the lungs can be bacterial, viral and atypical. It can be quite difficult to understand what kind of disease the patient has. Signs of pneumonia can not be recognized, confused with the symptoms of colds and SARS. However, there are specific signs of how to recognize pneumonia.

How is pneumonia diagnosed?

So, let's figure out what to do if you are faced with such a disease as pneumonia, how to determine pneumonia? Clinical manifestations depend on the degree of damage to the lung tissue and the age of the patient. In children and older people, this disease is more severe. One of the characteristic signs of pneumonia is pain when coughing. Rare coughs eventually pass into a painful, debilitating cough. In addition, the body temperature rises sharply to 39-40 ° C and is accompanied by a fever. There are pains in the chest and stomach with inspiration, sneezing and coughing.

In the next stages of the disease, the patient experiences constant aching pain behind the sternum, breathing becomes more frequent. Sputum contains impurities of pus and has a yellow or brown color. When the temperature rises, the skin becomes dry and begins to peel off. Developing intoxication, which manifests itself in the form of rapid heartbeats and headaches. Dehydration begins.

In addition to the characteristic symptoms of pneumonia, there is a decrease in appetite, the appearance of an unhealthy blush on the cheeks, especially from the inflamed lung. Due to a strong decrease in immunity, stomatitis and eruptions on the lips may appear. Urine is released in small amounts and has a dark color.

In order to avoid serious complications, it is necessary to pass the examination and immediately begin treatment. Focal forms of the disease affect individual lobes of the lung and can occur without pronounced symptoms. Under the influence of some factors, focal inflammation can become aggravated and quickly capture the entire lung.

How to cure pneumonia on an outpatient basis? For proper treatment of pneumonia, complex therapy is required. The course of treatment is selected individually, depending on the causative agent of the disease and the main symptoms. Usually appoint several drugs compatible with each other. They can be picked up only by a doctor, in addition, in some cases, treatment should be adjusted.

Why take antibiotics?

Focal pneumonia, previously considered a fatal disease, with the help of modern antibiotics is completely cured. The main task of doctors is to select an effective antibiotic. Many pathogens of infection eventually become resistant to certain antibiotics, especially if they are not taken correctly.

Before the beginning of therapy it is necessary to hand over sputum for analysis. Sowing on nutrient media will help identify the causative agent of infection and select an antibacterial drug.

Light forms of pneumonia occur when the body gets mycoplasma, chlamydia and pneumococci. These pneumonia have their own characteristics, with the help of which doctors distinguish them from other forms of pneumonia. When pneumococcal infections are prescribed antibiotics penicillin series. If the disease is caused by mycoplasmas, antibiotics of the tetracycline series, fluoroquinolones and macrolides will be effective. Macrolides and fluoroquinolones are suitable for the destruction of chlamydia. The duration of treatment depends on how quickly the symptoms begin to subside. It is recommended to take antibiotics for at least a week.

How to remove phlegm?

An important part of the treatment is the excretion of phlegm from the lungs. Accumulation of sputum in the lungs promotes the multiplication of bacteria and aggravation of the course of the disease. Now, in the treatment of pneumonia, ambroxol is most commonly prescribed. This drug dilutes sputum without increasing its volume, activates bronchial peristalsis, which contributes to rapid excretion of sputum from the bronchi, stimulates the production of surfactant - a substance that prevents the gluing of the walls of the alveoli. Due to these properties, this drug can replace most mucolytics and antitussives. It can be used by inhalation or in the form of tablets and syrups.

A good effect in pneumonia is given by warming up and physiotherapy methods of treatment. They can be prescribed after lowering body temperature. At home, you can put banks and mustard plasters, carrying out these procedures in turn. Then go to the procedures conducted in the clinic. With pneumonia, UHF, electrophoresis with drugs, magnetotherapy, etc. are prescribed. In the recovery period, you can go through paraffin therapy and mud therapy. Exercise of respiratory exercises begins immediately after bringing the body temperature back to normal.

Folk methods of treatment of pneumonia

Reception of antibiotics can be combined with the use of such drugs:

1. 1 tbsp. a spoonful of St. John's wort and 3 tbsp. spoons of elecampane pour, l. boiling water. Broth boil on low heat for 30-40 minutes. Melt 2 cups of lime honey in a water bath. Add 1 cup of vegetable oil to the liquid honey. Then decoction of St. John's wort and elecampane strain and add to it the mixture of honey and butter obtained. Infuse the medicine in the refrigerator for 2 weeks in a glass container, then take 5 times a day for 1 hour. spoon. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.
2. 250 g. of aloe leaves finely chopped, mixed with, l. Cahors and 350 g. liquid honey. Infuse for 2 weeks, strain and take 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day.

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Rehabilitation of the patient

After treatment of pneumonia, it is recommended to eat a small piece of propolis daily, and also to inflate balloons. This exercise is necessary to increase the volume of the lungs and restore their functions.

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