SARS Symptoms

Symptoms of SARS

The term "atypical pneumonia also called severe acute respiratory syndrome, has been known in medicine since the late 30s of the last century. They began to call a certain type of pneumonia (Pneumophila), which is caused by uncharacteristic pathogens - "atypical microbes." These microbes have peculiar features of the clinical course, diagnosis of the disease and its treatment. Symptoms of SARS are similar to those of normal pneumonia.

Establish the correct diagnosis will help carry out X-ray, immunological and microbiological studies.

The typical or atypical nature of pneumonia is determined by the type of pathogens and individual characteristics of the patient's body. The latter factor influences the fact that microbes that cause "atypical pneumonia" are able to cause and ordinary inflammation of the lungs.

"Atypical" pathogens are chlamydia, mycoplasmas, viruses (coronaviruses), legionella. These dangerous microbes are able to multiply inside the cells of the body. Unlike ordinary bacteria, these "parasites" are practically unable to exist outside the cells of the "host." Also, the disease can occur against parainfluenza, influenza, syncytial virus infection.

Depending on the type of pathogen the doctors distinguish between viral, chlamydial, mycoplasmic, legionellosis pneumonia. This disease develops in people younger than 40 years and has two stages. The first stage resembles the course of an ordinary cold, the second - takes on the striking features of pneumonia.

Atypical pneumonia is mainly caused by children and adolescents.

Main Symptoms of SARS

• increase in temperature to 38-40 ˚С
• influenza
• cough
• chest pain
• hoarseness
• bronchial respiration
• shortness of breath
• rapid breathing
• weakness
• headache
• night sweating

Depending on the age of the patient, the symptoms may differ.

Atypical Pneumonia: Symptoms in Adults

In adults, diagnosing atypical pneumonia is much more difficult. It "hides" behind the symptoms of common viral infections - fever, general intoxication, chest pain, cough, weakness, poor health.

Physicians distinguish separate forms of the disease of atypical pneumonia:

• The disease can have an acute, turbulent onset, accompanied by toxicosis, high fever (40 ° C), in some cases with irritation phenomena of the central nervous system. The febrile condition lasts 3-4 days, then there are catarrhal phenomena (cough, swelling in the throat). At the end of this period, changes in the lungs are seen on the roentgenogram as a gentle net.
• In some cases, the disease at first resembles the acute catarrh of the respiratory tract (tracheobronchitis). Symptoms - inflammation of the mucous throat and low temperature, followed by the appearance of a common cold, general malaise and sometimes catarrhal or follicular angina.
• The severe form of the disease is characterized by a predominance of cardiovascular insufficiency. At a shortness of breath, at first, there is no abrupt rhythm disturbance, but gradually in the lungs the rhythm of breathing changes (regardless of changes), against the background of shallow breathing, deep breaths arise. Lung tissue undergoes defeat, and the disease takes the character of croupous inflammation.

Symptoms of atypical pneumonia can be severe gastrointestinal phenomena with a marked picture of toxicosis.

With such a disease, there is not always a rise in temperature, in some cases the temperature is kept at 3 °.

An accurate diagnosis is established by a PCR test that identifies the presence of an agent in smears taken from throat and sputum, and a blood test for the presence of antibodies.

The disease in adults is more severe than in children.

Atypical pneumonia: symptoms in children

In childhood, the symptoms of SARS can have a different character. So, the child's body temperature can be above 38 ° C for more than three days. Antipyretics during this period do not work. In sick children, a subfebrile temperature is also possible (temperature within the limits of the norm). There are bright signs of intoxication - a decrease in appetite, weakness, sweating.

Rapid shallow breathing may be present. With a visual examination of the child's body, one can see how the skin, when breathing in the area of ​​the patient's lung, is drawn into deepening between the ribs, while the second side at this time lags behind when breathing movements.

Sometimes a sick child lies on the same side. There may be abnormalities in the rhythm of breathing, periodic stopping of breathing, changes in its depth and frequency.

In general, the child becomes capricious, whiny, sluggish. His appetite disappears, sleep is disturbed, vomiting, diarrhea, nosebleeds may occur.

The newborns and children of the first months of life are characterized by the development of emphysema.
Cough may not appear immediately. At first, it is replaced by a perspiration in the throat, which eventually develops into a violent cough.

Sore throat, pharyngitis, angina accompany this disease. Sometimes, these symptoms do not allow you to quickly establish an accurate diagnosis.

Atypical pneumonia in children can develop against the background of respiratory viral diseases and influenza. If you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner and do not recognize the symptoms of the disease, a fatal outcome is possible.

The manifestation of symptoms, both in adults and in children, largely depends on the type of pathogen.

Symptoms of pneumonia, provoked by mycoplasma

Mycoplasmal pneumonia is caused by M. pneumoniae microbes - mycoplasmas.

Such pneumonia affects children and adolescents (about 30-40% of all cases of the disease). Adults with similar type of pneumonia are rarely ill (about 2-3%).

The disease is characterized by:

• temperature increase
• runny nose
• albuminuria (the presence of albumin in the urine)
• chills, weakness, malaise at the onset of the disease
• arthralgia (joint pain)
• Myalgia (pain in the muscles)
• nasal bleeding
• rash on the skin
• sore throat
• dyspnea
• chest pains
• blood in sputum

In 20-30% of cases with this type of pneumonia, the virus affects both lungs. When X-ray examination on the lungs, bright foci without clear boundaries are revealed - "blurred shadows".

To establish the diagnosis, special bacterial, microbiological and immunological studies are carried out.

Symptoms of Legionella Pneumonia

The source of the causative agent of Legionella pneumonia (legionella) are air conditioning systems. This type of disease occurs in people who use air-conditioned air. This type of pneumonia is practically not found in children. They are sick of middle and old age.

Legionellosis pneumonia is characterized by severe clinical course. At the beginning of the disease there are: cough, sore throat, perspiration, runny nose.

The following symptoms are observed:

• a sharp rise in temperature during the first two days, up to 40 ° C and above
• malaise
• extreme chills
• headache
• cough, immediately dry, then with phlegm
• in 20% of cases there is hemoptysis
• dyspnea
• muscular and pleural pain
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• tachycardia

On the x-ray, one-sided blurred and long-lasting shadows are visible, a pronounced edema of the tissue in the affected area is observed.

Possible complications in the form of respiratory failure and secondary renal failure. There is a threat to the life of the patient.

Symptoms of chlamydial pneumonia

Chlamydial pneumonia is caused by Chlamydophila pneumoniae microbes. The disease affects children, adolescents, elderly people.

The disease can begin as an ARVI with the appearance of a cold, dry cough, hoarseness, sore throat, redness of the throat. Then follows a rise in temperature to 38-39 ° C, the occurrence of dyspnea, muscle and joint pain. In 30% of patients there is cervical lymphadenopathy. In 80% of cases, the inflammatory process takes a two-sided nature. Chlamydial pneumonia has a mild, but protracted course.

Causes of SARS

The main cause of the disease is the ingress of chlamydia, Legionella, mycoplasma, parainfluenza viruses, hantaviruses, coronaviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, pathogen tularemia.

Infection occurs by contact with people infected with airborne droplets.

Viral infections that cause inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, ensure the creation of favorable conditions for the development of pathogens atypical pneumonia.

The following factors increase the likelihood of the disease occurrence:

• heart, lung, kidney disease
• immunodeficiency
• artificial ventilation
• oncological diseases
• smoking
• epilepsy and other diseases of the central nervous system
• use of air conditioners, humidifiers
• general anesthesia

Treatment of SARS

An effective vaccine against the disease at the moment does not exist. Alarming reports from around the world warn of the danger of an epidemic.

The basis of treatment is the use of antibiotics. The choice of the drug, its dosage, duration of application is determined by the attending physician. The traditional method of treating the disease involves a combination of two drugs.

Currently, physicians use the following pharmacological groups of antibiotics:

• penicillin and its derivatives (fleumoclave, amoxiclav, flemoxin, ampiox, augmentin);
• macrolides (macropen, clarithromycin, fromilide, sumamed, azithromycin, vilprafen, chemomycin);
• cephalosporins (cefazolin, rocefin, suprax, zinnate, cefixime, fortum, cefotaxime, cephalexin, klaforan, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefepime);
• tetracycline group;
• respiratory fluoroquinolones (sparfloxacin, levofloxacin).

On average, therapy lasts at least 7-10 days.

As expectorating and thinning liquids funds are used:

• laziness
• ACC
• fluimucil
• bromohexine

In severe pneumonia, immunoglobulins are prescribed for intravenous administration - octagam, intraglobin, pentaglobin. Aspiration is carried out, aspiration of the liquid accumulated in the lungs.

To reduce the temperature, antipyretic drugs are used. Multivitamins are prescribed.

Due to the infectious nature of the disease, in order to prevent its spread, disinfection is carried out in the hospital for hospitalization of the patient.

Supplement treatment can use folk remedies. Bee products have proved to be very good. It is recommended to eat two tablespoons of honey three times a day with hot tea. Herbal remedies use infusions from the leaves of mother-and-stepmother, hips, elderberry, linden flowers, raspberry.

Do you have your own recipes prepared with your own hands, or advice on the treatment of the disease? Leave your comments in the comments at the bottom of the page.

How to cope with the excruciating cough accompanying SARS, you will learn by watching the video tutorial:

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Atypical pneumonia. Signs of pneumonia, treatment

Atypical pneumonia at primary examination is diagnosed rather seldom, as for the general symptomatic disease caused by uncharacteristic pathogens, does not differ from the usual inflammation of the lungs. But after a while, when the prescribed therapy does not give the expected result, doctors use additional diagnostic methods, and only then the truth becomes obvious. Therefore, with pneumonia it is so important to know what symptoms the patient should pay attention to and inform them about the doctor so that atypical pneumonia can be recognized at the initial stage.

General characteristics of the disease

The general term - atypical pneumonia - combines infectious and inflammatory lung diseases of varying severity, caused by pathogens such as chlamydia, legionella, mycoplasma and viruses. The course of this inflammatory process is characterized by general malaise, headache and muscle pain, chills, high fever, sweating, shortness of breath and cough.

Diagnosis of the disease is carried out using immunological, X-ray and microbiological studies. With regard to treatment, depending on the etiology of the disease, antimicrobial or antiviral medication can be prescribed. The main difficulty that specialists face in this process is that until today no effective medications have been found against certain causative agents of the disease.

It is worth noting that dangerous microorganisms, which are the cause of the development of SARS, possess ability to reproduce and live within human cells and, unlike simple bacteria, can not exist in another environment. Depending on the type of microbial pathogen, viral, mycoplasma, chlamydia and legionellosis pneumonia are distinguished. The risk group is made up of people younger than 40, but most often diagnosed as a disease in children and adolescents.

The course of SARS can be divided into two main stages. The first symptomatic resembles an ordinary cold, the second - is complicated by manifestations of pneumonia.

Main Symptoms of SARS

Determine the signs of pneumonia caused by atypical pathogens is quite difficult. After all, the clinical picture of the disease is characterized by an increase in temperature to critical parameters (38-40 ˚С), general weakness and increased night sweating. Also, the sickness of the patient can be tormented by hoarseness, coughing, shortness of breath, headaches - in a word, symptomatic of a cold or SARS. Complement the common signs of pneumonia in later stages of pain in the lungs and heart palpitations.

Symptoms of the disease in adults

Atypical pneumonia in adults is much more severe than in small patients. In addition, diagnosing the disease in patients older than 16 years is much more difficult, since its manifestations are very similar to the symptoms of various inflammatory airway processes. And if you consider that many adults do not always consult a doctor with this symptomatology and are treated themselves, then the ailment is often determined at the later stages. By this time, originated at the beginning as a left-sided (or right-sided), pneumonia can spread to both lungs.

By the nature of the manifestations, there are 3 main forms of the disease. The first is characterized by a rapid and sharp beginning, which is accompanied by critically high rates body temperature, toxicosis, and in some cases, the patient may exhibit symptoms of irritation CNS. After 3-4 days of febrile condition, catarrhal symptoms appear, such as irritable cough (usually unproductive) and perspiration in the throat. Already at this stage of the disease on the X-ray, the inflammatory process is clearly visible. On the affected areas of the lung tissue, changes are seen in the form of a light mesh.

The second form of the disease is characterized by the manifestation of acute catarrhal symptoms from the very beginning of the development of the disease. Patients complain of painful inflammation of the mucous throat and general malaise amid a moderately elevated stable temperature (3, - 3, ° C). Sometimes signs of pneumonia at the initial stage may manifest as follicular or catarrhal angina and tracheobronchitis.

The clinical picture of a severe form of the disease is characterized by the prevalence of cardiovascular failure. Initially, a person has shortness of breath, but the rhythm of breathing is not violated dramatically. This process is gradual and can take several days. If you do not establish a correct diagnosis in time, deep breaths appear on the background of superficial breathing, and lung tissue, in turn, is amazed. At this stage, the disease takes the form of a croupous inflammatory process.

Often, atypical pneumonia is manifested by a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract with pronounced symptoms of toxicosis.

Symptoms of the disease in children

Unlike adults, in children the manifestations of the disease may have a slightly different character. So, most often the onset of the disease is characterized by an increase in temperature to 38 ° C, and in this condition, antipyretic agents are not very effective. Very brightly during this period can be expressed signs of intoxication in the form of sweating, weakness and decreased appetite. As for the cough, it begins much later, and is preceded by inflammation of the mucous throat and throat. Therefore, often a child can be diagnosed with pharyngitis or angina and only after an additional examination to identify pneumonia.

Another characteristic symptom of atypical inflammation is rapid breathing. In addition, in a child with pneumonia, the skin in the area of ​​the affected lung is drawn into the space between the ribs. It is not only the doctor, but also parents, who can notice such manifestation of an ailment. Pay attention to the fact that the baby does not lie on his side with a sick lung, as it gives him discomfort, and sometimes accompanied by pain. To aggravate the patient's condition at later stages of pathology development can diarrhea, vomiting and nosebleeds.

Caused by atypical pathogens of pneumonia in newborns is the development of emphysema, so it is important to recognize the disease in time and begin effective treatment.

In general, the disease is reflected not only on the health of the child, but also on his behavior - the patient becomes capricious, irritable, listless and whiny. And the manifestations of specific symptoms largely depend on the form and type of causative agent of the disease.

Mycoplasmal pneumonia: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

The highest degree of morbidity with the possible development of foci of the epidemic in closed groups is characterized by mycoplasmal pneumonia of the lungs. On primary symptoms, the disease is very similar to SARS. The patient's body temperature rises, aching pain in muscles and joints, a runny nose, while he complains of shattering and chills. The peculiarity of the disease is shortness of breath and chest pain, and in some cases - skin rash, nosebleeds and blood in sputum. Mycoplasma atypical pneumonia in newborns can be manifested only by fever and shortness of breath.

Diagnosis of the disease using laboratory tests and instrumental methods of research. An x-ray image of the patient reveals the middle and low intensity areas of lung tissue infiltration in the form of blurred spots and shadows, as well as strengthening of the bronchial and vascular pattern. The type of pathogen is determined when analyzing sputum, as well as smear from the nose and throat of the patient.

If mycoplasma atypical pneumonia is diagnosed according to the results of the study, the treatment is selected from taking into account the form of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient - age and allergic predisposition. Timely therapy, including symptomatic drugs and specific drugs, leads to a rapid improvement in the patient's condition. Complete recovery occurs after 7-12 days.

Legionellosis pneumonia

This pneumonia is more often diagnosed in adults, since the source of the pathogen is air conditioning systems and devices. The most common disease is found in office workers and employees of grocery stores in the hot season. The causative agent is the bacterium Legionella, which was first discovered in 1976.

As a rule, legionellosis atypical pneumonia symptoms are very bright and rapid even at the initial stage. The patient's body temperature rises to 39-40 ° C, a non-productive cough and chills appear. And after 20-25 hours the symptomatology is supplemented with shortness of breath and purulent-mucous sputum, and in some cases hemoptysis. A little later, vomiting, diarrhea and acute muscle pains join the atypical pulmonary manifestations. If the patient does not receive appropriate therapy in this condition, renal and respiratory failure may develop. The risk of a lethal outcome with such diseases is very high, so when you have the first symptoms do not postpone the visit to the doctor.

Diagnosis and treatment of "legionnaires' disease"

Already from the second day of illness the doctor, with airway accu- mulation, will be able to determine the prevalence of wet wheezing in the lungs. To establish a complete clinical picture of the disease, as with a typical inflammation of the lungs, an X-ray is helpful. In these pictures, lesions of lung tissue with a tendency to fusion and pleurisy are well traced. To determine the type of pathogen, the patient must pass a sputum culture of pleural effusion or taken with bronchoscopy.

With properly prescribed treatment, legionella pneumonia in adults retreats to the fifth-sixth day. But improvements are not characteristic for all symptoms of the disease. So, for example, the continuation of a fever in the patient is still considered normal for another 10-14 days after the start of taking medication. It takes a month to restore the affected areas of the lungs, but with a severe form of the disease, not all focal zones return to their original state, which often provokes development pneumosclerosis.

A complete cure for the disease is not only a long process, but also a time-consuming process, as the patient, besides therapy, will need to undergo a course of restoring the immune system.

Chlamydial inflammation of the lungs

The causative agents of atypical pneumonia of this species are intracellular parasites - chlamydia. Infection occurs by airborne droplets and affects people with weakened immunity: children, adolescents and the elderly. The highest activity of the disease is recorded in the cold season, when people at risk are exposed to frequent attacks of viral respiratory infections.

At the initial stage, such atypical pneumonia symptoms are rather sluggish, which makes it difficult to make the right diagnosis. As with ARVI, the patient complains of malaise, sore throat and shortness of breath due to a common cold and swelling of the mucosa. In addition, the temperature may rise to 39 ° C, and after a couple of days dyspnea and an unproductive irritable cough are added. Sometimes chlamydial atypical pneumonia in children is complicated by lymphadenopathy, obstructive bronchitis and bronchial asthma.

The disease is identified (due to lubricated symptoms) most often in the late stages, when intracellular parasites manage to settle in both lungs. That is why clamidiosis bilateral pneumonia occurs much more often than one-sided pneumonia.

The diagnosis is carried out using a comprehensive examination of the patient. When auscultation in the lungs for 10 days, dry and wet wheezing, characteristic for the usual inflammatory process, are listened. On an x-ray, interstitial or small-focal infiltration is seen on the right and left lungs. The most informative method of diagnosing this disease is considered to be an analysis of the detection of immunoglobulins to pathogens, in this case to chlamydia.

Therapy is based on the use of specific antibiotics for 10-14 days. A shorter course of treatment can cause chronic illness and relapse.

SARS, or viral pneumonia

Inflammation caused by coronaviruses is considered to be the most dangerous and complex type of disease. There are many reasons for this, but the main one is that the causative agent is known only since 2002 and has not been fully studied to the present.

For the first time, a disease was registered in China, it caused an epidemic that killed more than 800 lives. SARS was attacked then by about 8 thousand people, but one third of them after pneumonia completely restored the state of health and could not. In Russia, only one case was registered, and the patient after long-term hospital treatment was saved.

This pneumonia of the lungs is characterized by nonspecific symptoms of viral intoxication. Headaches / muscle pains, as well as chills, fever and sweating appear 3-5 days. After this, dyspnea, dry cough and progressive hypoxia join them. In cases of favorable outcome for a week, the symptoms regress. And in case of severe illness, the patient needs immediate hospitalization, since the risk of developing distress syndrome, acute respiratory failure and toxic shock is increased.

As for diagnostics, at present there is no specific method for detecting SARS. In auscultation, weakened breathing, blunting of percussion sound, crepitation, and wet, small bubbling rales are noted. Changes in lung tissue are seen on X-ray images in the form of tissue infiltrates, most often on the periphery of the lungs. The results of the patient's blood test indicate a decrease in platelets and white blood cells against a background of increased values ​​of hepatic enzymes.

Since the pathogen was identified quite recently, there are no specific data on how to treat pneumonia. And given the fact that the virus lends itself to constant mutation, the search for a universal drug is complicated several times.

The recommended drug therapy is based on broad-spectrum antimicrobials and antiviral agents such as Ribavirin. To prevent the development of inflammation, corticosteroids and symptomatic agents are often added to specific therapy. Treatment is carried out only in a hospital environment, as patients may need to perform oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, and infusion therapy.

Medicamentous treatment of atypical pneumonia

The main therapy is based on drugs that are able to cope with the colonies of pathogens. So, if the patient is diagnosed with mycoplasma atypical pneumonia, the treatment will be directed to the destruction of these parasitic microorganisms. In the process of therapy, macrolides are most often used, so the main course for 7-14 days can be prescribed drugs "Erythromycin" or "Azithromycin". Simultaneously, symptomatic treatment is carried out, which involves the use of mucolytic, antipyretic and bronchodilator medications.

Left-sided or right-sided pneumonia caused by chlamydia regresses with tetracyclines and macrolides. Regardless of which etiotropic drug will be prescribed, the course duration can not be less than 10-14 days. If after 7 days of taking the medicine "Azithromycin "Tetracycline" or "Erythromycin no positive dynamics observed, doctors resort to the use of fluoroquinolones, such as "Ofloxacin "Sparfloxacin" and Doxycycline.

As a rule, clinical improvements in legionella pneumonia are observed on the 5th-6th day of antibiotic use "Rifampicin "Ciprofloxacin" or "Erythromycin".

If such causes of pneumonia as coronaviruses are established, the therapy scheme is complex include several antimicrobial medications from the group of tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins and ß-lactams. Almost always, the drug "Ribavirin" is used as an antiviral agent. For complete recovery, individual treatment is complemented by infusion therapy and oxygen therapy.

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Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of SARS

Atypical pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs, caused by uncharacteristic pathogens for this disease. In fact, atypical pneumonia is not some kind of separate disease with its own etiology, symptoms and clinics, but several diseases caused by various pathogenic organisms, and all of them affect, to varying degrees, the lower respiratory ways.

Types of SARS

Since there are several pathogens of SARS, the symptomatology and treatment in each individual case also differ. Classification of the disease is also determined by pathogens. Pneumonia can be:

• chlamydial;
• mycoplasmal;
• legionella;
• virus and others.

The causes of the disease are a pathogen that can live on objects and in the air for 6 hours. This greatly increases the risk of an outbreak in places where crowding or close contacts of people are unavoidable. It is primarily kindergartens and schools, as well as large work collectives. Also dangerous places crowded people: public transport and various social facilities.

The most vulnerable for this disease are children, and the age range from newborns to upper-grade students.Much less often, atypical pneumonia is diagnosed in adults, but closer to old age, there is also a threat of morbidity. The exception is the severe acute respiratory syndrome (abbreviation of the name in English - SARS), caused by coronavirus (this varieties of atypical pneumonia are mainly affected by adults between 25 and 70 years of age, cases of children are extremely rare), and legionella pneumonia.

Atypical pneumonia in children develops as a certain pathogenic microorganism penetrates and further infects the human body. This disease can occur against the background of an already existing disease, most commonly a cold, but can be an independent ailment, in which case it is called primary atypical pneumonia.

All types of atypical pneumonia known to modern medicine are transmitted by air-droplet and air-dust pathways.

The picture is also aggravated by the fact that, according to medical observation data, with atypical pneumonia, the latent, that is, the latent incubation period, is from 3 to 10 days. By the time the signs of the disease become apparent, the carrier of the infection has time to infect many of the people directly in contact with it.

Symptoms of the disease

A characteristic feature of atypical pneumonia is its almost asymptomatic course in the first days of the incubation period. But after the end of the latent period, the infected people begin to show the first signs of the disease, and the younger the age of the patient, the faster the symptoms appear and intensively develops infection. But this general position, which does not exclude some features of the course of the disease in its various phases in different patients. In each specific case, doctors who need to diagnose a disease face not only a specific causative agent of pneumonia, but also with the individual characteristics of each individual rights.

Indicate that a person is sick with atypical pneumonia, can have a variety of symptoms. With mycoplasmal pneumonia (most often mycoplasma becomes the causative agent of atypical pneumonia), the following clinical picture is observed:

• subfebrile temperature, accompanied by chills and general weakness;
• coryza;
• sensation of dryness in the throat, which occurs at the onset of a cold;
• characteristic of pneumonia shortness of breath.

Mycoplasma atypical pneumonia is often bilateral. It flows mainly favorably, in advanced cases there can be a strong intoxication, affecting the joints, myocardium, kidneys and liver.

Chlamydial inflammation of the lungs is accompanied by symptoms such as:

• Sore throat and hoarseness;
• strong rhinitis;
• redness of the mucous throat;
• persistent unproductive cough;
• subfebrile temperature, which changes into high (up to 39 ° C) and does not decrease for a long time;
• pulmonary dyspnoea.

Chlamydial pneumonia has a propensity for prolonged leakage, but is easily tolerated. The main complications are chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma. The causative agent of Legionella pneumonia - legionella - lives in conventional conditioners, which are installed in residential areas and other buildings, that is why, in the main, it is sick with those in whose dwelling or working room the air is conditioned. Very rare cases of children.

Characteristic signs of legionellosis atypical pneumonia:

• headache;
• Rapid temperature increase up to 39 ° C and more;
• lack of appetite, a sense of weakness, weakness;
• upset stomach (diarrhea);
• soreness when swallowing;
• pain in the sternum;
• cough and runny nose (in subsequent stages of the disease).

In the case of legionellosis pneumonia, coughing sputum with an admixture of blood is coughing up. In the absence of treatment of legionella pneumonia, renal and respiratory failure may develop, which, in turn, can lead to a fatal outcome.

In severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), there are:

• a sharp rise in temperature above 38 ° C, chills, a fever;
• lowering of arterial pressure, pulse of weak filling;
• headache;
• severe sweating;
• pain in the muscles;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• unproductive cough and characteristic pulmonary dyspnea (at later stages).

In patients with SARS, cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes (cyanosis) is observed. Common to all atypical pneumonia signs are as follows: the volume of the chest increases, the breath is uneven, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), very little sputum and dry paroxysmal cough. Unspecified leukocytosis is observed in the blood.

Atypical pneumonia is dangerous because the sickness of a sick person is deceptive and he has been sick for a long time, does not experience significant ailments, his condition is much better than with the disease of ordinary pneumonia at the same term. Often this deception leads to the fact that patients (mostly adults) decide not to consult a doctor, take anti-cold and anti-inflammatory drugs and try to transfer atypical pneumonia to feet. This leads to the fact that such patients can get into medical institutions already in serious condition (especially in the case of severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS, when some patients with advanced disease have to be connected to the device of artificial ventilation lungs).

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Diagnosis of SARS

Atypical pneumonia can be diagnosed only by a qualified specialist and only in a medical facility. In order to differentiate atypical pneumonia from the usual pneumonia, the doctor, after carrying out a visual examination and questioning the patient, appoints clinical and laboratory examination and diagnostic procedures, immunological and microbiological examination (laboratory analysis of sputum and blood) and radiography. Separately, it should be mentioned that until now there are no specialized microbiological tests to identify the pathogen of SARS.

As for the radiograph, all types of atypical pneumonia are characterized by mild manifestations on the X-ray. With mycoplasmal pneumonia, you can see blurred light areas, with chlamydia, X-rays show small focal inflammation of the lungs. When legionellosis for x-ray pictures are characterized by unilateral shadows, which do not disappear for a long time. At SARS, tissue infiltrates are observed at the periphery of the lungs.

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Treatment of the disease

The specialist can choose and prescribe the treatment of SARS only after the completion of the examination and the correct diagnosis. The course of treatment will be aimed at suppressing the vital activity of a specific pathogen. There is no universal antibiotic for the treatment of SARS. For each case, the appropriate antibiotic drugs are selected (except for viral pneumonia, since antibiotics by their nature can not fight with viruses).

Among the drugs used for drug treatment of SARS, tetracycline, doxycycline, levofloxacin, erythromycin and clarithromycin should be mentioned. All these funds, as well as the scheme of their admission and the duration of the course is determined only by the doctor. Self-treatment can lead to complications and relapses of the disease with the transition to a stable form.

The use of so-called traditional medicine in the treatment of atypical pneumonia causes experts to be skeptical reaction, but the use of traditional for any cold disease means will not hurt, and in the first place this abundant drink.

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Prevention at the moment consists mainly in the timely establishment of regions with an unfavorable epidemiological situation. In such places it is better not to go without special need, and when you are there to use disposable masks. Transport coming from such regions must be disinfected.

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Symptoms of pneumonia in an adult. Treatment of pneumonia

The acute infectious pathology, which is characterized by the destruction of lung tissue, is called pneumonia. Such a disease is more commonly known as pneumonia. There are many varieties of disease. And all the symptoms of pneumonia in an adult depend on the form of pathology. Understanding such a subtle nuance is an effective key to its treatment.

Brief description of the disease

Pneumonia develops if the infectious and inflammatory process, localized in the respiratory system, extends to the connective tissues of the lungs and the alveoli. Of course, this greatly affects the functioning of the body. After all, the part of fibrin and blood sweat in the alveoli. The patient is hampered by normal breathing, a violation of gas exchange is developing.

The disease can manifest itself in different ways. From the area of ​​the lesion and the localization of the focus depends on the symptoms of pneumonia in an adult. Sometimes intoxication develops. Coagulability of blood can be impaired, bronchial passability worsens.

Despite the rapid development of modern medicine, pathology is quite common. And even today it can lead to death. Therefore, one should know the symptoms of pneumonia in an adult. After all, it is very important to identify the disease in time and start an adequate treatment.

Causes of the development of ailment

In general, the inflammation of the lungs occurs due to the action of microorganisms:

• bacteria (streptococci, pneumococci);
• viruses (pathogens of influenza, parainfluenza, rhinoviruses);
• fungi (aspergillus, histoplasm).

In addition to the above, in the development of pathology can take part special types: legionella, chlamydia, mycoplasma. It is the latter group that provokes the development of atypical pneumonia in adults.

But even if the pathogen has entered the body, a person does not necessarily develop pathology. Symptoms of pneumonia in an adult will only appear if there are factors that reduce immunity.

These include:

• any chronic pathologies (diseases of the urinary system, blood circulation, oncology, liver diseases, HIV infection);
• bad habits;
• mechanical trauma to the lung area;
• complete immobility, prolonged hypodynamia;
• inefficient nutrition (lack of minerals, vitamins);
• occupational hazards;
• debilitating physical exertion;
• fatigue, neurosis, chronic stress;
• elderly age;
• taking certain medications (immunosuppressants, chemotherapy, hormonal drugs);
• penetration of chemical agents in the respiratory tract.

Common signs of illness

Symptoms of pneumonia in an adult are divided into:

• typical (pulmonary);
• atypical (extrapulmonary).

Of course, it is very problematic to diagnose ailment at home at home. However, if you know the common features with which a dangerous pathology manifests, it is quite possible to distinguish it from banal ARVI.

But it should be understood that the following are the general symptoms of pneumonia in an adult.

So, to pulmonary signs carry:

1. Cough. Often it is moist, with abundant sputum. However, the elderly can be observed dry.
2. Dyspnea. Its occurrence is associated with physical activity. As a rule, it is moderate.
3. Pain. Patients experience severe discomfort in the sternum, exactly in the place where the inflammation occurred. When the pneumonia is localized in the lower parts of the lungs, a person experiences symptoms of diaphragm irritation. Pain occurs in the abdomen.
4. Rattles are heard, rapid breathing.
5. In the case of effusion into the pleural cavity of the fluid, the patient develops acute pain, intensified after coughing, shortness of breath, severe discomfort during movement or deep inspiration. In some cases, a violation of hemodynamics may develop: the pressure will decrease, the pulse will become more frequent, hypoxia will develop.
6. The nasolabial triangle acquires a cyanotic shade.

Like many infectious diseases, pneumonia leads to intoxication. In this case, extrapulmonary symptoms are observed.

These include:

• hyperthermia;
• deterioration of the condition: a decline in strength, weakness, fatigue;
• headache, discomfort in the joints and muscles.

However, it should be understood that the clinical picture will be quite diverse in such pathology as pneumonia. Symptoms in adults, treatment depends on many factors. Among which: the causative agent, the mechanism of the development of the disease, the conditions of the onset and course of the disease, the spread of the process, the presence of complications, the severity.

Types of pathology

There are several classifications. Let's consider some of them.

If you take into account the causative agent of the disease, then distinguish the following types of pneumonia:

• bacterial;
• viral;
• mycoplasmic;
• fungal;
• mixed.

According to the mechanism of development, the disease is classified as follows:

• primary (independent disease of the respiratory system);
• secondary (complication of some pathologies);
• posttraumatic;
• postoperative;
• infarct-pneumonia (triggered by pulmonary artery embolism or thrombosis).

In the prevalence of the inflammatory process, pneumonia can be:

• one-sided;
• two-sided.

Depending on the course of the disease, the following forms are distinguished:

• sharp;
• protracted;
• chronic.

Classification by prevailing defeat:

• parenchymal pneumonia (cereal, lobar);
• focal (bronchopneumonia, lobular);
• pathology with connective tissue damage.

Consider the most common species. We will analyze what causes pneumonia symptoms in adults, treatment of the disease and the main features of the pathology.

Viral disease

This pathology has its own peculiarities. However, in its pure form it is extremely rare. In adults, viral-bacterial pneumonia is most often diagnosed.

As a rule, pathology is a complication of acute respiratory viral infection, influenza. If viral pneumonia is diagnosed, the symptoms in adults are as follows:

• muscle pain;
• runny nose, nasal congestion;
• fever;
• general tiredness;
• headache;
• cough with whitish transparent phlegm;
• chills;
• pain in the sternum, worse with deep breaths, coughing.

Asymptomatic pneumonia

In some cases, there may be inflammation of the lungs, which is not manifested by virtually no signs. This pathology is characterized as a latent form of the disease.

Pneumonia without symptoms in an adult is a dangerous condition. As a result of the absence of characteristic signs, the necessary treatment is not carried out. And this, in turn, can lead to quite unpleasant consequences.

In addition, a person does not even suspect that he is contagious, and leads a normal life. The danger lies in the fact that he continues to infect other people.

A latent form of pneumonia can develop as a result of reduced immunity, the intake of certain medications (antitussives, antibiotics, glucocorticosteroids).

And still, one can suspect a pathology by the following symptoms:

• pallor of the skin, mucous membranes;
• shortness of breath;
• a rapid pulse;
• fatigue, weakness;
• an unusual blush;
• wheezing.

Croupous pneumonia

In pathology, a whole lobe of the lung is affected. Sometimes the inflammation spans several lobes. The development of croupous pneumonia is triggered by pneumococcus. The causative agent is highly pathogenic. Therefore, there are severe symptoms of pneumonia in adults: with temperature, intoxication of the body.

The following signs of ailment are characteristic:

• chills;
• hyperthermia (up to 39 degrees Celsius);
• cough (first 2 days - dry);
• pain in the sternum stitching;
• "Rusty" sputum due to veins of blood (appears on day 3);
• shortness of breath.

In case of complication of the pathology, skin hyperemia, cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle, herpetic rash on the chin, cheeks, nose, pressure decrease, wheezing in the chest are observed.

Focal pneumonia

Such a disease is characterized by a gradual, barely noticeable beginning. In this case, there are symptoms of pneumonia in adults with a temperature of 38-39 degrees.

The disease manifests itself by the following signs:

• the temperature rises to febrile;
• weakness;
• cough with phlegm;
• sweating;
• dyspnea;
• painful syndrome in the chest with inspiration, cough;
• hard breathing;
• acrocyanosis.

Atypical form of the disease

Sometimes symptoms of pneumonia in an adult without temperature are observed. This form is provoked by atypical microorganisms:

• mycoplasma;
• legionella;
• chlamydia.

Atypical pneumonia can cause and viruses, fungi, protozoa. Symptoms of pneumonia in an adult without a temperature are very similar to a cold.

The main signs of the disease:

• weakness, fatigue;
• headache;
• stuffy nose, runny nose;
• dry cough, significantly worse at night;
• a sore throat;
• shortness of breath, wheezing;
• nausea, vomiting.

However, if the pathology is provoked by the legionella microorganism, then the temperature may rise. For pathology, a strong cough is characteristic. A somewhat different clinic is observed if it is provoked by chlamydia, mycoplasma pneumonia. Symptoms in adults without temperature are a characteristic manifestation of such a pathology.

This form of illness is susceptible to:

• smokers;
• living in the general closed premises (barracks, hostels);
• people with weakened immunity;
• patients suffering from chronic lung diseases;
• children;
• young people.

Radical pneumonia

This is a very serious form of pathology. Symptoms of radical pneumonia in adults may not appear for a long time. But at the same time very often lead to dangerous consequences. The insidiousness of the pathology lies in the difficulty of diagnosis. After all, the focus of inflammation at the root of the lung is localized.

The disease proceeds much brighter than a simple pathology. It should not be forgotten that the radical pneumonia is very dangerous. Symptoms and treatment in adults should be observed by a doctor. After all, if the therapy is wrong, the risk of complications is high.

Symptoms are characterized by the following symptoms:

• wheezing in the lungs;
• severe cough (dry or with a lot of sputum);
• elevated temperature, not confused by drugs;
• discomfort in the throat, pershenie;
• coryza;
• weakness, chills.

The main method of combating pathology is antibiotic therapy. If the treatment is chosen correctly, then the patient becomes much easier already for 2-3 days. Often used and fizioprotsedury.

Treatment of ailment

The approach to combating the disease must be comprehensive. The basis of treatment is made up of antibiotics. Preference is given to the penicillin drug. However, in a number of cases, other medicines may be prescribed.

The most popular antibiotics used to treat pneumonia are:

• "Augmentin".
• "Amoxicillin."
• "Cefazolin."
• "Amoxiclav."
• "Cefatoxime."
• "Azithromycin".

In addition, symptomatic therapy is prescribed. The patient is recommended expectorant drugs, restorative drugs, antipyretic drugs. Depending on the form of pathology, mucolytic, antimicrobial medications are prescribed.

If there are symptoms characteristic of a form such as SARS, symptoms in adults without temperature, then antibiotics are selected depending on the bacterium that caused the ailment. As a rule, the following drugs are prescribed:

• "Erythromycin".
• "Azithromycin".
• "Tetracycline."

Conclusion

Any form of pneumonia today is successfully cured. But the main thing is to consult a doctor in a timely manner and fully comply with the prescribed treatment. The implementation of such simple rules will give a quick recovery. Health to you!

syl.ru

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