The first signs of pneumonia

What are the first signs of pneumonia?

The first signs of pneumonia need to be able to recognize in order to take effective measures for treatment. The difficulty lies in the fact that in some cases, pneumonia occurs without specific signs, especially when the lobes of the lung are removed from the main respiratory tract.

Later diagnosis slows down recovery and can lead to complications during the course of the disease. Pneumonia is a life-threatening condition, especially urgently needed for newborns and the elderly.

Symptoms of pneumonia

There are several types of microorganisms that cause pneumonia. Depending on the type of pathogens, the location of the main source of infection and the age of the affected person, the signs of the onset of the disease will differ.

For pneumonia, the most characteristic is the following:

1. A sharp increase in temperature to 37-39 ° C. In most cases, victims pay attention to this manifestation, but they take a fever for manifesting a cold.
2. Intoxication. There are heaviness and pain in the head, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, weakness, sometimes pain in the muscles, joints, bones. In newborns and elderly people, pneumonia can occur without fever, but in all cases will be accompanied by a decrease in activity and appetite.
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3. Labored breathing. First, shortness of breath appears, and after a while cough begins with the release of sputum, develops pain on inhalation, the victim can not breathe a full chest. Such a course is more characteristic of bacterial pneumonia. Mycotic, as a rule, is expressed by a dry cough without phlegm, pain and discomfort in the throat. Some people at an early stage do not have other signs on the part of the respiratory organs, in addition to reducing the depth of inspiration.
4. Blood in the phlegm. If pneumonia is caused by bacteria or viruses, as a result of coughing, blood vessels can be damaged. In this case bloody streaks are observed in the sputum. The symptom is alarming, it is recommended that you seek medical help immediately.

Can pneumonia occur without symptoms? Yes, it is possible, however, weakness, a decrease in the quality of breathing and rapid fatigue will manifest in any case. The best results give a quick identification of the microorganisms causing the inflammatory process, and carrying out depending on their type:

• antibiotic treatment;
• antiviral therapy.

Measures taken in the first 8 hours from the time of infection are most effective.

When does pneumonia occur?

Inflammation of the lungs can either arise in the form of an independent disease, or be a complication of another acute or chronic problem. To time to notice the first signs of pneumonia, you need to know the factors in which there is an increased risk of its occurrence. The following causes lead to pneumonia:

1. The presence of active foci of infection in the nasopharynx. It can be any chronic or acute disease of the respiratory tract, for example, bronchitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, even otitis.
2. Permanent inhalation of harmful substances. Smoking or working in hazardous production are at risk for pneumonia.
3. In newborns, the prerequisites for pneumonia are the intrauterine malformations of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, birth trauma leading to suffocation, hypoxia, asphyxia, cystic fibrosis and supercooling.
4. In adults, pneumonia can result in a decline in the immune system as a result of infection with HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and chemical dependence. Vulnerable patients and those who have recently undergone surgery are vulnerable to pneumonia.
5. Elderly people are very difficult to tolerate pneumonia, especially if it occurs against the background of bronchial asthma, heart disease or the endocrine system.

To prevent complications after surgery, a course is always prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, however, despite this, pneumonia in the postoperative period is quite common.

With weakened immunity it is very important to be vigilant and seek medical help immediately if there are problems with breathing.

Pneumonia and smoking

Smokers have difficulty in determining pneumonia at an early stage. Many smokers with a long history (more than 10 years) have some violations on the part of the respiratory system, against which the first symptoms of pneumonia are not as noticeable as in humans without dependence on nicotine. The main chronic diseases in smokers resemble the onset of the inflammatory process in the lungs, In addition to this, the weakening of the nasopharyngeal mucosa and upper respiratory tract contributes to the development pneumonia. Smokers often observe:

• chronic rhinitis;
• chronic cough;
• separation of a small amount of phlegm from the bronchi;
• superficial breathing and shortness of breath, especially with physical exertion;
• labored breathing;
• wheezing in the lungs.

Older people or smokers with more than 15 years of experience develop a so-called smoker's bronchitis, that is, chronic an inflammatory process in the upper respiratory tract, which has a lingering course and exacerbates the background of a change in the brand of cigarettes or weather conditions. The main differences between pneumonia and normal breathing disorders in smokers are as follows:

• soreness on inspiration;
• weakness, headache and fever;
• the appearance of blood in the sputum;
• increased cough and runny nose.

If the inflammation affects the pleura, the intensity of painful sensations increases with breathing. In older smokers, in some cases, pneumonia occurs asymptomatically until it begins to pose a threat to life.

In this case, the body temperature rises to 39 ° C, there is confusion and cyanosis, a change in the color of the lips to bluish.

Potentially pneumonia can cause death from respiratory and heart failure, so the elderly need to immediately go to a medical facility for timely diagnosis.

Complications after pneumonia and emergency medical care

Since the respiratory organs are actively washed with blood, the location of the foci of infection in the lungs can facilitate the entry of pathogens into the circulatory system. This can lead to:

• sepsis, blood poisoning;
• meningitis, inflammation of the brain;
• endocarditis and pericarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle.

Pneumonia is dangerous for the elderly after surgical operations, so the medical personnel pay special attention to the health of these patients. In pregnant women, inflammation of the lungs can potentially trigger the spread of infection by organism, lead to fetal infection of staphylococcal, pneumococcal or fungal infection and cause a miscarriage. Therefore, if the quality of breathing decreases, pregnant women should immediately seek medical advice from a medical institution in order to diagnose violations and exclude the possibility of pneumonia.

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Independently at home, pneumonia is not treated, folk medicine does not help cope with this disease. For diagnostics, special equipment is needed, so without or without adequate research, it is impossible to confirm the presence or absence of pneumonia in a person. Pneumonia is diagnosed by the following methods:

• X-ray or computed tomography of the chest;
• sputum examination;
• blood tests;
• Analysis of urine;
• bronchoscopy.

After this, the selection of potent drugs depending on the type of pathogen. If the patient does not self-medicate and responds quickly to the first signs of pneumonia, the prognosis for recovery is very favorable. If the request for help is not timely, pneumonia can result in a fatal outcome.

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The most serious disease occurs in young children, especially newborns, and the elderly, so if you suspect a pneumonia, you should immediately call your doctor.

respiratoria.ru

Symptoms of pneumonia in adults

Pneumonia is an infectious disease. It remains one of the most common in the world. It is the leader among nosocomial infections leading to death. It is important to know the symptoms of pneumonia in adults in order to take timely action. Treatment of pneumonia and the prognosis of the development of the disease depends on the nature of the infection, age and general condition of the patient.

What is pneumonia and how dangerous it is

Inflammation of the lungs in an acute form is called pneumonia. It is caused by infections that can be transmitted in various ways, affecting the lung tissue. In the list of diseases that caused death, she is in fifth place, and medicine does not always help. Lethal outcome among adults from pneumonia is 10-33%. Intrahospital and atypical form of the disease takes even more lives - the risk of dying increases to 50%. In elderly people, people with weakened immunity, the prognosis of pneumonia is often disappointing.

From usual pneumonia, 1-3% of young patients who do not have diseases that die, can die. Among elderly patients, the mortality rate is up to 40-50%. Causes of death from pneumonia:

• Concomitant diseases, such as cardiac pathologies, existing respiratory diseases (such as bronchitis), diabetes mellitus, problems in the genitourinary system;
• bad habits (smoking, especially lengthy experience, drug addiction, alcoholism);
• dysfunctional living conditions;
• weakened immunity.

A special risk of inflammation of the lungs is for pregnant women. The disease itself is heavy due to dangerous pathologies. For a woman who carries a child, she is doubly dangerous - for the future mother and fetus. In early terms, pneumonia is threatened by an embryo, the tissues and organs of which are not yet formed. In the last trimester for a child, pneumonia is less dangerous than for a mother. Prevention is simple: strengthening the immune system of the mother.

The first signs of pneumonia

Symptoms of pneumonia in adults depend on the type of infection that caused the disease. There are several types of pneumonia, and each has its own clinical picture. The provoking factor for the onset of pneumonia is hypothermia affecting the upper respiratory tract. In the elderly, it often goes into a pathological form. Symptoms of pneumonia in adults are several: they are divided into varieties of insidious disease. The common form of pneumonia is viral, occurs in half the cases. Other reasons:

• bacteria;
• mycoplasma;
• fungus;
• parasites;
• chlamydia;
• streptococcus.

Atypical

A disease that occurs without symptoms characteristic of pneumonia is called atypical. The latent inflammation of the lungs is dangerous because it is delayed for its treatment, when many complications appear. Pulmonary manifestations fade into the background, the patient is more concerned about general intoxication. The X-ray does not show changes in the airway. Signs of atypical inflammation:

• dry cough;
• sore throat;
• muscle pain;
• headache;
• weakness.

Aseptic atypical pneumonia is caused by Legionella, viruses, chlamydia, mycoplasmas, therefore, it is treated with antimicrobials. After infection, the symptoms of the disease manifest themselves in a period of 2 to 10 days. Changes in the lungs begin later than with a typical pneumonia. The temperature rises, the patient starts to suffocate, he does not have enough air. A large percentage of patients can be cured at home, but sometimes the ailment is difficult. The mortality from this type of disease is 3-5%, the cause is cardiopulmonary insufficiency.

Viral

This type of disease is caused by several viruses. In the first place - the flu. At the onset of pneumonia, triggered by the influenza virus, malaise is noticeable during 3-5 days. Then the condition worsens, shortness of breath starts, chest pains appear. Pneumonia is treated with rimantadine, zanamivir, oseltamivir. Viral pneumonia is caused by cytomegalovirus.

Serious complication of viral pneumonia is SARS, respiratory syndrome. It is caused by the viruses of Paramyxoviridae (they are also the cause of measles and mumps). The syndrome poses a great danger. Symptoms of pneumonia in adults with viral pneumonia are:

• very high temperature accompanied by chills;
• dry cough (unproductive);
• headache and muscle pain;
• fatigue without reason.

Bacterial

The cause of pneumonia in this case are bacteria: pneumococcus, staphylococcus, streptococcus. Bacterial pneumonia begins with a sharp temperature jump to a mark of 41 degrees. It lasts up to 3 days, and this symptom is considered a clear sign of bacterial infection. If the temperature then falls, then rises - this is a viral picture. Pneumococcal pneumonia is accompanied by the escape of "rusty" sputum, cardiac contractions become more frequent (tachycardia), breathing becomes more difficult. Treat the disease with antibiotics.

Grybkovoy

The most dangerous variant of pulmonary inflammation is fungal infection. It is due to the fact that fungal pneumonia is not manifested at first, and people do not know that they are sick. The disease is diagnosed late. The onset of the process of inflammation of the lung tissue is like atypical pneumonia, but with the exacerbation of symptoms, the nature of lung damage changes, cavities are formed. A frequent causative agent of such pneumonia is Candida albicans, a fungus. Initially, the patient has catarrhal symptoms: fever, cough, fatigue and shortness of breath. Then, when pussy is pus, then the correct diagnosis is made.

The main symptoms of pneumonia in an adult

The cold, the flu, should not last more than 7 days, if in 4-7 days after the onset of an acute respiratory infection the condition of the patient worsened, this signal starts in the lower respiratory tract of a dangerous inflammation. Symptoms of pneumonia in adults include pallor and dyspnea. If they have a cold, they are accompanied by weakness, sweating, decreased appetite - this is typical for intoxication in the beginning of pneumonia.

Temperature with pneumonia

With atypical pneumonia, body temperature is not always greater than 3,. In the usual cases, a sharp increase to 40 degrees is typical. With pneumonia, antipyretic drugs do not work. If you can not bring down the temperature - it's a sign of pneumonia. The temperature begins to drop when antibiotics work. It is dangerous if the disease runs without temperature: the patients sometimes do not take measures until the condition worsens. How much the temperature lasts depends on the pathogen: a fungus, a bacterium or a virus.

What a cough with pneumonia

At the beginning of the disease, a cough is dry, this is called unproductive. He becomes obtrusive, constant, exhausting. Inflammation develops - this symptom also changes. The sputum departs, the color of which depends on the nature of the infection: yellow-green, purulent, "rusty." Nasal cough, which does not pass for 7-10 days, is a clear sign of the inflammatory process in the lungs.

Voice tremor

The doctor can recognize the symptoms of the disease, assessing the patient's jittery response. The patient says words where there are several "p" sounds, and the doctor puts his hands on his chest, and determines the voice trembling. With pneumonia, part of the lung, or it is whole, becomes denser. This will be noticed by the medical doctor who conducts the diagnostics, by the fact that the voice tremor is amplified.

Diagnosis of the disease

If there is a suspicion of an inflammatory process in the lungs, a comprehensive diagnosis is performed. Sometimes already at the primary admission the doctor can determine the disease by conducting an auscultation, that is, having listened to the chest with a phonendoscope. But the main method of diagnosis in an adult is an X-ray. Necessarily the patient will take blood for general and biochemical analysis. If the patient is in the hospital, examine the culture of sputum, urine, check blood for antibodies to viruses.

Types of pneumonia

The mild forms of pneumonia, found in the initial stage, are treated at home. Remember that even mild pneumonia will complicate with improper care. It is necessary to adhere to the doctor's recommendations how to treat pneumonia in the home:

• antipyretic drugs, anti-inflammatory;
• an abundant drink is prescribed;
• an important component of the treatment is a diet: the body is poisoned by toxins, light foods, more fluids are required.

How to treat pneumonia, how long the process will last depends on the severity and variety of the disease. Infection is sometimes found in the lung tissue for years, leading to a chronic illness. Fibers and connective tissues are damaged, they press on the pulmonary vesicles, which leads to hardening of the lungs, pneumosclerosis. The patient feels discomfort, constantly coughs. It is a slow, prolonged illness, which gradually leads to complications.

Conventional pneumonia is divided into mild, moderate, severe and extremely severe in severity, it depends on how the disease proceeds. Severe acute forms include pleuropneumonia, when one or more of the lungs are inflamed. There is pneumonia in the localization:

• Focal (concentrated in the focus of inflammation);
• segmental or polysegmentary, depending on whether one or more segments are located;
• share - does not exceed one share;
• total - covers all the lungs.

One-sided and two-sided

The inflammatory process is concentrated either on one side or it is bilateral. Unilateral pneumonia is divided into two types:

1. Right-sided - occurs more often, the right bronchus is wider than the left and shorter than it, the infection penetrates there freer.
2. Left-sided - develops less often, with it there are stagnant processes in the lung.

Two-sided covers both lungs: all lung tissue becomes inflamed, and the disease is provoked by bacteria (pneumococcus, hemophilic rod). Against the background of one infection, other harmful microorganisms are multiplied, mixed-infection develops. In the fight against a person enter several pathogens, to select antibacterial drugs for treatment is difficult.

Basal

The focus of inflammation, located along the root of the lung, is difficult to diagnose. Such cases are called basal pneumonia. In the diagnosis of computed tomography. The doctor should exclude tuberculosis and lung cancer, the focus of inflammation is similar to a picture on a tumor. Tuberculin tests are carried out. If you mistakenly prescribe drugs against tuberculosis, but they do not give an effect - this is considered a diagnostic sign.

Bronchopneumonia

Bronchial pneumonia characterizes the lesion of small branches of the bronchial tree of the patient. Bronchopneumonia refers to focal. The process of recovery will take a long time. Sometimes the disease is secondary, develops against the background of bronchitis. A person tries to cure bronchitis, that is prolonged, the condition worsens, weakness appears, temperature jumps. The cough that accompanies bronchitis intensifies, unpleasant purulent sputum is separated, at times - with veins of blood.

Important symptoms of this disease: shortness of breath, increased heart rate to 110 strokes for a minute, chest pain. To the development of bronchopneumonia leads not only bronchitis, but also ARVI. Often this type of pneumonia and viruses cause this kind of pneumonia, in order to treat the disease correctly, establish a pathogen, prescribe antiviral drugs or antibacterial. How much the disease is treated depends on the type of pathogen.

Hospital

In addition to community-acquired pneumonia, which develops under normal conditions, there is a serious form of illness - hospital, it is also hospital-acquired. The diagnosis is made when the inflammation appears after two days and more after placing a person in a hospital clinic with a completely different diagnosis. This is the most ruthless species, killing 50% of patients. The disease is caused by microorganisms. Types of nosocomial pneumonia:

• associated with artificial ventilation;
• postoperative;
• Hospital-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized in serious condition.

Immunity of patients is weakened, the body struggled with another disease, was not ready to invade new microbes. To save the situation, patients are placed with droppers, use intravenous nutrition to maintain the vital forces of the body, use drugs of a new generation, potent drugs. Cure nosocomial pneumonia can not always. Treatment of pneumonia in this case is excluded.

The equity

Fracture pneumonia affects the lobe of the lung and the pleura. With this type of pneumonia, it is important to schedule injections of antibiotics, the duration of which is determined by the doctor. Applied physiotherapy, detoxification. Partial pneumonia begins suddenly and sharply. There are three forms of the disease:

• Upper-lobar - it is difficult, with neurological disorders;
• lower-lobed - gives a pseudo-picture of the "acute abdomen which confuses during diagnosis, chills and "rusty" sputum are characteristic;
• central - inflammation develops deep in the lung, symptomatology is poorly defined, difficult to define.

Croupous

Croupous pneumonia proceeds acutely. The nature of the defeat of the lungs is bilateral. If the pathology is not recognized and the treatment is not started quickly, the patient will die from cerebral hypoxia and cardiovascular insufficiency. The first day the patient has a dry cough. The next day, sputum is rusty, vomiting occurs. On the third day, it becomes worse, dyspnea appears, tachycardia develops. The patient is not able to climb to one floor. Treat croupous pneumonia in pulmonology, in a hospital or resuscitation. Pulmonary lobes of the patient are totally affected on both sides.

Video: types and symptoms of pneumonia

Pneumonia is a dangerous disease, it is important to determine it in the early stages, when the treatment is effective even with folk remedies at home. In the video offered below, experts will tell in detail about the symptoms of pneumonia, teach what to look for if pneumonia occurs without the typical symptoms. Timely detection will avoid irreversible consequences.

sovets.net

Symptoms of pneumonia of the lungs

Before discussing the symptoms of pneumonia, it is necessary to understand a little the nature of the disease and clarify the meaning of terms describing the inflammatory processes in the lungs.

The nature of the disease and its causes

Until the beginning of the 21st century, Soviet medicine extended the expanded interpretation of the term "pneumonia." It was used to describe any acute focal inflammation of the lung tissue regardless of the cause. In the Russian classification of the disease "acute pneumonia" there were isolated such forms as "pneumonia from exposure chemical and physical factors allergic pneumonia infectious-allergic pneumonia "and others options.

Currently, in accordance with international standards, the term "pneumonia" refers to acute infectious diseases of the pulmonary tissue of predominantly bacterial nature. It is characterized by a local (focal) lesion of the respiratory tissue of the lung with the swelling of the inflammatory fluid into the pulmonary vesicles. Symptoms of inflammation in the lung tissue are revealed when the patient is examined by a doctor and an x-ray examination of the chest organs. For inflammation of the lungs are characterized by: acute febrile reaction (fever) and severe intoxication.

Since this disease by definition is an acute infectious disease, the definition of "acute" before the word "pneumonia" in the diagnosis became redundant and out of use.

Is there a chronic pneumonia?

The term "chronic pneumonia" in modern medicine is also not used, as it lost a real clinical basis. "Chronic pneumonia" of the 20th century was divided into several diseases of different nature. Distinguish them was made possible by improving the methods of examination and the progress of medical science. Chronic inflammatory reaction in the pulmonary ways takes place with all these diseases, which have received separate names and special methods of treatment. The most common of these is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - a constant companion of tobacco smokers. Chronic bacterial infection is also characteristic of bronchiectasis.

What external signs does pneumonia have?

The first symptoms of inflammation of the lungs, which tell patients:

• sudden onset of the disease;
• acute fever (body temperature increase 8 8 ° C);
• tremendous chills;
• acute chest pain, worse with coughing and breathing;
• cough dry or unproductive;
• expectoration of a rusty color in a small amount;
• dyspnea;
• pronounced general weakness, fatigue;
• sweating at night and with minimal physical exertion.

The thought of pneumonia should occur when a combination of body temperature increases with complaints of coughing, sputum separation, dyspnea, chest pain. Also, patients with pneumonia, complain of unmotivated weakness, fatigue, increased sweating at night.

How to recognize the latent form of the disease?

Almost in all age categories - in children, adolescents and adults, inflammation of the lungs has a similar clinical picture. But it is possible and hidden, sluggish form of the disease. Symptoms such as chest pain with coughing, fever and other signs may not be present in weakened adolescents or adults.

The latent symptomatology of pneumonia can be observed in the elderly. In 25% of patients aged> 65 there is no increase in body temperature, and the disease can manifest as fatigue, weakness, nausea, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, impaired consciousness.

Objective signs of inflammation of the lungs

The next stage of diagnosis of the disease after questioning is examination of the patient, revealing the objective symptoms of pneumonia. These are signs of a disease that the doctor finds in the patient when examining, tapping the chest (percussion) and listening to the lungs (auscultation).

Classical objective symptoms are:

• Stupidity of percussion sound when tapping over inflamed areas of the lungs.
• Listening to hard breathing over a limited area of ​​the lung tissue at the site of inflammation.
• Local listening to sonorous small bubbling rales over the inflamed area of ​​the lung.

The main criterion that confirms pneumonia is the asymmetry of the lesion, that is, the presence of objective signs of inflammation of the lungs only on one side of the chest.

In almost 20% of cases, objective signs of pneumonia in patients may differ from the classical ones or absent. In these cases, latent symptoms can lead to diagnostic errors. Fortunately, in the arsenal of doctors there is a way to detect the inflammation of the lungs with the help of X-rays.

X-ray signs of pneumonia

The main x-ray symptom of pneumonia is a local compaction (infiltration) of lung tissue found in a patient with external signs of acute inflammation of the respiratory system.

The consolidation of the pulmonary tissue in pneumonia usually has a one-sided nature. Two-sided infiltration is rare. This symptom is more typical for swelling of the lungs, metastases of malignant tumors, systemic connective tissue diseases with respiratory organs.

An x-ray study with suspicion of pneumonia is conducted in all patients without exception: newborns, adolescents, adults, pregnant and lactating women, elderly people. This rule is associated with the danger of a diagnostic error, high mortality when delayed in prescribing antibiotics for patients with pneumonia.

Symptoms of viral pneumonia

Acute viral respiratory infection and pneumonia itself are various diseases. Viral infection, of course, is a leading risk factor for inflammation of the lungs. However, painful changes in the lung tissue caused by respiratory viruses should be clearly delimited from pneumonia. After all, the treatment of these conditions is fundamentally different. True microbial pneumonia is qualitatively different from that of lungs by viruses, which is characterized by bilateral infiltration along the way of the pulmonary vessels.

Viral infection, especially highly pathogenic influenza ("pork "avian"), can occur in the form of bilateral lung damage with inflammation in the course of the pulmonary vessels. At laboratory confirmation of the presence of highly pathogenic influenza virus in the patient's sputum and the absence of other pathogens in it, the diagnosis of viral pneumonia is justified.

The first significant symptoms of viral influenza pneumonia are rapidly increasing dyspnoea, an increase in temperature bodies to very high figures (9 9 ° C), a painful cough with bloody frothy sputum, a sharp general weakness. Influenza pneumonia is a very dangerous condition requiring treatment in the intensive care unit.

What is croupous pneumonia?

The term "croup pneumonia" is a traditional name for pneumococcal pneumonia, which has all the classic symptoms of lung inflammation in its entirety. Croup pneumonia is practically the only of all forms of this disease, in which a preliminary diagnosis corresponds to an aetiological (pneumococcal infection).

Croupous pneumonia develops sharply, beginning with a tremendous chill and a swift rise in body temperature to 39-40 ° C. An early sign is the appearance of chest pain on the side of the lesion, which is sharply aggravated by deep inhalation or coughing. First, the cough is dry, then on the second or third day of the disease, rusty or brown sputum appears. Characteristic signs are reddening of the face, especially on the side of the lesion, frequent shallow breathing to 30 per minute and more. Croup pneumonia usually affects one lung (usually the right one) and can capture 1, 2 or 3 lobes.

Atypical pneumonia in adolescents

The term "atypical pneumonia" means the belonging of the causative agent to microbes, called "atypical flora". Atypical flora are intracellular infectious agents - mycoplasma, chlamydia, legionella. Inflammation of the lungs, caused by mycoplasmas, most often affects young people in organized collectives - military service personnel, students, children, adolescents (20-30% of all pneumonia). And, on the contrary, at patients of the senior ages atypical pneumonia is diagnosed extremely seldom.

Atypical mycoplasmal or chlamydial infection is accompanied by muscle and headaches, chills, symptoms of ARI. Hemoptysis and chest pain are uncharacteristic of pneumonia caused by atypical flora.

Treat such a disease as atypical pneumonia, special drugs - antibiotics from a group of new macrolides (josamycin, rovamycin, spiramycin, klatsid). These drugs are approved for use in children and adolescents and do not cause intestinal dysbiosis.

ingalin.ru

Signs of pneumonia in adults without fever. Symptoms of pneumonia without fever

Pneumonia is a serious infectious disease. Under normal conditions, it can have a fairly pronounced clinical course, but certain factors can strongly lubricate the main manifestations of the disease.

Pneumonia in adults: symptoms, signs, causes in normal conditions

This disease occurs due to the development of microflora in the lung tissue and its gradual destruction. The beginning of such a pathological process is capable of getting into the body of a wide variety of infections.

Another factor contributing to the development of pneumonia, is a local or general decrease in immunity.

Among the main symptoms of this disease, it is necessary to note primarily a rise in temperature body, a strong cough, the occurrence of dyspnea with the least physical exertion, poor general state of health.

Pneumonia in adults: symptoms, causes, types in unusual conditions

There are two main reasons why the clinical manifestations of the inflammatory process in the lungs will differ from the classics. Among them it is necessary to note the following:

• decreased immunity;
• uncontrolled use of antibacterial agents.

Both of these causes can significantly change the clinical picture of pneumonia.

Incorrect use of antibiotics

To date, the uncontrolled use of antimicrobials has become a real problem for society. The fact is that this circumstance gradually leads to the formation of resistance to an antibacterial agent in infection. As a result, the antimicrobial drug simply ceases to have a sufficient effect on pathogenic bacteria.

In addition, the independent reception of such drugs can significantly reduce the severity of the main clinical manifestations of the disease. For example, pneumonia occurs in children and adults. Without a temperature reaching high enough values, few will immediately become worried and make a decision to consult a doctor. As a result, the disease will proceed in a latent form, and the patient will not receive rational treatment. This will lead to the gradual involvement in the pathological process of new and new areas of lung tissue. As a result, the patient will have other, more health-threatening clinical manifestations. The main signs of pneumonia in adults without temperature are the increase in dyspnea, the appearance of blood veins in escaping coughing sputum, as well as pain in the chest, arising from involvement in the pathological process pleura.

Now doctors are trying to limit the independent reception of antibacterial drugs by patients. One of the main ways was the issuance of such drugs only by prescription.

On the decrease of immunity

The clinical picture of inflammation of the lungs can vary greatly not only under the influence of antibacterial agents, but also in the conditions of reducing the protective properties of the body. As a result, typical first signs of pneumonia in adults may not be present. As a result, the patient does not immediately notice a serious problem. Signs of pneumonia in adults without a temperature in such conditions are expressed in the appearance of a painful blush on the side of the lesion of the lung tissue. Especially high diagnostic value this symptom has in the case of isolated lesions of one lung.

The increase in temperature in this case is not observed for the reason that the defenses of the body are depleted. At the same time, hyperthermia is the most important factor of defense. The fact is that in conditions of elevated temperature, pathogenic bacteria are much more difficult to grow and multiply. As a result, they are gradually destroyed by white blood cells.

Additional signs

Symptoms of pneumonia without temperature in adults are quite diverse. First of all, we are talking about the appearance of a painful blush. This symptom is especially well distinguished if the patient has unilateral pneumonia without temperature. Signs of bilateral pneumonia are noticeable worse, as the blush will be located on both cheeks.

In addition, a patient with pneumonia, which is not treated rationally, has a pale complexion. When breathing, there may be a lag in the excursion of the half of the chest in which the inflammatory process is taking place. Naturally, such signs of pneumonia in adults without a temperature are well detected only in cases with one-sided pathology. Thus the second cheek can be paler than usual.

There are a few other signs that pneumonia develops in children and adults. Without a temperature, people often do not pay attention to the soreness in the chest, which increases with every breath. This approach is dangerous in that you can skip a serious pathology. So, when there are painful sensations in the chest, intensifying during inspiration, it is better to consult a specialist so that he excludes the inflammatory process in the lung tissue.

When should shortness of breath make you think?

Symptoms of pneumonia without temperature in adults, as you can already see, are quite diverse. One of the manifestations of the disease is shortness of breath. Normally, it can occur in any person after certain physical exertion. In the event that dyspnea appears at rest, one of the reasons may be an inflammatory process that occurs in the lung tissue. In this case, despite the lack of motor activity, without rational antibacterial therapy, dyspnea gradually only increases.

However, this symptom does not always indicate that pneumonia develops without temperature. Signs of the same type can also occur in cardiac pathology, when the patient gradually develops stagnant phenomena. Identify the exact cause of dyspnea with this help radiography chest organs.

It must also be remembered that young patients should pay special attention to dyspnea at rest, since in the overwhelming majority of cases they have no expressed cardiac pathology.

What should I do first?

In the event that there are typical first signs of pneumonia in adults, you should immediately turn to a specialist - doctors, therapist or pulmonologist. They will conduct a general examination, including auscultation of the lungs. Based on the results of the primary diagnostic measures, the doctor will decide whether it is necessary to perform an X-ray examination of the chest organs. If the doctor suspects something and sends the patient to such a survey, then in no case should you refuse. After radiography, the doctor will be able to accurately establish the diagnosis and prescribe rational treatment.

What is the danger of pneumonia without temperature?

This disease, if it occurs without hyperthermia, is very insidious. The fact is that, in itself, even under the condition of timely rational treatment, pneumonia is very, very dangerous. If, with inflammation of the lung tissue, antibiotic therapy is not performed, then there is a real danger that the disease will lead to the most disastrous consequences. But not only this should frighten pneumonia without temperature. Such a disease is also dangerous because the patient, most likely, has weakened immunity, or he recently took certain antibacterial drugs. In both cases, one usually has to use one of the most modern antimicrobial agents. In a situation with reduced immunity, it is a matter of the fact that the body itself does not have the strength to resist infection. In the second situation, the resistance of pathogenic microorganisms to one or another form of antibiotics has already been developed.

How to reduce the risk of pneumonia?

First of all, you must avoid serious hypothermia. The fact is that with a significant decrease in temperature in this or that area of ​​the human body, the level of local immunity decreases. As a result, pathogenic microorganisms have an excellent opportunity to multiply unhindered, hitting more and more sections of lung tissue.

In addition, it is very important to take antibacterial drugs strictly according to the recommendations of doctors. At the same time, it is necessary to stop using them when the signs of an infectious disease cease to make themselves felt, but only after the completion of a full course of treatment. Otherwise, a number of pathogens will persist. The next time the use of this same antibiotic will have a much more modest success, and will have to change the drug.

Another important point is the support of immunity. In order for it to be normal, it is necessary to maintain a normal level of physical activity, to eat properly and in sufficient quantities, to give the proper time to sleep and ordinary rest.

About laboratory research

They are carried out in the event that there are signs of pneumonia in adults. Without temperature or with hyperthermia, this disease occurs - laboratory tests are necessary. First of all, we are talking, of course, about a general analysis of blood. This study allows you to assess how pronounced the infectious process is in the lung tissue. In this case, doctors are most interested in the number of leukocytes, as well as the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation. The fact that the process has an infectious etiology will be said to increase the level of white blood cells (more than 9 * 109 / L). The fact that there is inflammation in the body will be indicated by an increased level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Often, the doctor does not assign a usual general blood test, but a study with a formula that allows the doctor to determine which type of microorganisms triggered the development of pathology. With an increased level of neutrophils, we can talk about bacterial pneumonia, and with an increase in the number of lymphocytes - about the viral etiology of this disease.

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Symptoms and signs of pneumonia in adults

Is pneumonia dangerous for adults?

Pneumonia is an acute infectious disease that occurs with inflammation of the lung tissue. Inflammation of the lungs remains one of the leading causes of death from respiratory diseases, despite a giant leap in the development of medicine. Symptoms of pneumonia in adults, children and the elderly, as before, make doctors worry about the fate of patients.

In 2006, 591493 cases of pneumonia were detected in Russia, which amounted to 4 ‰ among adults & 8 years. But these figures from official reports do not fully reflect the true picture. The calculations of scientists show that the real incidence of pneumonia in Russia reaches 15 ‰. The absolute number of cases of pneumonia is 1500000 people every year. According to statistics in 2006, pneumonia and its complications claimed the lives of 3, 70 Russian adults.

If elderly patients & g; 0 years there is a chronic concomitant pathology (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer; alcoholism; diseases of the liver, kidneys, heart and blood vessels; diabetes), then with severe pneumonia, mortality increases to 30%. The highest mortality from pneumonia in Russia is registered in adult men of working age. Typical for Russians, the risk factor for the fatal outcome of pneumonia is later seeking medical help.

Signs that increase the risk of death from pneumonia in adults:

• Male.
• Severe hypothermia before the disease.
• Dyspnea with respiratory rate & g; 8 in 1 min.
• Violation of the mental state of the patient.
• Concomitant diseases - chronic heart failure, decreased immunity, diabetes, atherosclerosis of the heart vessels, oncological processes, chronic renal failure.
• Low blood pressure
• Low body temperature

If patients who died of pneumonia knew the first signs of a dangerous illness and turned to the doctor on time, their lives could be saved.

The first signs and symptoms, indicating an inflammation of the lungs:

• Suddenness of onset of the disease;
• fever (a sharp increase in body temperature & 8 ° C);
• chills (muscle trembling);
• chest pain when coughing and deep breathing;
• dry or unproductive cough with sputum rusty;
• shortness of breath - a feeling of lack of air;
• general weakness and fatigue;
• heavy sweats at night and at the slightest load.

These signs in a person who has fallen ill with a "cold" should alert his relatives, as he is quite likely to diagnose pneumonia. If you suspect an inflammation of the lungs, consult a doctor.

Objective signs of the disease

The doctor, examining the patient, reveals the objective symptoms of pneumonia:

• Dullness of sound when tapping over the affected places of the lungs;
• hard breathing over the inflamed part of the lung tissue;
• listening to wheezing over the site of inflammation.

The main rule that confirms pneumonia is the asymmetry of objective findings, that is, the presence of pneumonia symptoms in only one lung. After the examination, the doctor will prescribe an X-ray of the chest.

X-ray symptoms of pneumonia

The main radiographic evidence of pneumonia is local dimming of the lung in a patient who has symptoms of inflammation of the lower respiratory tract.

X-rays for suspected pneumonia are performed by all patients: children and adults. This mandatory rule is associated with the risk of complications of pneumonia with a delay in the appointment of antibiotics. The consequences of procrastination can be fatal.

Treatment of inflammation of the lungs

The main component of treatment, determining the prognosis, is the correct choice of antimicrobial agent - antibiotic. Treatment of mild cases of inflammation of the lungs in adults can be carried out at home. In addition to antimicrobial drugs, the patient needs a bed rest for the time of fever, abundant warm drink and adequate nutrition. If the patient coughs up phlegm, then cough can be alleviated with the help of expectorants and compresses on the chest.

Diet for a patient with pneumonia is in frequent fractional nutrition, the food should be easily assimilated and fully-fledged in composition.

In case of a serious condition, the patient is treated in a hospital (hospital).

After recovering from pneumonia, the patient is observed at the clinic therapist for 1 year.

Prevention of disease

To prevent the disease will help vaccinate against pneumococcus - the main culprit of the disease. If the vaccine is contraindicated to a patient at risk, you can use drugs such as "vaccine-tablets." Such drugs contain surface proteins of microbial pathogens that enhance immunity. The action of such immunomodulators is regarded as "grafting only without injection. For a competent choice of treatment and prevention of pneumonia, a doctor's consultation is necessary.

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