How does pneumonia start in adults?

Inflammation: symptoms in adults and children

• Croupous inflammation
• Chlamydial inflammation
• Treatment

Among the most dangerous diseases of the respiratory system in the first place is pneumonia. Inflammation of the lungs occurs in people regardless of age and can cause serious disruption to the body and even death.

Pneumonia is classified according to a number of signs:

• According to the etiological sign, the disease occurs:
  • virus;
  • bacterial;
  • mycoplasmal;
  • fungal;
  • mixed.
• According to clinical and morphological manifestations, the disease can be:
  • croupous;
  • focal;
  • interstitial;
  • parenchymal;
  • mixed.
• In the course of the disease, pneumonia is distinguished as:
  • sharp;
  • acute prolonged;
  • atypical;
  • chronic.
• In the spread of the inflammatory process, pneumonia happens:
  • one-sided;
  • two-sided;
  • focal;
  • total;
  • share;
  • sub-division;
  • basal;
  • draining.

Inflammation of the lungs in adults occurs by infection of the alveoli and bronchial epithelium.

The development of the disease occurs within 2 - 3 days, after which there are symptoms on which it is possible to diagnose pneumonia.

The disease often occurs against the background of a weakening of the defenses of the body.

This can contribute to the following factors: hormonal changes in the body, frequent colds, malnutrition, constant intoxication.

Symptoms of pneumonia in adults are almost always similar to the appearance of a cold or flu.

If the high body temperature lasts more than 5 days and does not decrease with the use of paracetamol, you can suspect the presence of pneumonia.

The main manifestations of pneumonia are:

• increased body temperature;
• cough, at first the disease is dry, with development - with abundant phlegm;
• dyspnea;
• increased fatigue, weakness;
• fear caused by lack of air;
• pain in the chest.

Depending on the type of pathogen, the symptoms of pneumonia are acute or occasionally. It is very important to determine the presence of a serious disease on time, and begin treatment. It is not always the usual examination of a doctor can reveal pneumonia. To clarify the diagnosis, you need an additional examination in a medical facility.

It is especially difficult to determine the latent or chronic form of pneumonia. And yet an experienced doctor can diagnose it according to the following symptoms:

• the appearance of a patchy blush on the cheeks;
• sweat on the forehead with a slight load;
• constant thirst;
• the occurrence of pain in the chest when turning the body;
• painful sensations with deep breath;
• uneven, intermittent breathing;
• frequent pulse.

Inflammation of the lungs in adults and children varies in risk factors. The disease develops for the following reasons:

• In adults:
  • weakened immune system;
  • smoking;
  • alcohol abuse;
  • diseases of the bronchopulmonary system;
  • frequent colds;
  • poor-quality food;
  • general anesthesia during surgical interventions;
  • endocrine diseases;
  • heart failure;
  • old age;
  • forced prolonged immobility.
• Children:
  • supercooling or overheating;
  • frequent acute respiratory infections, tonsillitis and other diseases of the respiratory system;
  • birth trauma;
  • Congenital heart defect;
  • hereditary immunodeficiency;
  • hypovitaminosis;
  • hypertrophy;
  • chronic foci of infection in the nasopharynx.

In children and adults, the symptoms of pneumonia also have differences. In a child, they are usually the least pronounced.

• If for an adult a high body temperature is a frequent symptom, then in children, pneumonia is not necessarily accompanied by fever. Sometimes children endure this disease, as they say, "on their feet."
• With the development of pneumonia caused by streptococcal infection, children do not develop fibrin in the cavities of the alveoli. Thanks to this, after recovery, breathing is fully restored.
• Symptoms of pneumonia in children are often similar to those that appear at the initial stage of bronchitis: dry cough, hoarseness.
• A loose stool, a lack of appetite, a frequent cough, a blue around the mouth against a catarrhal disease or inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx - a good reason for examining the child for pneumonia.
• Cough is the main symptom of the disease in both children and adults.

What are the symptoms of pneumonia in adults: symptoms of croupous inflammation

Pathogens - streptococcus, staphylococcus, pneumococcus, Klebsiella. The inflammatory process occurs both in the whole lobe of the lung, so in its segments. The onset of the disease is acute: high fever, chills.

The development of the disease occurs in four stages.

1. Stage of the tide. There is a sharp hyperemia of the lung tissue and the patency of the capillaries in the affected areas is impaired.
2. Stage of red curing. The number of leukocytes in the alveoli increases. The affected lung becomes denser.
3. The stage of gray curing. In the lumens of the alveoli, a large amount of fibrin accumulates, which complicates the process of gas exchange in the lungs.
4. The resolution stage. Degraded infiltrate in the alveoli.

Symptoms of croupous pneumonia:

• increase in body temperature up to 40 Celsius;
• dyspnea;
• cough;
• confusion of consciousness;
• weakness;
• Rusty sputum;
• pain in the chest.

Symptoms of viral pneumonia in adults

It develops against the background of viral infectious diseases. Pathogens - influenza viruses, parainfluenza, measles, chicken pox, adenovirus. Symptoms are similar to the manifestation of colds:

• high body temperature;
• severe headache;
• shortness of breath;
• pain in the chest;
• nausea, vomiting;
• pain in the muscles;
• coryza.

Possible bloody discharge or pus in sputum.

Symptoms of radical inflammation of the lungs in adults

Pathogens - staphylococcus, pneumococcus, hemophilic rod. The peculiarity of the ailment lies in the fact that it is difficult to diagnose. The disease has 2 forms: tumorous - proceeds imperceptibly and slowly; inflammatory - manifests itself quickly.

The main symptoms are:

• coughing;
• sore throat;
• increased body temperature;
• an increase in leukocytes in the blood.

For the diagnosis of this type of pneumonia, an X-ray scan is required.

Symptoms of Chlamydial Inflammation of the Lung in Adults

The causative agent is chlamydia. Most often affect the genitourinary system of the body of men and women. Chlamydia pneumonia is atypical and occurs mainly in children. In adults, it can develop against a background of reduced immunity. It is similar in appearance to an ordinary cold.

The main symptoms are:

• the temperature rises to 37.5 - 38 Celsius;
• a sharp sharp cough;
• strong weakness;
• a hoarse voice;
• can develop into bronchitis.

Symptoms of fungal inflammation of the lungs in adults

The disease was provoked by fungal infections: candidomycosis, blastomycosis, streptotrichosis, actinomycosis, aspergillosis, histoplasmosis. The most dangerous pneumonia, as it is very difficult to diagnose. The patient may not even suspect the presence of fungal inflammation of the lungs. Fungi damage the lung tissue, forming cavities in it.

The main symptoms are:

• cough;
• fast fatiguability;
• dyspnea;
• presence of pus in sputum;
• muscle pain.

What are the symptoms of pneumonia in older adults?

• there is no acute onset of the disease;
• the temperature is raised slightly;
• drowsiness, weakness, apathy;
• significant shortness of breath;
• tachycardia;
• a blush on one cheek;
• painful sensations in the chest during breathing.

The development of pneumonia in this category of persons can be accompanied by concomitant diseases:

• emphysema of the lungs;
• pneumosclerosis;
• diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Especially dangerous is the development of pneumonia in acute vascular insufficiency. In this case, emergency care is needed, since there is a possibility of septic shock and pulmonary edema.

Inflammation of the lungs in people with alcohol dependence

People who are prone to excessive drinking alcoholic inflammation is particularly difficult.This is due to strong intoxication of the body. Possible manifestation of various psychoses:

• visual and auditory hallucinations;
• disorientation in space and time;
• excessive overexcitation;
• inadequate behavior.

Chronic form of pneumonia occurs if the disease is treated in an untimely and inappropriate manner. It is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• a cough with purulent discharge;
• deformation of the chest;
• hard breathing;
• hypovitaminosis;
• inflammation of the nasopharynx and mouth;
• changes in blood composition;
• tachycardia;
• decreased immunity;
• intoxication of the body.

Treatment of pneumonia in adults

In most cases of pneumonia, the doctor diagnoses on the basis of the clinical picture of the patient's illness and the X-ray.

In some cases, we can talk about the etiology of the disease before carrying out the relevant bacteriological studies.

Depending on what kind of pneumonia, symptoms and treatment in adults differ.

The main component of the treatment are drugs aimed at fighting the pathogen. The remaining drugs are aimed at removing the symptoms of pneumonia.

If not severe pneumonia in adults, in-patient treatment is provided. It consists of the following measures:

• taking medications that dilate the bronchi for sputum discharge;
• reception of antibiotics, antiviral drugs for fighting the pathogen of pneumonia;
• the passage of a course of physiotherapy;
• performance of exercise therapy;
• compliance with diet, abundant drink.

In severe cases, the patient is shown hospitalization.

Medication for inflammation of the lungs in adults includes the following drugs to kill infection and relieve symptoms:

• For the treatment of infection:
  • penicillins: amoxiclav, ampicillin, oxacillin, carbenicillin;
  • aminoglycosides: gentamycin, kanamycin;
  • Lincosamides: clindamycin, lincomycin;
  • macrolides: sumamed, clarithromycin;
  • carbapenems: thienes, meronem.
• Symptoms:
  • corticosteroids - to relieve inflammation;
  • mucolytics - for sputum expectoration;
  • antipyretics - to reduce temperature;
  • bronchodilators (list of drugs) - for cough and breathing;
  • antihistamines - to relieve allergies;
  • drugs that remove intoxication;
  • vitamins - to strengthen the body and improve immunity.
• Concomitant treatment of pneumonia in adults includes the following procedures:
  • UHF;
  • inhalation;
  • UFO;
  • electrophoresis;
  • paraffin therapy;
  • pneumomassage.

Known in Russia, Dr. Komarovsky believes that along with antibiotics and cough tablets, physiotherapy procedures for the treatment of pneumonia are no less important. During the exacerbation, the patient needs to take medication and adhere to bed rest.And after the state of health improves, the result of treatment should be fixed by various auxiliary procedures.

For the treatment of pneumonia, folk remedies are widely used. Healing plants, fruits and roots are recommended for making beverages, inhalations, compresses. Many recipes of traditional medicine can be found on forums in the topics of discussion of the treatment of pneumonia.

Emergency care for pneumonia in adults includes the following activities:

• oxygen therapy - with severe respiratory failure;
• injections of non-narcotic analgesics - with severe pleural pain;
• anti-shock therapy - with toxic shock;
• psychotropic drugs - in case of mental disorders in people with alcohol dependence;
• detoxication therapy - with severe intoxication.

Inadequate treatment of pneumonia can cause the following complications:

• destruction of lung tissue;
• pleurisy;
• obstruction of the bronchial tree;
• acute heart failure;
• the spread of infection through the bloodstream (sepsis);
• meningitis;
• pulmonary edema;
• septic shock.

Prevention of pneumonia in adults:

• strengthening immunity;
• hardening of the body;
• timely treatment of colds;
• timely treatment of caries;
• to give up smoking;
• frequent wet cleaning and airing of the room;
• avoidance of hypothermia.

gajmorit.com

Signs of bacterial pneumonia in an adult

• Bacterial pneumonia
• Viral pneumonia

The disease of pneumonia or pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or other organisms.

This inflammation causes fluid to flow into the infected part of the lungs, affecting one or both of the lungs.

Inflow of blood to the infected part of the lung (or lungs) decreases, which means that the oxygen level in the blood can decrease.

This decline is likely to occur in the elderly or malnourished people. During illness, the body tries to maintain blood flow to vital organs and reduce blood flow to other parts of the body, such as the gastrointestinal tract.

Causes of pneumonia in adults:

1. Bacterial pneumonia: this type of pneumonia usually begins after a flu, cold, or upper respiratory tract infection. Decreased immunity allows bacteria to multiply in the lungs, causing disease. There are many different bacteria that can cause inflammation of the lung tissue. The most common pathogen is pneumococcus. Microorganisms can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes or touches objects with unwashed hands. Bacterial pneumonia can be a more serious disease than viral pneumonia.
2. Viral pneumonia. A variety of different viruses can cause viral pneumonia. Among them: influenza, chicken pox and respiratory syncytial virus. Viruses can be transmitted between people through coughing, sneezing or touching something that has been in contact with the liquid of the infected person.
3. Fungal pneumonia. It is most often caused by fungi from the environment.
4. Pneumonia of mycoplasma. Mycoplasma organisms invisible to the eye easily spread, especially in places of large concentrations of people (such as offices or schools). This type of pneumonia, as a rule, quickly passes.
5. Pneumocystis pneumonia. Caused by a yeast-like fungus, which is usually found in the lungs, without creating problems for the "master", but can grow and lead to pneumonia in people whose immune system is weak (for example, because of AIDS, organ transplant, cancer, or chemotherapy).
6. Aspiration pneumonia. Occurs when the contents of the oral cavity and the nasopharynx are inhaled into the respiratory tract.
7. Legionnaires' disease. It is caused by a bacterium legionella, which lives in water. Disease Legionnaires can spread through contaminated plumbing, shower or air conditioning.

Signs of pneumonia in an adult with bacterial pneumonia

Doctors often divide bacterial pneumonia into a typical and atypical, based on the signs and symptoms of the disease.

A typical pneumonia occurs very quickly.

• Typical pneumonia usually leads to severe fever and chills.
• At the patient at cough sputum of yellow or brown color is allocated.
• There can be a pain in the chest, which, as a rule, increases with deep breathing or coughing. The chest can hurt when it is touched or pressed. Chest pain can be a sign of other serious illnesses, so do not try to diagnose inflammation of your lungs yourself.
• A typical pneumonia can cause dyspnea, especially if a person has any chronic lung disease, such as asthma or emphysema.
• Elderly people may suffer from confusion or mental impairment during pneumonia or other infections.

Atypical pneumonia begins gradually.

• Sometimes another illness begins several days or weeks before pneumonia.
• Fever is usually weak, and chills are less likely than in the case of typical pneumonia.
• The patient can complain to the doctor about a headache, body aches, and joint pain.
• Cough can be dry or with it a small amount of sputum is released.v
• Chest pain is often absent.
• There may be abdominal pain.
• There is a feeling of fatigue or weakness.

Bacterial pneumonia, like the virus, is contagious.

When to seek medical help?

• If the patient has a fever and cough with yellow, green or brown sputum, he should visit a doctor.

When to call an ambulance for pneumonia?

• If the patient has shortness of breath. This sign of lung inflammation in an adult as a breathlessness is not just a feeling that a person can not take a full breath. Shortness of breath means that the patient can not dial into the lungs enough air to meet the needs of the body. This is a potentially serious symptom and he always requires a visit to the emergency room.
• If the temperature rises above 39 ° C or falls below 35 ° C.
• If the pulse is equal to or greater than 125 beats per minute at rest.
• If the respiratory rate is more than 30 breaths per minute at rest.
• If a systolic blood pressure drop below 90 mm Hg occurred, resulting in dizziness, blockage, or fainting.
• If there is pain in the chest or confusion.

Risk factors for the development of pneumonia:

• a chronic health problem, such as diabetes;
• smoking;
• alcoholism or drug addiction;
• cardiac ischemia;
• a weak immune system, for example, due to the use of steroids or the use of drugs to suppress immunity (people with transplanted organs take such drugs);
• sick or damaged lungs due to asthma or emphysema;
• very young or very old age (over 65 years);
• life in a nursing home;
• problems with vomiting reflex (frequent suffocation or difficulty swallowing);
• a surgery to remove the spleen.

Complications that may occur from pneumonia include:

• Bacteremia: the infection penetrates into the bloodstream and can spread to various organs.
• Pleurisy and empyema: with pleurisy occurs an inflammation of the membrane, which covers the lungs (pleura). The empyema occurs when the fluid in the lungs that causes inflammation becomes infected.
• Lung abscess: cavities (or one cavity) filled with pus may appear in the infected area of ​​the lungs.
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome: when the lungs are severely damaged due to pneumonia, respiratory arrest may occur.

The first signs of viral pneumonia in adults: how to recognize viral inflammation

Viral pneumonia usually occurs in young children and the elderly. This is because the body of a young or elderly person is harder to fight the virus than an adult human body with a strong immune system.

In healthy adults, pneumonia usually proceeds easily. In contrast, elderly people and those with weakened immunity often develop severe viral pneumonia. Patients aged 65 years and over are at risk of dying from viral pneumonia, as well as from influenza not complicated by pneumonia.

Viral pneumonia is most often caused by one of several viruses:

• Adenovirus.
• Flu.
• Paragrippus. Parainfluenza virus is the second most important cause of lower respiratory tract disease in children and pneumonia and bronchitis in children under 6 months of age.
• Respiratory syncytial virus. This is the most common cause of lower respiratory infection in infants and children, and the second most common viral cause of pneumonia in adults. The first is influenza viruses.

Swine influenza (H1N1) was associated with an outbreak of pneumonia in 2009. The first reports came from Mexico, where there was a very high mortality from this disease. Many cases were also recorded in the US Nevertheless, early detection and treatment helped to significantly reduce the death rate from viral pneumonia.

Serious viral pneumonia is most likely to occur in:

• Premature babies.
• Children with heart and lung diseases.
• People infected with HIV.
• People undergoing cancer chemotherapy, or taking drugs that weaken the immune system.
• People who underwent organ transplantation.

The first signs of pneumonia in adults with viral infection

Symptoms and signs of viral pneumonia often develop slowly and at first appear harmless, whereas in bacterial The pneumonia is developing very quickly and the patients are turning to the doctor for several days.

The most common signs are:

• Subfebrile temperature (less than 38.8 ° C).
• Cough with a little mucus.
• Fatigue.
• Muscle pain.
• Headache.
• Blue nails (due to lack of oxygen in the blood).
• Nausea and vomiting.

During a physical examination, the following signs of pneumonia can be observed in a patient:

• Tachypnea (rapid breathing).
• Tachycardia or bradycardia.
• The wheezing in the lungs.
• Dyspnea.
• Breast or intercostal retraction (internal muscle movements between the ribs).
• Decreased breathing sounds.
• Pleurisy.
• Cyanosis (blue skin).
• Rashes on the skin.
• Acute respiratory distress (a dangerous violation of pulmonary function, respiratory failure).

When to seek medical help?

You should see your doctor if any of the following symptoms appear:

• Persistent cough.
• Dyspnoea in motion, or at rest.
• Severe chest pain.
• Severe weakness.
• Coughing with blood.
• Vomiting is so strong or frequent that dehydration has occurred.
• Impossibility to eat and drink fluids.

How to recognize pneumonia in adults

Physical examination is necessary for the diagnosis of pneumonia. It can also help to determine how serious the disease is, and what can be its cause.

The doctor will listen to the heart, lungs and chest of the patient through a stethoscope.

It will also consider vital signs such as body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate.

Information collected during a physical examination can help a doctor determine if pneumonia is mild or severe.

• A chest X-ray may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis of "pneumonia". Many people with mild pneumonia symptoms are prescribed effective treatment without radiography. Nevertheless, patients with moderate and severe pneumonia often receive a chest x-ray to determine the extent of the disease and identify complications of the disease, such as pus in the lungs.
• Laboratory tests are sometimes required to diagnose pneumonia. Laboratory tests can help a doctor find out what caused pneumonia and how the patient's body tolerates the disease.
• The most common laboratory tests include: measuring the number and type of white blood cells in the blood, and the use of a sputum sample to help identify possible pathogens of infection. People with difficulty breathing can undergo pulse oximetry (a test that allows you to assess the oxygen saturation and heart rate).

The patient should inform the doctor about any illnesses that he has, including a violation of the vomiting reflex, about the use of alcohol or intravenous drugs, smoking and the recent stay in the hospital. You also need to tell the doctor about a recent episode of a viral infection or flu-like symptoms.

What should I do with the first signs of pneumonia in adults?

• Do not smoke and do not allow others to smoke near the patient. Nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes and cigars can lead to lung damage. Talk with your doctor before using electronic cigarettes and other drugs to help stop smoking.
• Have more rest.
• Use a household air humidifier. The patient is able to clear more sputum, if breathing with moist air.
• Drink fluids to help prevent dehydration when vomiting. In addition, the liquid helps to thinning the mucus, so it leaves the body more easily.
• Deep breathing and coughing. Deep breathing helps open the airways to the lungs. Cough helps to "drive out" mucus from the lungs. You need to take a deep breath and hold your breath for as long as you can. Then exhale the air and cough hard. Do 10 deep breaths in a row every hour from the moment you wake up.

gajmorit.com

The first signs of pneumonia in children and adults

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

• Complications after viral diseases (influenza, ARVI), atypical bacteria (chlamydia, mycoplasma, legionella)
• Effects on the respiratory system of various chemical agents - poisonous fumes and gases (see. chlorine in household chemicals is hazardous to health)
• Radioactive radiation, to which infection is attached
• Allergic processes in the lungs - allergic cough, COPD, bronchial asthma
• Thermal factors - hypothermia or burns of the respiratory tract
• Inhalation of liquids, food or foreign bodies can cause aspiration pneumonia.

The cause of the development of pneumonia is the emergence of favorable conditions for the multiplication of various pathogenic bacteria in the lower respiratory tract. The original causative agent of pneumonia is the aspergillus mushroom, which was the culprit of the sudden and mysterious deaths of researchers of the Egyptian pyramids. Owners of domestic birds or lovers of urban pigeons can get chlamydial pneumonia.

For today, all pneumonia is divided into:

• out-of-hospital, arising under the influence of various infectious and non-infectious agents outside the walls of hospitals
• hospital, which cause hospital-acquired microbes, often very resistant to traditional antibiotic treatment.

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

Causative agent	Average% detection
Streptococcus is the most frequent pathogen. Pneumonia caused by this pathogen is the leader in the frequency of death from pneumonia.	3, %
Mycoplasma - affects most children, young people.	1, %
Chlamydia - chlamydial pneumonia is typical for people of young and middle age.	1, %
Legionella - a rare pathogen, affects weakened people and is the leader after streptococcus in frequency deaths (contamination in rooms with artificial ventilation - shopping centers, airports)	, %
Hemophilus rod - causes pneumonia in patients with chronic bronchial and lung diseases, as well as in smokers.	, %
Enterobacteria are rare pathogens, affecting mainly patients with renal / hepatic, cardiac insufficiency, diabetes mellitus.	, %
Staphylococcus is a frequent pathogen of pneumonia in the elderly population, and complications in patients after the flu.	, %
Other pathogens	, %
The causative agent is not installed	3, %

When confirming the diagnosis, depending on the type of pathogen, the age of the patient, the presence of concomitant diseases, appropriate therapy is conducted, in severe cases, treatment should be performed in a hospital setting, with mild forms of inflammation, hospitalization of the patient is not necessary.

Characteristic first signs of pneumonia, the vastness of the inflammatory process, acute development and the risk of serious complications when untimely treatment - are the main reasons for the urgent circulation of the population for medical care. Currently, a fairly high level of development of medicine, improved diagnostic methods, as well as a huge list antibacterial drugs of a wide spectrum of action have considerably lowered a death rate from an inflammation of lungs (see. antibiotics for bronchitis).

Typical first signs of pneumonia in adults

The main symptom of the development of pneumonia is a cough, usually it is first dry, obtrusive and persistent. protivokashlevye, expectorants with a dry cough), but in rare cases cough at the beginning of the disease can be rare and not strong. Then, as the inflammation develops, the cough becomes pneumatic with pneumonia, with a discharge of mucopurulent sputum (yellow-green color).

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

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

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

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

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

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

• To pass blood tests - general and biochemical
• To make a roentgenography of a thorax, if necessary and a computer tomography
• Sputum for culture and sensitivity of the pathogen to antibiotics
• Sputum for culture and microscopic determination of mycobacterium tuberculosis

The main first signs of pneumonia in children

Symptoms of pneumonia in children have several characteristics. Attentive parents may suspect the development of pneumonia with the following discomforts in the child:

• Temperature

Body temperature above 38C, lasting for more than three days, not knocked down by antipyretic agents, may also not be a high temperature up to 37.5, especially in young children. At the same time, all signs of intoxication are manifested - weakness, increased sweating, lack of appetite. Small children (as well as elderly people), can not give high temperature fluctuations with pneumonia. This is due to imperfect thermoregulation and immaturity of the immune system.

• Breath

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

• Atypical pneumonia

Inflammation of the lungs caused by mycoplasma and chlamydia differ in that first the disease passes like a cold, a dry cough appears, a runny nose, a sore throat, but the presence of dyspnea and a stably high temperature should alert parents to the development of pneumonia.

• Character of cough

Because of the perspiration in the throat, only coughing can appear first, then the cough becomes dry and painful, which is amplified by crying, feeding the baby. Later, the cough becomes wet.

• Behavior of the child

Children with pneumonia become whimsical, whiny, sluggish, they are disturbed by sleep, sometimes they can completely refuse to eat, and also appear diarrhea and vomiting, in infants - regurgitation and rejection of the breast.

• Blood test

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

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

zdravotvet.ru

Inflammation of the lungs in adults: symptoms, treatment

Inflammation of the lungs in adults is an acute lung injury. The cause of pneumonia (this is the name of this inflammatory process in medicine) is an infection that penetrates the body by airborne droplets. Initially, to determine whether a patient actually has a given severe inflammatory process, he is given a referral to the chest X-ray.

The prognosis for the positive outcome of this disease depends solely on what caused the inflammatory process, what measures were taken initially, and also - at what stage the patient turned to the doctor for help (that is, how much time has passed since the first signs of the disease appeared and before calling the doctor).

Epidemiology of pneumonia

To date, pneumonia is one of the most common infectious lesions of the human lungs. Every day, pneumonia affects about 15 people in the world. If you resort to statistics on mortality from pneumonia, of the 2 million people who have lung pneumonia, 4, 00 die.

Doctors call pneumonia a terrible disease that affects both young children and elderly people. Moreover, despite the development of medicine and the progress of scientific technologies, pneumonia (pneumonia) is a common and frequently occurring cause of death in all developing countries.

Lethal outcome of pneumonia

The death from pneumonia is increased exponentially. It is the leader in mortality among infections with infectious diseases. A list of diseases that most often leads to mortality is created. In the first place are cardiovascular lesions, then oncology and in third place - infectious pneumonia.

Among the reasons for the increased mortality of patients from pneumonia, it is necessary to indicate reduced immunity. It is against this background that most inflammatory and infectious processes develop, because the body does not have the physical strength to resist infection.

The first signs of pneumonia

As mentioned above, the form of manifestation of pneumonia depends entirely on the type of pathogen. Depending on the type of infectious process in the body, the first signs of pneumonia are isolated.

If pneumonia is diagnosed at the mild / first stage of the lesion, the chances of a positive outcome are quite high.

Among the first signs of the inflammatory process of the lungs can be identified such as:

• A heat that lasts for several days;
• Prolonged runny nose;
• Prolonged cough;
• Chills, a person is feverish, even despite the intake of antibiotics, and special antipyretic drugs;
• Shortness of breath while walking or a long conversation;
• A person may feel that he is suffocating and he does not have enough oxygen;
• Increased weakness in the body;
• Muscle weakness;
• Man gets tired very quickly.

Among all these signs, the first thing that should disturb a person is an acute, catastrophic lack of air. Indeed, it creates the feeling that something is strangling you, the rope is tightening around your neck. A person can make uncomfortable wheezing, he wants to clear his throat and start breathing freely.

At the first stage of pneumonia as such, the defeat of the upper respiratory tract may not be. But, it will progress with every day (without lack of treatment), and turn into a deadly phenomenon.

Diagnosis of pneumonia at an early stage

Diagnosis of pneumonia at an early stage of the disease can be done with a chest X-ray. At this stage, the first lesions of the pulmonary parenchyma are already visible. What if you have pneumonia?

If pneumonia is detected at an early stage, it is mandatory to start taking antibiotics in order to prevent pulmonary insufficiency.

Important!

With an increase in temperature, the appearance of chills, runny nose, attacks of suffocation, you can call an ambulance. But! If at an early stage to identify an acute pathological lesion of the lungs will not be possible. The physiological state of the patient must be monitored in dynamics. On the second, third day the patient begins to breathe heavily, and wheezing is heard in the lungs.

It is very important not to miss the moment of defeat of lung tissue. Otherwise it can be very late and the volume of allocated infiltrative foci will be deadly.

Definition of pneumonia of the lungs by specific features

Pneumonia in an adult has some specific characteristics, which necessarily need to pay attention.

• Since the virus that causes pneumonia affects the blood vessels of the lungs, the person as a result of this can get sick more than 3 times in one year (due to the fact that the lungs are overgrown with fibrous tissue or in simple words - tissue scarring occurs).
• In an adult, pneumonia most often develops against the background of influenza. After a specific sneezing, runny nose, severe headache, and increased fatigue, a cough begins with sputum and blood.
• Inflammation is characterized by a specific pain in the chest.

Signs of bilateral pneumonia

In order to recognize bilateral pneumonia, it is necessary to pay attention to such signs of damage to the body as:

• Blood veins after every attack of cough;
• The rise in temperature is very rapid, a feeling is created that a person burns;
• Severe rhinitis;
• Continuous debilitating cough;
• Pain in the pile, like after hitting the chest with your fist;
• A red face, an unblinking blush on his cheeks;
• Eruptions of herpes on the face, lips.

Treatment of pneumonia

The first drug that is used in the treatment of pneumonia is antibiotics. Further, the patient must necessarily endure the disease without getting out of bed; he was given a generous warm drink, as well as an easy balanced diet.

For the cough relief, special expectorants are used.

Self-treatment, without examining the doctor and prescribed prescription of therapeutic actions, is not permissible.

medportal.su

Causes and symptoms of SARS in adults

What is atypical pneumonia, the symptoms in adults that manifest themselves during the illness - all this is necessary to know in order to begin treatment of the disease.Atypical pneumonia is a very complex disease, which is often confused with the common form of pneumonia.Correctly diagnose this ailment is possible only for the first reasons and certain symptoms.

With the help of immunological, microbiological and X-ray studies, this disease can be clearly and correctly diagnosed.

Antiviral and antimicrobial agents are prescribed only after a complete examination and depending on the severity of the disease.

The main problem with which specialists are facing these days is the lack of medicines against several pathogens of atypical pneumonia.

There are a number of quite dangerous microorganisms, which are the main cause of the development of this disease. They are able to multiply and conduct life activity within human cells.

The main difference between such microorganisms and other bacteria is that they do not accept other habitats. In people at risk of getting sick with this disease are people up to the age of forty, most often such a disease occurs in children.

Atypical pneumonia can be conditionally divided into two stages. The first resembles an ordinary cold, and the second is manifested in the same way as pneumonia, so it is very simple to confuse.

The main causes of the disease

As already mentioned above, there are quite a few pathogens of SARS. The main among them are:

1. Mycoplasma. This virus is most common. In 10-20% of cases, it manifests itself as simple inflammation of the lungs. Where there is usually a large population of people, this parasite can infect up to 50% of those present.
2. Chlamydia. This parasite contributes to the development of SARS. Among them, quite often there is pneumonia and bronchitis. This virus can stay in the human body for a long time without any symptoms appearing.
3. Salmonella.
4. The Legionnaires. This pathogen is very difficult to diagnose and can infect 10% of the population. The habitat of this parasitic organism is natural and artificial reservoirs. Moreover, they can live in air conditioners and other household devices.
5. Koksiella. This parasite can cause a fever, accompanied by atypical pneumonia and other fairly serious illnesses.
6. A variety of viruses.

This disease is transient, it can be infected by communicating with a person who is already a carrier of this disease. In other words, atypical pneumonia is transmitted by airborne droplets. In addition, you can get infected by using the objects of a sick person.

Atypical pneumonia is of two types: mycoplasmal and chlamydial. The first one infects 2-3% of adults. A greater risk of disease in children and adolescents, it ranges from 10 to 20%.

How is SARS going in adults?

This disease adults are much heavier than children. The main difficulties arise during the diagnosis of the disease, due to the fact that the symptoms of this disease often resemble signs of inflammatory processes of the respiratory organs. As a result, adults begin to engage in self-treatment, and the specialists are already treated at a late stage of the disease, that is, at the moment when pneumonia spread to the second lung.

The forms of the course of atypical pneumonia. The first case is quite critical. The disease manifests itself very rapidly, rapidly and acutely. The human body temperature can reach very high marks. Often, nausea starts, sometimes irritation of the central nervous system may occur. After 3-4 days, there may appear a perspiration in the throat, and cough becomes frequent and irritable.

An x-ray photograph can only indicate that an inflammatory process is occurring in the human body. At this point, the lung tissue begins to become covered with a fine mesh.

In the second case, even at the initial stage of the disease, acute catarrhal symptoms appear. The mucous throat becomes inflamed, which causes severe pain.

In the third case, that is, in the acute form of the disease, a cardiovascular insufficiency appears in a person. Initially, the person, who was struck by this disease, experiences shortness of breath, and after a certain period of time his breathing rhythm is lost.

Symptoms of SARS

If a person has atypical pneumonia, the symptoms manifested in this case may be different. Often, all the symptoms of this ailment are smoothened. The clinical picture emerges and is characterized by the following symptoms: headaches, noticeable weakness, perspiration and sore throat. The disease is very unpredictable. Sometimes it can pass without any symptoms, and some patients may have enough severe signs and forms of complications that threaten not only health but also human life.

The incubation period has a duration of 3 to 10 days, and it is during this period that the symptomatology is practically not manifested. Only after this time there are real signs of the disease. At carrying out of the laboratory analysis weak leucocytosis is revealed.

Significantly decreases the amount of sputum. At the initial stage of the disease there is a minor inflammation process. But at the moment of progression of atypical pneumonia the share variant of pathology develops.

The signs of the disease directly depend on a particular pathogen. For example, mycoplasmas cause a sufficiently high temperature, there is a chill, shortness of breath, a runny nose and severe swelling in the throat.

Chlamydia is also manifested by a strong cough, fever. All the common symptoms of the disease in the course of the development of the disease are supplemented by rapid heartbeats, pains in the lungs.

In order to prevent atypical pneumonia, carefully observe the rules of personal hygiene. This disease is transmitted not only by airborne droplets, but also through contaminated household items.

Prepare your immunity in order to fight diseases of the respiratory system. Do not risk your health!

respiratoria.ru

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