It happens with pneumonia. Pneumonia (pneumonia) symptoms. There are also frequent cases of using physiotherapy, which can include

Pneumonia (pneumonia) is an inflammatory process that develops in the lung tissue. There are several types and forms of this disease; doctors classify pneumonia as an acute infectious disease.

Classification of pneumonia

In medicine, there are several main types of the inflammatory process in question, which in turn are divided into several subtypes:

1. Home-acquired (community-acquired) pneumonia:

• typical – develops in people with a normal immune system;
• atypical – patients have severe disorders of the immune system (for example, there is a diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus);
• aspiration pneumonia – occurs when foreign objects or substances enter the lungs. Often develops in people who are heavily intoxicated, in a coma, or under the influence of drugs;
• caused by mycoplasmas, chlamydia and legionella - characterized by the addition of atypical symptoms: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and other signs of digestive upset.

1. Hospital/nosocomial pneumonia:

• developing after the patient has been in the hospital for more than 2 days in a row;
• occurring in patients who are on mechanical ventilation (ventilator-associated pneumonia);
• diagnosed in patients with immune system disorders - for example, after organ transplantation.

1. Related to first aid:

• persons permanently staying in nursing homes;
• patients who are on long-term dialysis (hardware blood purification);
• patients with wound surfaces.

In addition, the acute infectious disease in question is classified according to the severity of its course:

• mild course;
• moderate course;
• severe course.

Important: the severity of pneumonia can only be determined by a specialist - the conclusion will be based on the severity of symptoms and the level of damage to the lung tissue.

Causes

An inflammatory process in the lung tissue can develop due to the entry of a pathogenic microorganism into the body. But in order for this microorganism to start “working” in the lung tissue, certain factors must be present:

• hypothermia;
• consumption of alcoholic beverages;
• long-term bed rest;
• infection of viral etiology;
• surgical interventions performed in the recent past;
• the presence of a pathological focus in the body - for example, chronic diseases of the lungs, cardiovascular system, bronchi;
• old age.

The main causative agents of the acute infectious disease under consideration are recognized:

• viruses;
• coli;
• pneumococcus - considered the most common pathogen;
• hemophilus influenzae;
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
• pneumocystis - they can only be present with the human immunodeficiency virus;
• chlamydia/mycoplasma – belong to atypical pathogens;
• enterobacteria.

Symptoms and signs of pneumonia

Symptoms of pneumonia in adults develop gradually, so early diagnosis is very rare. The acute infectious disease in question always begins with a sudden increase in temperature and chills. In this case, the symptoms of general intoxication of the body are clearly expressed:

• weakness throughout the body;
• decrease (in some cases, loss) of performance;
• loss of appetite, up to complete refusal of food;
• increased sweating - most often this symptom manifests itself at night;
• pain in muscles and joints – “twists, breaks”;
• mild but persistent headache.

Then the pulmonary manifestations of the disease begin:

• severe cough - the first few days it is dry, and then becomes wet;
• shortness of breath - at the beginning of the disease it occurs only during physical effort (for example, after walking or climbing stairs), then it is noted at complete rest;
• – the symptom does not necessarily appear in every case of pneumonia; it is more characteristic of the disease, when inflammation occurs in the pleura.

In addition to the symptoms described above, in some cases there may be other symptoms of pneumonia:

• disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, intestinal colic) - characteristic only of pneumonia, the causative agent of which is E. coli;
• herpes on the affected side is characteristic of pneumonia of viral etiology.

Methods for diagnosing pneumonia

It is almost impossible to diagnose the acute infectious disease in question solely by symptoms - they may indicate other diseases of the respiratory tract. The doctor, after examining and interviewing the patient, usually carries out the following diagnostic measures:

Note:in rare cases, when the therapist has doubts about the diagnosis or identifies a complicated course of the disease, a pulmonologist is invited for consultation.

Treatment of pneumonia

Therapy aimed at getting rid of the inflammatory process in the lung tissue must be comprehensive - doctors prescribe medications, they also refer the patient to physiotherapy and approve of some methods from the category of “traditional medicine”.

Drug treatment of pneumonia

When treating the acute infectious disease in question, doctors use several types of medications:

1. Antibacterial (antibiotics) are required, but the choice is made individually and depends on which pathogen caused the development of pneumonia.

1. Expectorants - are prescribed for wet cough, the presence of viscous sputum, when its exit from the body is difficult.
2. Detoxification - prescribed only for severe pneumonia.
3. Glucocorticosteroids are aimed at eliminating infectious-toxic shock during complicated inflammation of the lung tissue.
4. Antipyretics - prescribed only at temperatures above 38 degrees.
5. Cardiovascular - necessary for severe shortness of breath and severe oxygen starvation.

During the recovery period, the patient is prescribed immunomodulators and multivitamin complexes - this will significantly increase and strengthen the body’s immune system.

Physiotherapy

In case of pneumonia, it is very important to provide relief to the patient’s condition - during the development of the inflammatory process in question, the patient has difficulty breathing, he experiences a feeling of fear of death during shortness of breath. Therefore, it is advisable to:

• oxygen therapy - air with a high oxygen content is supplied to the patient through a special mask. Excellently helps to get rid of respiratory failure and helps cope with volumetric damage to the lungs;
• artificial ventilation – indicated for severe disease.

Surgical treatment of pneumonia is carried out in especially severe cases when there is an accumulation of purulent contents in the organs.

Treatment of pneumonia with folk remedies

Treatment of pneumonia with folk remedies in no case should be considered as the only correct one - you must definitely consult with your doctor and combine folk recipes with taking medications.

The most effective methods of supporting the body during pneumonia are:

1. Honey with birch buds. You need to take 750 g of honey (buckwheat) and 100 g of birch buds, mix everything and boil for 10 minutes in a water bath (warm up). Then strain the honey and take a teaspoon three times a day 20 minutes before meals.

Diet for pneumonia

Diet during the acute course of pneumonia and during the recovery period is very important - properly selected nutrition helps reduce the load on the body, in particular on the gastrointestinal tract, which will give strength to fight the infection.

It is very important for a patient with pneumonia to introduce milk and all dairy/fermented milk products into the diet - cottage cheese, kefir, cream, yogurt. For example, during a period of exacerbation of pneumonia, the menu for one day may be as follows:

• breakfast – a glass of semolina porridge with milk and a glass of milk (all warm);
• 2nd breakfast – fruit or berry jelly (1 glass) or rosehip decoction (1 glass) with honey;
• lunch - 200 ml of pearl barley soup with chicken broth, about 100 g of mashed potatoes with butter and milk (cream), 100 g of boiled/steamed fish, 200 g of watermelon or any fresh fruit;
• afternoon snack – 200 g of any fruit or berries (apple, cranberry or raspberry);
• dinner – 100 g of cottage cheese with honey and raisins, 100 g of dark chocolate;
• second dinner - a glass of milk with honey, dry cookies.

Of course, the presented menu is very approximate, but it clearly shows that the diet of a patient with pneumonia at the peak of the disease is characterized by a small amount of the products themselves, but high calorie content - this is necessary to replenish energy in the body.

It is recommended to eat small portions, but often. If the patient does not have enough food, then its quantity can be safely increased - in general, pneumonia is characterized by a decrease in appetite, so the slightest desire for a snack should be satisfied.

During the recovery period, you can introduce more rich foods - for example, increase the amount of bread and pastries, put more meat or fish per serving, use ghee in cooking instead of regular butter. But you need to carefully monitor the patient’s condition - a weakened body may refuse to take heavy food. Therefore, if nausea or vomiting occurs, stop introducing saturated, high-calorie foods and continue to adhere to the diet recommended at the stage of development of the disease.

After recovery, it is not recommended for patients to immediately take fatty and “heavy” foods; familiar foods should be introduced into the diet gradually and in small doses.

Possible complications and consequences

Most often, there is a complete recovery without any serious consequences or complications, but in some cases, the formation of local pneumosclerosis may occur - this is the proliferation of connective tissue and compaction of the lung. Doctors can only pay attention to such changes with an X-ray examination of the lungs; pneumosclerosis does not have any effect on the functionality of the lungs.

Possible complications:

• inflammation of the pleura - pleurisy;
• lung abscess - the formation of a cavity with purulent contents due to the melting of a localized area of ​​the inflammatory process;
• Lung gangrene - decay of lung tissue;
• broncho-obstructive syndrome - the patient experiences shortness of breath, lack of oxygen;
• acute respiratory failure - the lungs are not able to provide the required amount of oxygen to the body.

In addition to exclusively pulmonary complications, others may occur:

• infectious-toxic shock - pathogenic microorganisms and their metabolic products (toxins) enter the blood;
• myocarditis - an inflammatory process in the heart muscle;
• endocarditis is an inflammatory process on the inner lining of the heart;
• – inflammatory process in the meninges;
• encephalitis - an inflammatory process of the brain;
• mental disorders - occur extremely rarely and only in people of old age or who abuse alcohol and drugs;
• anemia.

Prevention of pneumonia

An effective prevention of the development of the acute infectious disease in question is vaccination. It is carried out , pneumococcal vaccine, as well as against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is recommended to carry out immunization in October-November - the period when outbreaks of epidemics of acute respiratory viral diseases and influenza are most often recorded.

To avoid the development of pneumonia, it is necessary to promptly treat acute respiratory viral infections and colds, influenza - if you give preference to “diseases on the go” (that is, do not follow the recommendations for bed rest and taking specific medications), then the body’s susceptibility to bacteria and viruses that can provoke pneumonia, rises.

Pneumonia is not considered a life-threatening disease, but it is necessary to receive prompt medical attention to avoid the development of possible complications. After treatment, it is advisable to undergo a rehabilitation course in specialized sanatorium-resort institutions - this will help not only restore the functioning of the respiratory system, but also strengthen the immune system.

You will receive more detailed information about the signs of pneumonia, methods of treating pneumonia and possible complications by watching the video review:

Pneumonia is a dangerous disease that affects children and adults and can cause death. To prevent serious complications, you need to know how to recognize pneumonia, and at its first manifestations, consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Traditional methods and hopes that “everything will go away on its own” are unacceptable: a qualified doctor must treat the disease.

What should you pay attention to first?

In order to promptly consult a doctor and diagnose the disease, you need to pay attention to the first signs of pneumonia. The following details should be noted:

• The cough is dry and infrequent at first, but as the disease progresses it becomes wet and intrusive.
• The appearance of mild shortness of breath (dyspnea).
• A slight increase in body temperature accompanied by severe chills.
• Severe migraine.
• Weakness in the limbs - the disease can be preliminarily diagnosed by a strange sensation of “cotton legs”.
• Cold sweat on the body, periodic feeling that blood is rushing to the head.

Often the first signs of pneumonia are expressed vaguely, masked as manifestations of a common cold, or malaise caused by fatigue. How to identify and recognize inflammation in order to consult a doctor in a timely manner? You need to listen to your body, go to the clinic if you feel constant fatigue, lethargy, and weakness.

Specific manifestations of pneumonia

The appearance of the first signs of pneumonia in an adult reduces his ability to work, worsens his health, but allows him to bear the disease on his feet. As the disease progresses, the situation worsens, and specific signals appear from the inflamed respiratory organ. It is these complaints that become a compelling argument in favor of immediate hospitalization of the patient.

Characteristic signs of pneumonia in adults are:

• High temperature (38-39 degrees), to which another characteristic symptom is added - fever, hallucinations.
• Severe wet cough that accompanies hemoptysis.
• The appearance of severe headaches with pneumonia.
• Prolonged sneezing for no apparent reason, voice tremors.
• Shortness of breath, pale skin associated with inflammation in the lungs and respiratory failure.
• Pain when inhaling, coughing, which appears due to the involvement of the pleura and neighboring organs in the pathological process.
• Feeling overwhelmed, tired. Sick people are unable to cope even with simple household or work tasks.

If, with an acute respiratory viral infection or a cold that lasts 4-7 days, the patient does not observe an improvement, but, on the contrary, notices a deterioration in the general condition, we are talking about the appearance of characteristic signs of pneumonia. You need to consult a doctor to identify the cause of the disease and prescribe effective therapy.

Temperature during inflammation in the lungs

What is the temperature for pneumonia? At first, it rises slightly, and attacks of chills are replaced by the patient with the appearance of cold sweat.

Some patients have a temperature of 38-39 degrees for a long time. This meaning is complemented by symptoms of intoxication of the body: general weakness, loss of appetite, headaches.

For others, the thermometer stays at 38-38.5 degrees. This is often a sign of a combination of bronchitis and pneumonia. The patient suffers from bouts of painful coughing and respiratory dysfunction, and vocal tremors appear.

The body temperature during pneumonia is not reduced by the use of antipyretics and does not subside; it remains at a consistently high level for more than three days. Is it necessary to reduce the fever? The answer to this question is ambiguous.

An increase in temperature means that the body is fighting an infection. It does not need to be knocked down if in adults it does not exceed 38.5 degrees, and in a child - 38.

The following cases are exceptions to this rule:

• With pneumonia, temperature leads to disruptions in blood circulation and metabolic processes.
• There is a risk of developing pathologies of the heart, kidneys, and liver in elderly patients and people of working age.
• There is a complex, dangerous course of pneumonia in the elderly.
• There is a risk of developing febrile seizures in a child under five years of age.
• The patient suffers from diseases of the cardiovascular system or liver.

Regardless of what temperature is observed with pneumonia, accompanying symptoms are added to it: fever, hallucinations, hot flashes, migraines, heart pain. They do not disappear as long as the main problem persists.

The question of how many days the temperature lasts for pneumonia is not correct if the disease occurs in a latent form.

This is possible if:

• pneumonia in adults occurs during active use of antitussives;
• the infection lives in the patient’s body chronically;
• people are overly addicted to antibiotics.

To identify pneumonia in adults with or without fever, you need to pay attention to additional signs: back pain with pneumonia, dry cough, pale skin, constant thirst, voice tremors, increased fatigue and increased sweating. When determining the cause of these symptoms, the doctor will order an x-ray to help check the airways.

Important! If there is no fever with pneumonia, patients often consider the illness not serious. Refrain from such judgments: the likelihood of death in old and young remains regardless of the presence of fever.

How to recognize a disease by cough: characteristics

What is a cough like with pneumonia? The following types are distinguished:

1. Dry. It is observed in the early stages of pneumonia in an adult. This is a continuous barking cough, the nature of which is similar to a bark. This symptom reflects the stage of development of the disease, when bacteria invade the upper respiratory tract, but do not yet multiply. The receptors are irritated by exudate formed by cell death elements.
2. Wet. Bacteria begin to actively multiply and accumulate on the mucous membrane. When patients cough, pneumonia produces sputum.
3. Hemoptysis. As the disease progresses, coughing up blood appears due to pneumonia. Characteristic red streaks appear in the sputum. Often it is an encounter with such manifestations of the disease that forces the patient to consult a doctor.
4. Spastic. Appears if the patient develops an allergic reaction in the lung. In women and men, it occurs if the disease occurs against the background of bronchial asthma. In children, the symptom appears with lobar pneumonia.
5. Hoarse. Appears if the pathological process affects the ligaments, the patient’s voice changes. At the same time, sputum is released during pneumonia, in which there are noticeable streaks of blood, and mucus during expectoration.
6. Bitonal. Its characteristic feature is vocal tremors, when the timbre changes from low bass to high. A similar cough with pneumonia in adults means that dangerous complications of the disease have begun: ulcers and fistula tracts have formed in the lungs.
7. Cough with syncope. Such a cough with pneumonia is so intense that it leads to loss of consciousness by the patient. This is due to a rush of blood and limited cardiac output.
8. Whooping cough-like. Severe, continuous, paroxysmal, leading to increased breathing during pneumonia. This symptom can cause an adult or child to vomit. During inhalation, a characteristic whistle appears.

Based on the signs, how the cough manifests itself, what color the sputum is, an experienced doctor is able to determine the cause and causative agent of the inflammatory process.

Patients are traditionally interested in how long the temperature lasts during pneumonia and how long the cough does not go away. The second symptom is observed until the infiltrate is completely removed from the alveoli, i.e. almost throughout the entire course of the disease. Voice tremors, breathing problems, and expectoration persist for 2-3 weeks. The color of sputum during pneumonia changes and depends on the causative agent of the disease.

Shortness of breath and pain as characteristic signs of the disease

In order to recognize the peculiarities of the course of pneumonia and the nature of the disease in a timely manner, you need to pay attention to all its signs. It is useful for the patient to know what hurts, why, temperature during pneumonia in adults, etc. All this helps not to write off the problem as a common cold, but to immediately go to the doctor to prescribe effective treatment.

Shortness of breath with pneumonia is a characteristic sign of the disease. What does the problem look like and what manifestations does it have?

• The patient feels a lack of oxygen, and sometimes there are attacks of suffocation.
• Breathing becomes shallow, in order to get a sufficient amount of oxygen, a person is forced to inhale and exhale more often.
• The patient makes more than 18 breathing movements per minute.
• Lack of oxygen leads to pale skin and a feeling of numbness in the arms and legs.

How pneumonia manifests itself and what symptom to watch out for depends on the nature of its course. If the disease is mild, shortness of breath does not appear.

What can hurt with pneumonia? The patient experiences the following discomfort:

• With pneumonia, the back hurts - the appearance of unpleasant sensations means that the pleural areas are involved in the pathological process (pleuropneumonia). Discomfort may also radiate to the side and stomach. The symptom is sometimes disguised as a manifestation of a heart attack or radiculitis.
• The patient has aching joints and discomfort in muscle tissue and bones. This is due to a temperature increase of more than 37 degrees. The symptoms include general weakness, depression, loss of appetite, and nausea.
• The patient begins to have a sore throat. Characteristic signs of pneumonia are complemented by hoarseness and runny nose. As the disease progresses, these symptoms disappear and are replaced by a severe cough.
• A severe migraine appears - this is the main symptom that gives rise to suspicion of pneumonia. It involves the frontotemporal areas and has a pulsating character.

If the pain of pneumonia is not severe enough, the temperature is low, remember how long your illness lasts. If you have been sick for 4-7 days or longer and there is no improvement, you should definitely consult a doctor and get an x-ray of your lungs.

Does your back hurt when you develop pneumonia? Yes, if the pleural cavity is involved in the pathological process. The lungs themselves are devoid of nerve endings, so they do not cause discomfort to the patient.

Video

Signs of pneumonia

Manifestations of intoxication in pneumonia

Intoxication occurs as a consequence of the spread of the inflammatory process through the lung tissues and to other organs: the heart, circulatory system, liver and kidneys. The problem manifests itself with the following set of symptoms:

• weakness, lethargy;
• decreased performance;
• loss of interest in life;
• pale grayish color of the skin;
• sleep disorders;
• increased body temperature;
• loss of appetite, weight loss.

In a child at the initial stages of development of the disease, intoxication manifests itself as causeless agitation, accompanied by diarrhea and sometimes vomiting. This state is replaced by lethargy, falling into a stupor, a feeling of constant thirst, and loss of appetite.

In especially severe cases, intoxication in adults and children can lead to seizures and disorders of consciousness. To prevent sad consequences, it is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner to combat the symptom.

Development of the disease and inflammation of the lymph nodes

Inflammation of the lymph nodes in the lungs is one of the most dangerous conditions of the body. In addition to pneumonia, other diseases can cause it: acute bronchitis, pulmonary obstruction. To eliminate the problem, the patient is prescribed special medications, which are not always 100% effective. There remains a possibility of the problem transforming into a malignant tumor.

When the lymph nodes become inflamed, the following signs of atypical pneumonia appear:

• severe pain when coughing;
• attacks of unbearable migraine;
• feeling of internal heat, chills.

Inflammation of the lungs can cause cervical lymphadenitis. It means that seals appear on the patient’s neck, pressing on which causes severe pain. General weakness, migraine appears, and the temperature rises.

If the lymphatic problem is severe, suppuration in the area of ​​the lymph nodes and swelling of the neck are possible. The patient loses his appetite, sleep becomes shallow and restless.

Knowing the signs of pneumonia in adults and children is necessary in order to promptly consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. It is impossible to get rid of pneumonia using traditional methods; hoping that “everything will go away on its own” is useless. To speed up recovery and minimize the risk of death, you should definitely consult a specialist.

Pneumonia is a disease that is of infectious origin and is characterized by inflammation of the lung tissue when provoking physical or chemical factors occur, such as:

• Complications after viral diseases (), atypical bacteria (chlamydia, mycoplasma, legionella)
• Impact on the respiratory system of various chemical agents - toxic vapors and gases (see)
• Radioactive radiation, which is associated with infection
• Allergic processes in the lungs - 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 proliferation of various pathogenic bacteria in the lower respiratory tract. The original causative agent of pneumonia is the Aspergillus fungus, which was the culprit in the sudden and mysterious deaths of researchers of the Egyptian pyramids. Owners of poultry or fanciers of urban pigeons may become ill with chlamydial pneumonia.

Today all pneumonias are divided into:

• community-acquired, arising under the influence of various infectious and non-infectious agents outside the walls of hospitals
• hospital infections, which are caused by nosocomial microbes that are often very resistant to traditional antibacterial treatment.

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

When the diagnosis is confirmed, depending on the type of pathogen, the age of the patient, the presence of concomitant diseases, appropriate therapy is carried out; in severe cases, treatment must be carried out in a hospital setting; in mild forms of inflammation, hospitalization of the patient is not necessary.

The characteristic first signs of pneumonia, the extent of the inflammatory process, acute development and the danger of serious complications if not treated in a timely manner are the main reasons for the population to urgently seek medical help. Currently, a fairly high level of development of medicine, improved diagnostic methods, as well as a huge list of broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs have significantly reduced the mortality rate from pneumonia (see).

Typical first signs of pneumonia in adults

The main symptom of the development of pneumonia is a cough, usually at first it is dry, obsessive and persistent (see antitussives,), but in rare cases, the cough at the onset of the disease may be rare and not severe. Then, as inflammation develops, the cough during pneumonia becomes wet with the release of mucopurulent sputum (yellow-green).

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

Body temperature can be very high up to 39-40C, or it can remain subfebrile 37.1-37.5C ​​(with atypical pneumonia). Therefore, even with low body temperature, cough, weakness and other signs of malaise, you should definitely consult a doctor. A repeated jump in temperature after a light interval during the course of a viral infection should be alarming.

If the patient has a very high temperature, then one of the signs of inflammation in the lungs is ineffectiveness.

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

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

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

• Take blood tests - general and biochemical
• Take a chest x-ray and, if necessary, a computed tomography scan
• Submit sputum for culture and determine the sensitivity of the pathogen to antibiotics
• Submit sputum for culture and microscopic determination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The main first signs of pneumonia in children

Symptoms of pneumonia in children have several features. Attentive parents may suspect the development of pneumonia if the child has the following ailments:

Temperature

Body temperature above 38C, lasting more than three days, not brought down by antipyretic drugs; there may also be a low temperature of up to 37.5, especially in young children. In this case, all the signs of intoxication appear - weakness, increased sweating, lack of appetite. Young children (as well as older people) may not experience high temperature surges with pneumonia. This is due to imperfect thermoregulation and immaturity of the immune system.

Breath

Rapid shallow breathing is observed: in babies 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 on one side. Parents may notice another sign of pneumonia in a child; if you undress the baby, then when breathing from the side of the diseased lung, you can notice retraction of the skin in the spaces between the ribs and a lag in the breathing process of one side of the chest. Breathing rhythm disturbances may appear, with periodic pauses in 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 breathing, the baby may stretch out his lips and puff out his cheeks, and foamy discharge may appear from the nose and mouth.

Atypical pneumonia

Inflammation of the lungs caused by mycoplasma and chlamydia differ in that at first the disease goes away like a cold, a dry cough and runny nose appear, but the presence of shortness of breath and a persistently high temperature should alert parents to the development of pneumonia.

Character of the cough

Due to a sore throat, at first only a cough may appear, then the cough becomes dry and painful, which intensifies when the baby cries or feeds. Later the cough becomes wet.

Child behavior

Children with pneumonia become capricious, whiny, lethargic, their sleep is disturbed, sometimes they may completely refuse to eat, as well as diarrhea and vomiting, and in infants - regurgitation and refusal to breastfeed.

Blood analysis

A general blood test reveals changes indicating an acute inflammatory process - increased ESR, leukocytosis, neutrophilia. Shift of the leukoformula to the left with an increase in band and segmented leukocytes. With viral pneumonia, along with a high ESR, an increase in leukocytes is observed at the expense of lymphocytes.

With timely consultation with 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, you should provide medical assistance to the patient as soon as possible.

Symptoms of pulmonary pneumonia, signs, treatment and types.

Pneumonia, or pneumonia, is a pathology of the respiratory system in children and adults.

A serious illness that requires careful care and thoughtful treatment.

Symptoms depend on the cause, form and severity of the disease.

There are typical and atypical clinical pictures.

In the second case, diagnosis based only on external signs is difficult.

Therefore, additional research is being carried out. And based on the data obtained, therapy is prescribed.

Features of the disease

To understand, you need to imagine the structure of the lungs.

• These are paired organs that are located in the chest.
• Lung tissue consists of bronchi and alveoli.
• Inhaled and exhaled air passes through the bronchi. Therefore, inflammation is interconnected. Against the background of one disease, another may occur.
• Alveoli are air sacs. These are thin-walled cavities penetrated by a network of capillaries. From the alveoli, oxygen enters the blood. And waste carbon dioxide passes from the blood to the alveoli. Outwardly, they resemble bunches of grapes.

Alveoli - the final part of the respiratory tract - perform an important function: gas exchange. During pneumonia, it is the alveoli that are affected.

Causes of pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infectious disease caused by certain types of microbes.

Different infectious agents cause different types of disease. To prescribe the correct treatment, you need to determine the type of pathogen.

1. up to six months, in half of the cases pneumonia is caused by pneumococcal bacteria. 10% - Haemophilus influenzae. Very rarely - chlamydia and mycoplasma.
2. In preschoolers and primary schoolchildren, chlamydia and mycoplasma come first (up to 50% of all cases). Pneumococci occur in 30-35% of cases.
3. In adolescents and adults, the infectious-inflammatory process is caused by staphylococci, pneumococci, intestinal, Haemophilus influenzae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

In children, the viral nature of pneumonia is recorded more often than in adults.

All people encounter pathogens. But such contacts do not lead to inflammation in the lungs for everyone. There are factors that increase the likelihood of the disease.

Causes of pneumonia in young children:

• oxygen starvation during fetal development, asphyxia;
• trauma during the passage of the birth canal;
• pneumopathy (bacterial infection of the respiratory system);
• congenital heart disease, lung development;
• hypovitaminosis;
• malnutrition;
• hereditary immunodeficiency.

Causes of pneumonia in schoolchildren:

• chronic processes in the nasopharynx of an infectious nature;
• , often relapsing;
• cystic fibrosis;
• weak immunity;
• acquired heart disease;
• smoking;
• hypothermia.

Causes of pneumonia in adults:

• often exacerbating chronic bronchitis;
• chronic;
• smoking;
• diseases of the endocrine system;
• weak immunity;
• heart failure;
• surgery in the chest or abdominal area;
• stress;
• overwork;
• alcoholism;
• taking narcotic drugs;
• chest injuries;
• prolonged forced horizontal position;
• oncological diseases;
• long-term artificial ventilation;
• age over 60 years.

Classification of pneumonia

Depending on the zone and extent of damage:

• (a small lesion of the lung is affected);
• (one or more segments are involved in the pathological process);
• lobar (the entire lobe is affected, most often the alveoli with the adjacent area of ​​the pleura);
• drainage (small areas of infection merge into larger ones);
• total (the entire lung is affected).

Distinguish one-sided pneumonia (if only one lung is diseased) and bilateral.

An independent disease is called primary pneumonia. A pathology that arises against the background of another illness is secondary.

Depending on the nature of the disease:

• (with immunodeficiency, without, aspiration);
• (developed during hospital treatment for another disease);
• , ventilation (while taking cytostatics or transplanting donor organs);
• caused by medical intervention (with frequent hospitalizations, parenteral administration of drugs, hemodialysis; residents of nursing homes are susceptible).

Depending on the type of infectious agent:

• pneumococcal pneumonia;
• caused by Haemophilus influenzae;
• streptococcal;
• provoked by mycoplasma;
• candida;
• viral;
• pneumonic plague, etc.

Symptoms of lung pneumonia

Typical symptoms of infectious pneumonia:

• a sharp rise in temperature;
• “deep” cough with copious discharge of mucopurulent and purulent sputum (sometimes accompanied by pleural pain);
• when listening – the percussion sound is short, breathing is harsh; first dry and then wet wheezing;
• dark spots are visible on the x-ray.

Atypical pneumonia has the following symptoms:

• gradual onset;
• dry non-productive cough;
• headache and muscle pain;
• painful sensations and sore throat;
• weakness throughout the body;
• X-ray changes are minimal.

“Atypical” pneumonia is manifested mainly by secondary symptoms.

This disease is provoked by chlamydia, legionella and similar pathogenic bacteria.

Let's take a closer look at individual forms of pneumonia.

Croupous pneumonia of the lungs

Disease of preschoolers and schoolchildren. It is anaphylactic in nature.

The inflammatory reaction is accompanied by fibrinoid swelling of the connective tissue and a violent vascular response.

Easier than adults. And their prognosis is more favorable.

Doctors associate this with greater endurance of the cardiovascular system and the peculiarities of the blood supply to the lungs in childhood.

Lobar pneumonia is characterized by an acute onset and a cyclic course. Duration – from two days to two weeks.

Symptoms of lobar pneumonia:

• Sudden onset. The incubation period is 12-24 hours. The person feels slightly unwell. And after a couple of hours the temperature can jump to critical levels.
• Severe initial intoxication. Headache, vomiting, nausea.
• Vague complaints. Small children indicate abdominal pain localized to the right. Adolescents and adults – for pain behind the sternum, radiating to the back, shoulder and hypochondrium.
• On auscultation there is a typical pleural friction noise. Breathing is shallow and frequent. The affected side “works” in a gentle mode.
• The cough is dry at first. Then “rusty” sputum is separated.
• On external examination, redness of the cheeks is noted. Rarely - cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle, herpetic rashes.
• In adults, tachycardia and systolic murmur at the apex are noted. During the critical period, collapse may develop. The patient becomes pale and covered in cold sweat. The pulse weakens, the pressure drops.
• Symptoms from the nervous system - overexcitement, insomnia, headache.

The clinical picture of lobar pneumonia can easily be confused with symptoms of acute appendicitis or exacerbation of gastritis.

The infection is most often localized in the lower lobes of the right or left lung. Therefore, the pain radiates to the stomach.

Treatment of lobar form:

1. General events. The appropriate mode is assumed. Lobar pneumonia is usually treated at home. Therefore, bedding, plenty of fluids, vitamin support, and sufficient aeration of the room are mandatory.
2. Taking antibiotics and sulfonamides. With the help of modern medications, the temperature normalizes already on the 3-4th day of illness. Not all cases require antibacterial agents. Sulfonamides alone are enough to improve the general condition. If they are ineffective, antibiotics are added.
3. Symptomatic treatment involves taking bronchodilators and expectorants (Eufillin, Bromhexine, Libexin, etc.).
4. In case of severe intoxication, intravenous hemodez is prescribed. To prevent hypotension - cordiamine solution (20%).
5. After the elimination of fever and intoxication, the therapeutic complex includes massage, therapeutic exercises, UHF, electrophoresis with calcium chloride.

Localized pneumonia of the lungs

A typical and easily diagnosed form.

Has pronounced symptoms:

• Localized pneumonia begins in different ways. Or the temperature gradually rises. Or the onset of the disease manifests itself more violently (as in the croupous form).
• Pronounced shortness of breath. Has the character of sharply rapid breathing. At the same time, the rhythm is not greatly disturbed.
• Frequent cough. At first there was a loud, heart-breaking sound. Gradually becomes moist, with sputum.
• Changes only in the lungs. The cardiovascular system and digestive tract, as a rule, are not affected. The functionality of the organs is preserved.
• Less commonly, cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle. Blue discoloration is noticeable when moving the lips and mouth.
• Possible vegetative symptoms - constipation, diarrhea, red dermographism.
• When listening, there is harshness of breathing, gradually taking on a bronchial hue. The wheezing in the area of ​​dullness is loud and crackling.
• The images show both hilar localization and damage in the posterior-inferior areas of the lungs.

Localized pneumonia is characterized by a short period of fever.

The forecasts are always good. Clinical recovery occurs even before the anatomical process is eliminated.

This type of pneumonia is more common. And the smaller the child, the faster the disease passes.

Modern treatment does not allow the pathological process to develop to its full potential.

The patient's condition improves significantly within 2-3 days after the start of therapy. Localized pneumonia is treated mainly with sulfonamides.

Toxic pneumonia

Characteristic symptoms:

• A reaction from different parts of the nervous system, which disrupts the function of individual organs. The entire body reacts to the penetration of an infectious agent. Sometimes even pulmonary symptoms recede into the background - signs of dysfunction of other systems become more pronounced.
• The onset may be gradual or violent. In the second case, severe toxicosis occurs.
• The skin is pale. Cyanosis of the lips and nose is clearly visible.
• The patient suffers from cough and shortness of breath.
• The patient becomes irritable and restless. Or, on the contrary, falls into a depressive state.
• Blood pressure drops quickly. At the same time, the pulse quickens and weakens.
• The liver enlarges, the tone of the capillaries changes. The muscular system becomes atonic.
• Signs of autonomic disorders are general sweating, red dermographism.

Toxic pneumonia can be small-focal, confluent and segmental.

With pneumonia of viral origin, meningoencephalitic phenomena rapidly manifest themselves.

Treatment consists of taking antibiotics, sulfonamides, and symptomatic medications.

When the acute period has passed, physiotherapeutic procedures and massage are included.

Chronic form of pulmonary pneumonia

Chronic pneumonia is formed on the basis of congenital defects of the bronchopulmonary system, systemic and hereditary diseases and conditions.

Symptoms are characterized by polymorphism:

• The disease is severe and often worsens.
• In schoolchildren and adults, the temperature may remain normal even during an exacerbation.
• Respiratory failure manifests itself in different ways, depending on the degree of organ damage.
• In some patients, the chest is deformed.

The symptoms of the chronic form during the period of exacerbation are similar to the clinical picture of lobar pneumonia. But there are no structural changes in the lung. Temperature reactions are not recorded. The leukocyte formula remains within normal limits.

During the calm period (between exacerbations) there are

• phenomena of latent respiratory failure that manifest themselves during physical activity;
• fatigue and shortness of breath during fast walking, climbing stairs, running;
• fluoroscopy shows fibrous cords.

The more frequent the relapses, the more active the manifestation of respiratory failure and cardiovascular disorders.

With each exacerbation of pneumonia, the intensity of the disorders increases.

Treatment is difficult - indicators improve slowly, other signs of chronic respiratory failure include:

• swelling of the face;
• cyanosis;
• “drum sticks” on the hands, etc.

All organs and systems are included in the pathological process. Complications of chronic pneumonia are cor pulmonale and pulmonary heart failure.

Treatment should be aimed at eliminating the main painful phenomena.

1. Theophylline preparations improve pulmonary ventilation and dilate the bronchi and arterioles.
2. Non-mercury diuretics eliminate swelling. For severe hypoxemia, Largactil is prescribed.
3. During the period of respiratory and cardiovascular compensation, treatment with cortisone is carried out.
4. In relatively calm periods of chronic pneumonia, physiotherapeutic procedures, sanatorium treatment, vitamin therapy, and balneotherapy have a good effect.

The prognosis is better in childhood.

Atypical pneumonia

Depending on the nature of the initial symptoms, separate forms of this disease are distinguished:

1. Pneumonia with an acute, violent onset. Accompanied by toxicosis, headache, critical temperature values. Fever lasts 3-4 days. Catarrhal phenomena gradually appear. Changes in the lungs are visible on photographs at the end of the febrile stage.
2. At first, the temperature rises slightly and a dry, painful cough appears. Then rhinitis is diagnosed, and rarely - catarrhal tonsillitis. Changes in the lungs are pronounced in the first days. The disease is highly treatable. Sometimes complicated by purulent pleurisy.
3. Occurs during viral influenza epidemics. The main clinical signs are adynamia, anemia, and lesions of the lung tissue clearly visible on the photographs.

Severe is characterized by a predominance of cardiovascular failure over respiratory failure.

When selecting a treatment regimen, it is important to choose one that is effective against a specific virus.

Drug therapy is combined with physiotherapy.

It consists, first of all, of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and strengthening the immune system.

The stronger the body, the fewer viruses and bacteria will be able to settle inside.

Symptoms of pneumonia can be mild or severe and can be life-threatening.

Signs of pneumonia in an adult may vary depending on the type of infectious agent:

1. The most common cause of bacterial pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae. In this form of pneumonia, there is an abrupt onset of the disease with accompanying chills, fever, and sputum when coughing. The infection spreads into the blood in 20-30% of cases (known as sepsis).
2. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae are harmful organisms that can cause pneumonia in those who suffer from obstructive pulmonary disease or alcoholism.
3. Mycoplasma pneumonia - provoked by mycoplasma, infection occurs gradually. The patient experiences chills, fever, muscle pain, diarrhea and skin rashes. Mycoplasma becomes the causative agent of pneumonia in summer and autumn.
4. The harmful microorganism Legionella pneumoniae can become a source of infection from dirty water or untreated air conditioner. If the patient is not accurately diagnosed, this infection can lead to fatal consequences. With such pneumonia, the patient experiences chest pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and a slow heart rate. The disease is dangerous for smokers and people with weakened immune systems.
5. Chlamydia pneumoniae is also a cause of pneumonia. When infected, chest X-rays show diffuse abnormalities. This infection is very difficult to detect clinically and often requires laboratory evidence for confirmation.
6. Pneumocystis pneumonia. Caused by fungi. Can infect patients with weakened immune systems or those who have undergone chemotherapy for cancer. Patients with HIV/AIDS are also susceptible to the disease.
7. Viral pneumonia can be caused by adenovirus, rhinovirus, influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and parainfluenza virus (which also causes croup).
8. Fungal infections that can lead to pneumonia include histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, and coccidioidomycosis.

Pneumonia: symptoms in adults without fever

The most common symptom of pneumonia in an adult is chills and fever, which does not go away for several days (you should definitely call a doctor), but pneumonia can happen without fever. Therefore, it is necessary to study other symptoms of the disease.

The common symptoms of bacterial pneumonia can develop rapidly and can lead to a number of symptoms.

Among them:

• chest pain,
• dry cough,
• wheezing,
• muscle pain.

Associated symptoms: nausea and vomiting, rapid and difficult breathing, rapid heartbeat.

Some symptoms may require emergency medical attention.

The patient needs to urgently call a doctor if he has:

• Blue skin (from oxygen deficiency);
• Blood in sputum (in mucus after coughing);
• Labored breathing;
• Confusion;
• Cardiopalmus.

Diagnosis of pneumonia in an adult

Pneumonia is sometimes confused with a cold or flu due to the similarity of symptoms. However, pneumonia lasts longer and symptoms are more severe than those of a cold or flu.

To diagnose a disease, the doctor asks the patient about the signs and symptoms that the sick person is experiencing.

Questions that a specialist may ask:

1. What are the symptoms and when did they first appear?
2. Your recent travels and events attended?
3. When was your last contact with animals?
4. When was the last time you interacted with a sick person?
5. What chronic diseases do you have?
6. How long have you been smoking?
7. Have you had any vaccinations recently?
8. Have you recently had an infectious disease?

Diagnosis begins by listening to the lungs with a stethoscope. As a rule, whistling and characteristic wheezing are heard during inhalation. Shortness of breath may be present. In various areas of the chest, the doctor may hear sounds that are uncharacteristic of healthy breathing.

A chest X-ray and fluorography will help determine pneumonia, but the image will not show the type of pneumonia. Blood tests can provide a more detailed picture of the type of pneumonia and help detect infection in the blood.

With bacterial pneumonia, the number of lymphocytes decreases. With viral pneumonia, a decrease in the number of leukocytes is observed. Red blood cells are normal, or their number decreases slightly.

Below are additional diagnostic methods that may be needed.

1. A computed tomography scan of the chest can provide the most accurate image of the respiratory system.
2. By analyzing sputum collected from the mucus of the upper cough, the form of pneumonia is also established.
3. The fluid that enters the pleural cavity is taken for bacteriological analysis, which also shows whether the patient has a viral or bacterial form of pneumonia.
4. Pulse oximetry is a technique that allows you to measure the degree of oxygen enrichment in the blood. A miniature sensor is attached to the patient's finger. With pneumonia, there is a disruption in the supply of oxygen to the blood.
5. Bronchoscopy can be used to diagnose the airways inside the lungs to determine whether blocked airways are a contributing factor to the disease.

Risk group of people susceptible to pneumonia

Certain groups of people are particularly at risk of infection:

1. People who have had a stroke, have difficulty swallowing, or are bedridden can easily develop pneumonia.
2. Elderly persons aged 65 years or older.
3. People with weakened immune systems are at risk of developing pneumonia. These are patients who take medications that weaken the immune system (steroids and some cancer drugs), as well as people with HIV and AIDS.
4. Drug abuse increases the risk of infection. Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking also provoke the development of the disease.
5. Some medical workers.
6. People with conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes and heart failure.

Treatment of pneumonia in adults

The method of treating pneumonia is prescribed depending on what type of disease the patient has and how much it progresses.

In many cases, pneumonia can be treated at home with the use of medications, always antibiotics. The doctor decides which antibiotics to use depending on the causative agent of the infection.

1. Pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is treated with Penicillin, Amoxicillin, macrolide antibiotics, including Erythromycin, Azithromycin and Clarithromycin. Penicillin may still be effective in treating pneumococcal pneumonia. However, it should be used only after the sensitivity of bacteria to the drug has been confirmed.
2. Pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae is treated with II and III generation cephalosporins, Amoxicillin.
3. Mycoplasma pneumonia is treated with macrolides (erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin) and fluoroquinolones.
4. Pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumoniae can also be treated with fluoroquinlones.
5. Viral pneumonia usually cannot be treated with antibiotics, so treatment methods are prescribed individually by a doctor.
6. Fungal pneumonia requires treatment with antibiotics, including Amphotericin B, Fluconazole (Diflucan), Penicillin and Sulfonamides.

Video - Signs of pneumonia

So, if you have pneumonia, you should definitely see a doctor and describe to him all the symptoms that the patient feels. Since pneumonia in an adult can occur without fever, it is very important to identify signs of the disease in time.