The use of traditional methods in the treatment of lungs. Medicines for children. General information about the disease and possible therapy

The appearance of symptoms of pneumonia is very serious reason cause for concern, and not surprising given the fact that the disease can be fatal. Thanks to modern medicine, the likelihood of death due to is virtually eliminated, but it is important to understand that the disease can have a detrimental effect on the entire body. That is why proper treatment should be carried out.

Pneumonia and its causes

First of all, it should be noted that pneumonia is a group of diseases, and not a separate disease. The peculiarity is that pathological process in such diseases leads to the development of inflammatory processes in the lower respiratory tract. This process can be triggered by many factors.

Possible causes of pneumonia:

Undoubtedly, there are many reasons for the development of pneumonia, which must be taken into account before treatment.

Clinical picture

The nature of the symptoms of pneumonia directly depends on the form of the disease. The acute form of the disease can be lobar or focal.

A distinctive feature of the lobar form of pneumonia is that inflammation occurs in a separate lobe of the lung, that is, a fairly large area of ​​the organ. In most cases, lobar pneumonia is a consequence of exposure to respiratory organ bacteria The symptoms of this pathology appear acutely, and their development occurs completely suddenly.

Read also:

Lung rupture, consequences, causes of damage. The mechanism of development of the clinical picture and the factors causing it

Signs of lobar pneumonia:

  • heat
  • severe chills
  • pain in right side
  • dyspnea
  • skin redness

Also characteristic feature This form of the disease is cough. It usually occurs 2-3 days after the first symptoms appear. The cough is dry, that is, there is poor sputum production. Gradually it becomes more intense and appears more often, but sputum is separated more easily.

The appearance of pain in the side is a consequence of the effect on the nerve endings. They are located in large numbers in pleural tissues. When the pleura is inflamed, it is involved in the respiratory process, which causes irritation nerve endings. On the background this violation Tachycardia or cardiac arrhythmia may also occur.

With focal pneumonia, inflammation affects only a separate area of ​​one of the lungs. This form is also acute. On early stages there is a significant increase in temperature. Subsequently, symptoms of poisoning develop, which manifest themselves in weakness, general malaise, and nausea.

A cough with this disease appears almost immediately. It can be either wet or dry, depending on the location of the lung lesion. Sputum produced when coughing may contain blood clots or veins. Subsequently, the amount of pulmonary secretion becomes greater.

It is important to note that with focal pneumonia there is no pain in the side. In view of this, the appearance this symptom– evidence of a lobar form of the disease.

The development of pneumonia occurs in case of poorly treated acute form. Under such conditions, bacteria that act as the causative agent of pathology continue to reside in the lungs. The regular inflammatory process leads to the formation of connective tissue at the site of the lesion. Because of this, irreversible changes occur in the lung, leading to disruption of the entire respiratory system.

In general, the symptoms of pneumonia and the nature of their manifestation depend on the form of the disease.

Diagnosis of the disease

For successful treatment, it is extremely important to confirm the diagnosis in a timely manner. Symptoms of pneumonia are often mistaken for other diseases. respiratory tract. To a certain extent, this is justified by the fact that with pneumonia appears coughing and temperature, which is typical for many other diseases.

In most cases, a doctor suspects pneumonia during scheduled or unscheduled medical examinations. A big mistake many patients make is that they do not consult a specialist immediately after the onset of symptoms, which causes inflammation to grow, increasing the likelihood of complications.

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In addition to studying the patient's complaints and medical examination, the specialist listens with a phonendoscope. When listening to the lungs, wheezing and shortness of breath are clearly audible, which is direct evidence of inflammation.

Lung fluoroscopy is used as the main diagnostic method. Using this procedure, you can identify the source of inflammation, estimate the size of the affected area, and determine the form of the disease.

After confirming the diagnosis, an analysis of pulmonary sputum is performed, which is expectorated by the patient during coughing. The study of this material allows us to determine the origin of the disease, identify pathogenic microorganisms, which in the future will significantly affect the choice of medications for treatment.

Another method of examining the respiratory tract is bronchoscopy. necessary for visual examination of the condition of the bronchi. To do this, the patient through the nose or oral cavity a tube with an optical device is inserted. Using the device, you can also collect the mucous substance directly from the inflammatory focus.

Based on the diagnostic results obtained, the specialist determines the stage and severity of the disease. If the patient has a moderate or severe form of the disease, hospitalization for further treatment. The opportunity to treat pneumonia at home is provided to the patient only if mild flow, and exclusively under the supervision of a specialist with regular checks and analyzes.

Thus, the diagnosis of pneumonia is necessary not only to confirm the diagnosis, but also to determine the factors influencing the therapeutic process.

Treatment at home

If there is no need for immediate hospitalization, the patient is faced with the acute question of how to treat pneumonia at home. Any drugs and therapeutic procedures can and should be carried out with the permission of the attending physician.

At acute course In case of illness, the patient must constantly stay in bed, completely eliminate physical stress on the body, and only eat easily digestible food.

The medications are taken in accordance with the results of previously performed diagnostics. In the vast majority of cases, the cause of inflammation is infectious infection. For elimination pathogenic microorganisms antibiotics are used.

In the absence of contraindications, the penicillin group is used for pneumonia. In the presence of secondary diseases or age limit(if the patient is over 50 years old), aminopenicillin or cephalosporin is prescribed for therapeutic purposes.

Treatment with antibiotics is carried out only for focal forms of pneumonia. Croupous inflammation can only be treated in inpatient conditions, because due to the developing respiratory failure caused by extensive damage lung tissue, the patient requires artificial ventilation lungs.

For symptomatic therapy, the patient may be prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs or antipyretics. Such medications should also be taken only as prescribed by a specialist, since the wrong combination with antibiotics can cause side effects or reduce the effect antibacterial therapy.

Pneumonia is a pathological inflammatory process that is usually infectious in nature and affects the lung tissue covering the walls of the organ and the alveoli. Alveoli are small vesicles, one side of which connects to the alveolar duct. They are involved in providing respiratory function and carry out gas exchange in the capillaries of the lung tissue, so their inflammation leads to respiratory failure and painful sensations when inhaling and exhaling.

Pneumonia (a general term that refers to any inflammation of the lung tissue) is usually caused by viruses or pathogenic bacteria. If treatment is not selected correctly, there is a risk of developing severe complications, For example, lung abscess, meningitis or pleural lesions, therefore in severe cases the patient is hospitalized in an infectious diseases hospital. If the patient refuses hospitalization and wants to be treated at home, it is important to follow all recommendations and prescriptions of specialists. Before using traditional medicine recipes, you should also consult your doctor, as some of them may have contraindications.

Pneumonia in most cases has a fairly characteristic course, accompanied by typical symptoms, but put correct diagnosis Only a doctor can. To diagnose an inflammatory process in the lungs, it may be necessary differential diagnosis– a set of examinations to exclude pathologies with a similar clinical picture. This could be bronchitis, pleurisy, pulmonary candidiasis or tuberculosis infection.

It is almost impossible to make a diagnosis at home, but by certain signs you can determine the approximate localization of the pathological process and seek medical help in time.

Symptoms of the disease include:

  • general signs of intoxication ( headache, poor appetite, weakness);
  • dry, hacking cough;
  • chest pain that increases in intensity when inhaling or coughing;
  • temperature increase;
  • difficulty breathing, shortness of breath;
  • increased heart rate (above 90 beats per minute);
  • pallor of the skin of the face and limbs;
  • signs of cyanosis (blueness skin and mucous membranes of the lips);
  • nasal congestion;
  • rhinitis.

In some cases, pneumonia is accompanied by a fall blood pressure. Hypotension cannot be considered as an isolated symptom of pneumonia, but in combination with cough, chest pain and other manifestations, low blood pressure complements clinical picture, characteristic of of this disease. The temperature in the first days of the disease in adults can remain at the level of low-grade fever (not higher than 37.5-37.7°), in children the disease immediately begins with a febrile syndrome, chills and a rise in temperature to 38° and above.

The cough at the beginning of treatment is always dry, painful, and persistent. After the cough becomes productive, the patient will produce sputum of a thick yellow consistency.

Important! In some cases, sputum from a wet cough may be White color and small inclusions. This picture is typical for candidiasis of the lungs. Hemoptysis with pneumonia may occur due to damage to the rupture small vessels or be a sign of tuberculosis. To correctly determine the cause pathological condition, you will need to go diagnostic examination, which includes laboratory diagnostics(urine and blood tests, sputum collection or throat discharge), radiography chest.

Basics of treating pneumonia at home

Even if the patient refuses hospital treatment, this does not mean that pneumonia can be cured without the use of medications. The basis of drug therapy for pneumonia bacterial origin is taking antibiotics. Semi-synthetic penicillins are usually the drugs of choice in adults. These are medications based on ampicillin and amoxicillin (“Flemoxin”, “Augmentin”, “Amosin”, “Amoxiclav”). These drugs have a wide spectrum of antibacterial activity, but they often cause an allergic reaction, so they can be replaced by more strong antibiotics new generation: cephalosporins or macrolides.

Antibiotics used to treat pneumonia

Antibiotic groupAllergy riskPossible side effectsWhat medications are included?
MacrolidesAverageHeadache, confusion, dyspeptic disorders, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting“Zinnat”, “Clarithromycin”, “Sumamed”, “Hemomycin”, “Azithromycin”
PenicillinsHighSkin rash, pain in the epigastric and abdominal space, headache and dizziness, unpleasant taste in the mouth"Amoxicillin", "Amosin", "Flemoxin", "Augmentin", "Ampicillin"
CephalosporinsShortSevere headaches, migraines, tremors of extremities, blood pathologies"Ciprofloxacin", "Cefalexin", "Cefazolin", "Cefadroxyl"

Note! If pneumonia is caused by viral or fungal microorganisms, the use of antibacterial therapy will be ineffective. In this case, medications may be required systemic action with an antifungal effect (Miconazole, Fluconazole) or antiviral drugs in combination with immunomodulators (interferon preparations, Imudon, Afobazol).

Symptomatic therapy at home

The main symptom of pneumonia is cough. To make it productive, the patient may be prescribed expectorants and mucolytics. Most often these are drugs containing acetylcysteine ​​or ambroxol. These include:

  • "Lazolvan";
  • "Ambrobene";
  • "Ambroxol";
  • "ACC";
  • "Mukonex."

They can be taken orally in the form of tablets, syrups and solutions, or used for steam inhalation using an inhaler or nebulizer. “Lazolvan” in the form of a solution perfectly thins phlegm and relieves dry cough. If the pathology is accompanied by signs of obstruction (narrowing of the airways), therapy is supplemented with inhalations with Berodual and Berotek.

Inhalations should be carried out 3-4 times a day. The dosage of the drug is 20 drops at a time (for Lazolvan - 25 drops), which need to be diluted with 3-5 ml of saline solution. From local funds Salbutamol in aerosol form has a similar effect. It should be used 4 times a day, making one injection during the inhalation phase.

Paracetamol can be used to reduce the temperature. If they do not provide sufficient effect, you can replace them with ibuprofen-based products or use combination drugs, for example, “Next”. To prevent an allergic reaction, histamine blockers (Diazolin, Claritin, Loratadine) may be prescribed.

Is it possible to be cured using traditional methods?

Treatment of pneumonia with traditional methods is justified only if the disease is caused by non-infectious causes, for example, exposure to harmful substances or fluids into the respiratory tract. In other situations Alternative medicine can be a good addition to drug treatment, but in no case can you replace drugs prescribed by a doctor with traditional recipes. Below are the most effective and safe recipes treatment of the inflammatory process in the lungs, which, if necessary, can be used even in childhood.

Video - Treatment of pneumonia at home

Potato compresses with honey

Such compresses help ease the passage of mucus and reduce the severity of the inflammatory process, as well as reduce the intensity of pain when coughing, inhaling and sneezing. Do it every day at night for 5-7 days.

The medicine is prepared as follows:

  • Boil 2 potatoes in their skins (preferably the potatoes were young);
  • mash the potatoes;
  • add 1 spoon of honey, 2 spoons warm milk and 1 spoon of any vegetable oil;
  • mix everything and wrap in gauze.

To prevent the compress from moving out, you can fix it with a bandage. The mass should be applied to the bronchi area on the back (on the affected side). Relief usually occurs after the second procedure.

Mustard ointment

A very effective remedy that helps relieve chest pain, reduce the intensity of cough and improve phlegm relief. To prepare the ointment you will need:

  • natural mustard – 2 tablespoons;
  • vegetable oil – 2 tablespoons;
  • wheat flour – 1 spoon.

All ingredients must be mixed and slightly warmed in a water bath before use. Place the patient on his stomach, cover the heart area with a thick flannel diaper. Apply a thin layer of ointment to the entire surface of the chest and feet (from the heel to the center of the foot), cover with another diaper on top and leave overnight.

Even with a marked improvement in well-being this procedure cannot be done every day, it is necessary to maintain a daily interval. A total of three such procedures need to be done - usually this is enough to relieve inflammation.

Important! This recipe is not suitable for people suffering from heart disease, bronchial asthma and diabetes. It is forbidden to use mustard and mustard plasters at elevated body temperatures. After the procedure you need to take warm shower(not hot!).

Video - How to treat pneumonia

Essential oils

Essential oils have a huge amount useful properties and can be used as part of complex treatment inflammation of bronchopulmonary tissue. Eucalyptus, fir, and juniper oils have a pronounced antibacterial effect and help improve the effectiveness of treatment. Contained therein tannins and phytoncides are destroyed pathogenic flora and prevent the development of secondary infection.

Tea tree oil, sandalwood, geranium and chamomile have a general strengthening effect and help fight inflammatory processes. Essential oils of orange, bergamot, rosemary and grapefruit strengthen the immune system and help the body cope with the disease faster.

Oils can be used in two ways: for chest massage or aromatherapy. You can apply a few drops of oil to the tip of your pillow or blanket, but this method not suitable for people with hypersensitivity.

Garlic oil

Garlic is the most popular folk remedy for treating diseases of the respiratory system. It contains many pungent essential oils and acids that help fight pathogenic microorganisms (including mixed flora, consisting of several types of pathogenic agents). Garlic can be used for inhalation or direct consumption. If you have pneumonia, it is not recommended to eat raw garlic; doctors recommend preparing garlic oil from it.

To do this, 5 cloves of garlic need to be chopped and mixed with 100 g of melted butter (high quality and fat content of at least 82.5%). After this, put the mixture in the refrigerator for several hours. The oil can be used for sandwiches or added to meat and vegetable dishes.

Video - How to treat pneumonia with folk remedies

How to speed up recovery?

Throughout the entire period of treatment, the patient must comply with bed rest. It is strictly forbidden to go to work or school, as this can lead to infection of others and a deterioration in the well-being of the patient himself. The room in which the sick person is located must be isolated from other family members. If this is not possible, it is important to ventilate the apartment at least 6-10 times a day and do regular wet cleaning using non-aggressive disinfectants. Healthy family members should wear gauze bandages.

The patient's diet should be sufficiently high-calorie and varied. In case of inflammatory processes in the lungs, an increase in the amount of fermented milk products, fruits, vegetables, freshly squeezed juices, and protein foods is indicated. Meat and fish dishes, as well as eggs, should be included in the menu 3-4 times a day. Drinking regime should be plentiful - this is important to eliminate the symptoms of intoxication, thin the thick sputum and relieve a painful cough. Preference should be given to fruit compotes, berry fruit drinks, natural juices, herbal teas and decoctions. It is better to avoid tea, coffee and carbonated drinks during this period.

If necessary, you can take vitamin and mineral supplements. The drug should be selected by a doctor after studying urine and blood tests. The fact is that an excess of certain elements can cause problems in the functioning of organs. For example, in case of hyperthyroidism, the doctor will select a complex that does not contain iodine, but in case of hyperkalemia, the choice should be made in favor multivitamins or combination supplements without potassium.

Treating pneumonia at home is a rather risky undertaking, since the risk of complications with this disease is very high. If the patient insists on outpatient treatment, you must follow all doctor’s prescriptions and follow nutrition and regimen recommendations. It is also important to take all tests in a timely manner and come for an examination - this will help the doctor evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and notice the onset of complications in time. Some diseases that occur against the background of pneumonia (for example, meningitis) develop rapidly and have a high mortality rate, so you should not take your health lightly and refuse the help of specialists.


“Pneumonia” is a phrase that bridges the gap between doctors and non-doctors. It helps explain the complex mechanisms of the disease in a simple way. The average person does not need to know what is happening in the body at the current moment in time. To assess the danger and begin treatment, it is enough to hear only two words from the doctor: “pneumonia.” This article will help you understand both adults and children.

Pneumonia

In the medical community, this phrase is not used; it is replaced by the completely familiar and well-studied pneumonia. Morphologically, this is an inflammation of the lung tissue with the participation of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa or saprophytic microflora of the lungs themselves. The process itself is accompanied by all characteristic symptoms: pain, swelling, redness (we don’t see it, but it’s there), fever and dysfunction. In addition, fluid leakage from the lesion into the pleural space is often observed.

Classification

As is usually the case in medicine, there are several categories into which all types of pneumonia can be grouped:

  1. By localization:
    - focal, when inflammation occupies small area lung parenchyma, sometimes involving the bronchus;
    - segmental - the infiltrate has reached the size of one or several segments;
    - lobar - a whole lobe is involved in the pathological process;
    - confluent, when several lesions unite to form a larger one;
    - total - extends to the entire lung or both.
  2. For lung damage:
    - one-sided;
    - two-sided.
  3. By origin:
    - primary - is an independent disease;
    - secondary - develops against the background of another disease or long stay on strict bed rest.
  4. By infection:
    - community-acquired, that is, ordinary pneumonia;
    - hospital, nosocomial or nosocomial, i.e. developed after a person’s admission to a medical institution.
  5. By pathogen:
    - bacterial;
    - viral;
    - fungal;
    - aspiration;
    - toxic.

Transmission routes

The main way to get an infection of the respiratory system remains through the airborne route. People cannot help but breathe, which means there is a terrible mixture of gases, bacteria, viruses, pollutants and particulate matter in the air. But, in addition to gas exchange with external environment, the lungs also communicate with internal environment body through the blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. Therefore, it is impossible to exclude the route of infection from another inflammatory focus, which is the primary source of bacterial spread.

Pathogenetic picture

When the pathogen enters the upper respiratory tract, it moves deeper with the air current bronchial tree. This is where the bacteria stop and begin to form a colony, causing acute bronchitis varying degrees complexity and severity.

When a colony of microorganisms moves from the bronchial cavity to the pulmonary parenchyma, doctors talk about pneumonia. If measures are not taken, the disease spreads further to healthy tissue and foci of elimination appear in other organs. As the disease progresses, intoxication increases, oxygen deficiency, and in some cases, heart failure. More often affected right lung, since its main bronchus is shorter and wider than the left one.

Clinical manifestations

As a rule, it is quite difficult to immediately distinguish pneumonia from bronchitis. Both of these diseases are manifested by fever, cough, and sputum. But after a short time, when intoxication increases, fever appears with strong temperature changes in the morning and evening, pain during breathing, sputum becomes purulent and has an unpleasant odor.

Objectively, the disease is manifested by hard breathing, moist rales and crepitus, decreased sound transmission (voice tremor, bronchophony), as well as the appearance of a shadow on the plain radiograph lungs.

In any case, you should not immediately run for help after a slight cough. medical reference book and see the section “Pneumonia. Symptoms in adults." How to treat this disease, we will consider below.

Other types of pneumonia

  1. Atypical. It is called so because its course is completely different from the “classical” manifestations of pneumonia. The onset is smooth, with a slight dry cough. Patients complain of the predominance of headache and muscle pain, nausea, weakness. There may be no changes at all on chest X-rays.
  2. Secondary. It is divided into several subspecies.
    - aspiration - after inhalation foreign bodies, gastric contents or chemical substances(acids, alkalis);
    - septic, with a predominant picture of acute sepsis;
    - hypostatic, when the patient adheres to strict bed rest for a long time or is on mechanical ventilation;
    - immunodeficiency, opportunistic infection caused by general decline body resistance to infections;
    - post-traumatic - the focus of inflammation coincides with the site of injury.

How to treat pneumonia if it is secondary? It is necessary to get rid of what caused the disease. This will be the most effective tactic in in this case, because symptomatic therapy may not be effective in this situation.

Diagnostics

The main methods of studying patients with preliminary diagnosis"pneumonia" are:

  • a general blood test that will show the picture acute inflammation (increased ESR, shift leukocyte formula to the left to young forms, anemia);
  • biochemical blood test (acute phase indicator, dysproteinemia, increased immunoglobulin levels);
  • blood gas composition (pulse oximetry), shows the degree of respiratory failure;
  • culture of sputum on solid media to determine the pathogen;
  • Gram stain of bacteria;
  • X-ray of the chest organs in several projections;
  • CT, MRI (if necessary).

TO additional methods studies that mainly affect the diagnosis of complications include pleura, bronchoscopy, angiopulmonography and other invasive procedures. They are resorted to quite rarely, since for the patient it is associated with discomfort, and with the development of modern visualization technology, these manipulations can be avoided.

Treatment of pneumonia

Doctors today often ask the question: “How to treat pneumonia?”, and not because they did not study well at the institute or, in the wake of innovations in their industry, forgot how to do it. On the contrary, various approaches to solving this problem, a wide range of etiotropic drugs and aids expand the possibilities of selecting the right therapy.

The only, but significant, disadvantage is that ordinary people, who have a vague idea of ​​what pneumonia is, try to act as an aesculapian themselves. This usually happens as follows: a person notices what he thinks are alarming symptoms, and immediately rushes... no, not to the clinic, but to the computer to enter a query like “pneumonia, symptoms.” Good Uncle Google will tell him how to treat this disease, just like that, as a bonus.

After that, our man runs to the pharmacy, buys antibiotics, just the kind that will definitely get you through, and quickly, in a couple of days, relieves all his symptoms. With this, his mission is completed. The medications helped, I can go back to work and into battle. But the disease has not gone away, it sits and waits for any opportunity to return, and those who caused it have now become more resistant to treatment.

Let's figure out how to do the right thing.

Non-drug methods

With the typical development of the disease, the question of where to treat pneumonia does not even appear on the agenda. Of course in the hospital! There you can create optimal conditions for recovery. This is bed rest, variety balanced diet, drinking plenty of alkaline fluids and getting enough sleep. ABOUT physical activity out of the question. After complete clinical and laboratory recovery, approximately two to three months must pass before the patient is allowed to attend physical education or exercise independently.

2. Home care

If you nevertheless decide to take such a step as treating pneumonia at home, then you will need all the endurance and patience to care for the patient. First of all, the room temperature should not be higher than 18-22 degrees Celsius. Less is possible, but more is not advisable, since during a fever the already dry air will irritate the mucous membranes and aggravate inflammation. The second is wet cleaning. The ideal option is twice a day, but if this is not possible, then at least once a day. It is not recommended to use disinfectants, as they can also affect

Expectorants

Since one of the symptoms of pneumonia is cough, this must be taken into account when prescribing therapy. It is advisable to determine the type of cough: dry or wet, and only then select a medicine. According to treatment protocols, in the presence of a dry cough, it is necessary to transform it into a wet one so that sputum separation begins, and for wet cough choose a mucolytic for better expectoration of mucus.

There are situations when a cough only interferes with recovery, exhausting the patient, but without bringing significant relief. In this case, drugs are used that affect the cough center. The goal of therapy is to stop the uncomfortable symptoms.

Antibiotic therapy

Global question: “How to treat pneumonia with antibiotics?” occupies the minds of not only practicing doctors, but also scientists who are well aware of the threat from uncontrolled antibiotic therapy. Due to the incorrect selection of drugs, bacteria become resistant to the treatment; they produce substances that neutralize the effect of the drugs. When there are a lot of such bacteria, this is already serious problem, because it becomes more and more difficult to eliminate them from the body.

But before you panic and run away from the hospital, you should still listen to what the doctor tells you. Believe me, he knows a little better how to treat pneumonia than your mother, mother-in-law, neighbor and even the Internet.

First, the specialist will take the necessary tests, then prescribe an antibiotic as a trial approach. wide range actions, as a rule, of the penicillin series. And for three days he will monitor the dynamics of his patient’s health. If there are positive changes, then everything is going well, and there is no need to change the drug. If after three days the situation has not changed or worsened, then it makes sense to think about changing the leading drug to a stronger one. In any case, the results should come in a week microbiological research, which will show the sensitivity of microorganisms to available types medicines.

Sometimes you can observe atypical pneumonia - symptoms without fever. How to treat this condition? Yes, almost the same as regular inflammation. But it is extremely difficult to notice that a patient is developing pneumonia if there is no fever, which means that the help of a doctor will be required.

If a child gets sick

How to treat pneumonia in children is a completely different story. You shouldn’t wait for ARVI or bronchitis to turn into pneumonia. It is better to immediately contact your local pediatrician for professional help. He will be able to determine whether hospitalization is needed, how much serious condition child and how to treat it.

As a rule, in general, the rules for treating pneumonia in children are not very different from those in adults. The regimen is prescribed to bed, and sometimes strict bed rest, plenty of drinking, daily wet cleaning, moderate ambient temperature. The cough is corrected with medication, flora is cultured and antibiotics are prescribed.

It is important to remember that not all of them are suitable for children. There are entire groups of drugs that are not used in pediatrics due to their toxic effects on the liver, kidneys, nervous system and sense organs. Under no circumstances try to treat a child at home, guided by your own knowledge, experience or advice from people far from medicine.

Outpatient treatment or home hospital

How to treat pneumonia at home, when it is not possible to take it at work or school sick leave? This is somewhat more difficult than simply going to a doctor and shifting all responsibility onto him, but you can try.

First of all, in order to cure pneumonia, you need to diagnose it in yourself. The criteria for pneumonia have already been described above, so we will not dwell on them. So, you have found out that the disease exists, which means it needs to be stopped so that you can fulfill your professional duties. To do this, you should adhere to strict bed rest for at least several days, drink a lot and often (especially alkaline mineral water), there are nutritious broths.

There is no point in lowering the temperature if it stays within 37-38 degrees. This is a good sign that the body is trying to cope with the infection. Take antibiotics according to the instructions, do not forget about mucolytics and immunomodulators to increase the body's resistance.

It's just not big list how to treat pneumonia. In modern medicine, there are special protocols in which therapy is scheduled in stages, taking into account the characteristics of the patient’s body and the course of the disease. Therefore, trust your health to professionals.

ethnoscience

How to treat pneumonia with folk remedies? Surely there will be opponents official medicine who will decide that their body copes with diseases much better than everyone else’s, which means they can experiment.

Folk remedies are good only as an addition to medications, but not as self-treatment. So, it is recommended to eat honey, black elderberry jam, and drink raspberry tea. And among the physical methods for better expectoration, inhalations are done over boiled potatoes, warm foot baths, mustard plasters and jars. But these manipulations are already a thing of the past due to the use of interferon drugs and antibiotics of the latest generation.

Duration of treatment

How long does it take to treat pneumonia? Minimum three weeks for both adults and children. Relief of the condition may occur within a week, but final recovery with resorption of pathological foci in the lungs will not occur earlier than 21 days from the start of treatment.

In addition, do not forget about complementary therapy, in addition to antibacterial, which also has its own deadlines. In any case, on quick release you should not count on illness from the disease. Recovery is a rather painstaking process.

The article describes in sufficient detail how to treat pneumonia at home and on an outpatient basis. This will help you make the right decisions regarding your health.

Pneumonia or pneumonia is quite serious and dangerous disease. It is infectious in nature and, if treated incorrectly or not, can lead to serious complications, up to fatal outcome, and, of course, requires consultation with a doctor during the treatment process.

Pneumonia in children and people over 65 years of age requires mandatory hospitalization. If you refuse to go to the hospital and plan to be treated at home, then you need to know some rules that will help you successfully cope with this disease.

Home treatment for pneumonia in adults lasts approximately 10-14 days, severe forms will require at least 21 days of treatment. The situation is similar with treatment in children. Consultation with a doctor is still necessary, due to the fact that pneumonia requires complex treatment, primarily with antibiotics, which only a specialist can choose correctly, taking into account your condition, age, individual sensitivity to drugs, and the pathogen that caused the inflammation.

How to treat pneumonia at home using folk remedies

Folk remedies are very effective as an additional treatment for pneumonia at home, and we will dwell on them in more detail.

  1. Bed rest, regular ventilation of the room.
  2. Clearing the airways of mucus. This is very important aspect, promoting a speedy recovery.

    The main remedy used at home is inhalation with pneumonia. In this case, you can use either a special inhaler purchased at a pharmacy, or use a saucepan or kettle and make a paper funnel on it.

    Inhalations with a decoction of eucalyptus leaves, sage, mint, chamomile, calendula, and essential oils are very effective. You can alternate them with salt-alkaline inhalations (salt and soda in equal proportions).

    Important

    However, inhalations should be used with caution: they are not recommended for high temperature and the presence of cardiovascular diseases.

    For expectoration, use black radish juice with honey, onion juice with sugar.

  3. They are well suited for relieving symptoms of intoxication (which often accompanies pneumonia). rosehip tea, coltsfoot decoction(2 tablespoons of leaves per glass of water).

  4. Mustard plasters for pneumonia and jars
    — their use helps to warm up tissues, resolve inflammatory processes, and strengthen protective mechanisms immune system. However, it should be remembered that their use is contraindicated at high temperatures and within 24 hours after its normalization, skin diseases, oncology, and pregnancy.
  5. Breathing exercises— it is necessary during bed rest to prevent a decrease in lung function. It needs to be done from the moment the temperature drops and can be done right in bed. The simplest and effective method- use of an inflatable toy.

    A good addition there will be a massage(nose area, thoracic region). Massage for pneumonia does not require special preparation, and any of the patient’s family members can do it: it is necessary to do stroking, rubbing the chest (immediately from the front from bottom to top, then from the back for 10-15 minutes daily, starting from 4-5 days after the start of treatment (i.e. when the acute period of inflammation has already passed).

  6. A very important component of successful treatment is compliance correct mode nutrition for pneumonia, water balance.
    • A prerequisite is to drink plenty of fluid (at least two liters per day). This helps remove toxic substances from the body.
    • Decoctions will be useful medicinal plants(coltsfoot, chamomile, oregano, black elderberry, plantain leaves, pine buds) and use them as tea.
    • Meals should be light and dietary. This is due to the fact that during illness the body spends a lot of energy fighting the pathogen, and digesting high-calorie food requires additional energy consumption.

    How to treat pneumonia at the initial stage? initial stage The disease is often accompanied by a decrease in appetite. This is normal, you should not overly “stuff” the patient or force him to eat. During such periods, it is best to limit yourself to fruits, freshly squeezed juices, compotes; at the initial stages of recovery, you can add them to the diet chicken broths, light soups, dairy products, boiled meat or fish, vegetables. It is better to eat more often, but little by little.

    Important

    It is better to exclude foods such as salt, sugar, fatty meat and dairy products from the diet until recovery; avoid fried food, bakery and confectionery, hot sauces.

    You should also take care of the intestinal microflora during antibiotic treatment and consume fermented milk products - kefir, yoghurt.

  7. Oral hygiene.
  8. Use of antipyretics.

    You should know that viruses in the body die precisely at high temperatures (above 38 degrees), so antipyretic drugs should be given to patients only if the fever is poorly tolerated, in other cases it is better to be patient - this is a guarantee get well soon. Antipyretics, like antibiotics, should be taken as prescribed by a doctor.

  9. Do no harm.

    A serious obstacle to a successful recovery can be the misconception that if you have pneumonia, you need to take a good steam bath. This should under no circumstances be done. Fever body is in itself a great test for of cardio-vascular system, so you shouldn’t create additional stress for her.

Also, during an illness with pneumonia, you should not smoke, drink alcohol, carry the disease on your feet, or take a bath or shower when you have a fever.

During the period of treatment of a patient, heat and stuffiness in the room, dry air, dust are not beneficial - all this contributes to the drying out of sputum and prevents the body from fighting infection.

Thus, in order to cope with pneumonia at home, it is necessary to consult a doctor in time, take the antibiotics prescribed by him, provide the patient with bed rest, proper care, diet and drinking plenty of fluids, carefully monitor his condition to prevent complications.

- this is a large list of processes, most often of an inflammatory nature, that affect the tissues and pleura of the lungs. Such diseases usually require long-term treatment and taking several medications at once. To reduce Negative influence on the body arising from drug treatment lungs, and to speed up recovery you can use traditional medicine, which is very easy to prepare at home.

Existing lung diseases

Lung diseases can be divided into several groups according to their origin. So they highlight congenital pathologies and defects of the respiratory system, genetic abnormalities, diseases caused by poor environmental conditions, infections and hypothermia. The most common diseases are acquired, which are caused by hypothermia, complications of other diseases, or the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the human respiratory tract. Sometimes inflammatory and infectious processes have a negative impact environment, which interferes with recovery and worsens the patient’s condition.

There are several of the most common pulmonary diseases:

  • tuberculosis;
  • alveolitis;
  • emphysema;
  • pneumothorax.

This is only a small list of pulmonary diseases, but it is for their treatment that traditional medicine can be used if doctors do not see any contraindications to their use.

Indications for the use of folk remedies

Not always traditional treatment can be used for diseases of the respiratory system, especially when it comes to the lungs. There are several points that you need to pay attention to before starting treatment with folk remedies.

Severity of the disease. In some cases it is only possible hospital treatment. You cannot refuse it and try to self-medicate.

The age of the patients - infants, elderly people, pregnant women - should be observed by a specialist for any disease. Folk remedies can only be used if the doctor gives permission. Doctors usually recommend the most safe means: chamomile tea, linden infusion and berry fruit drinks. Tendency to allergies: the likelihood of developing allergies from traditional medicine recipes is higher than from taking synthetic drugs.

Treatment of lungs with folk remedies is used only as helper method. Respiratory diseases require integrated approach, therefore, not only medicinal methods are used, but also physiotherapeutic ones. Non-traditional recipes can be used as the only treatment for the lungs only after recovery, to restore the overall tone of the body and prevent relapses.

The use of herbal decoctions and infusions

Herbal decoctions and infusions are very easy to prepare at home. You can collect the plants for their preparation yourself, or you can purchase them in pharmacies - and this option is the most convenient; there is no need to doubt the quality of the raw materials. Almost all pulmonary diseases are accompanied by a cough and expectoration, so the main means for treating the lungs are infusions with an expectorant effect. The recipes are very simple: just brew a teaspoon of the herb in 200 ml of boiling water, wait 20 minutes and you can drink the remedy.

The most useful herbs:

  • St. John's wort;

You can prepare combined herbal infusions.

Take 2 tablespoons of crushed elecampane and marshmallow roots, one spoon of oregano and pour into a thermos. Pour the mixture with 500 ml of boiling water and leave for about 3-4 hours. Drink the resulting infusion in 3 doses after meals.

Take in equal parts leaves, rhizomes and horsetail, fennel and pine buds. Mix everything and steam 2 tablespoons of the mixture in a thermos, pouring a glass of boiling water. The infusion will be ready in two hours, after which you can drink 50–100 ml twice a day.

Violet decoctions are very useful for restoring pulmonary epithelium damaged after illness, horsetail and thyme. You can prepare one-component decoctions: bring a spoonful of raw materials to a boil in a glass of water, or prepare a collection of several types of herbs.

For the treatment of lungs, products based on juniper, spruce, cedar, fir and pine needles are suitable. The needles need to be thoroughly washed and filled with two glasses of water. Boil over low heat or a water bath for 20–30 minutes. Strain the resulting product and drink a tablespoon 3 times a day.

Use of inhalations

Among medicinal products Inhalations are popular in traditional medicine. Hot inhalations that use vegetable herbs. Steamed plants have many properties:

  • liquefying;
  • bronchodilators;
  • coughing;
  • antimicrobial;
  • healing.

Inhalations can be done using an ordinary saucepan, a small basin or a kettle - a decoction is poured into them, and the sick person is asked to bend over the container, cover with a towel and inhale the medicinal vapors. You can use special steam inhalers, but you should not inhale with herbal decoctions in compression inhalers - most of them are not suitable for this. It should be remembered that the temperature of the inhalation liquid should not exceed 60 °C for adults and 40 °C for children.

Recipes

Leave a handful for 20 minutes in a glass, then dilute with boiling water.

The most popular folk recipe– Boil unpeeled potatoes, mash and inhale their vapors. You can add a spoonful of butter.

Boil several young spruce or pine branches with buds in 500 ml of water. This folk remedy can be improved by adding 2-3 drops of essential oil of any coniferous tree.

Brew a handful of eucalyptus leaves with 2 cups of boiling water. You can add eucalyptus or fir.

Most effective means treatments are considered inhalations if the basis includes several plants at once. You can take any herbs:

  • birch leaves;
  • calendula flowers;
  • St. John's wort;
  • oregano;
  • , or .









The herbs are poured with 1 liter of boiling water, the container is closed with a lid, and when the product has cooled down a little, you can begin inhalation.

Effective when bacterial inflammation cold inhalation: finely chop several onions or grate 5-6 cloves. Inhale vapors rich in phytoncides directly from the saucer.

Recipes for balms for the treatment of lung diseases

Folk remedies such as balms are useful for treating lungs. Some of them are taken orally, while others are used to rub the chest. They take a little longer to prepare, but healing effect helps get rid of cough in a short time.

Remedy No. 1

For 2 hours, keep the mixture in a water bath, which includes three ingredients, 500 g each:

  • ripe berries, along with twigs;
  • natural honey;
  • chopped onions.

When the product is removed from the heat, pour in 100 ml of freshly squeezed lemon and aloe juice. Take a teaspoon three times a day until the cough is completely cured.

Method No. 2

For this balsa, it is important to prepare it correctly: a plant that is at least three years old should not be watered 2 weeks before removing the leaves. Take only the largest leaves (6–8 pieces), rinse, wipe, wrap in newspaper and put in the refrigerator for 7–10 days.

After the expiration date, finely chop the leaves and pour 500 ml of liquid honey, put on the lowest heat and cook until the aloe leaves become soft. At the same time, boil two glasses of water, to which add 150 g. birch buds and 50 gr. linden color. When the broth has cooled, it needs to be strained.

Pour a glass of heated water into the mixture olive oil, and then a herbal decoction. Mix everything thoroughly and store in the refrigerator. Take 25 ml three times a day after meals.

Method No. 3

Infuse the honey-vegetable balm in a dark place for 10 days. To prepare it, honey, 70% alcohol, freshly squeezed juices, and beets are taken in equal parts. Pour all this into a glass container, close it with a plastic lid, wrap it with film on top and tie it tightly with an elastic band. Drink a tablespoon three times a day.

Method No. 4

Grind 1 liter of fresh sea buckthorn berries into a paste or grind in a blender. Pour a liter of refined into this mass sunflower oil and put in a dark place for a week. After the expiration date, strain through a sieve and store in the refrigerator. Take according to dessert spoon morning and evening after meals.

Grinding mixtures

Recipes for folk balms for rubbing most often contain natural animal fats: goose, and badger fat, which must be melted and then add auxiliary agents.

Popular folk recipes:

  • Melted fat and crushed fat are taken in equal proportions.
  • Add 1 teaspoon each of turpentine and camphor oil to the lard.
  • In 200 gr. add 20 grams of melted fat. propolis tincture.
  • Add a little mustard powder to the fat.

Recipes without fat:

  • Add a little to 4 tablespoons of liquid honey sea ​​salt, and cover the rubbed breast with a cabbage leaf.
  • Mix vodka and honey in equal quantities.
  • Add a couple of drops of chamomile, eucalyptus, fir or juniper essential oil to the melted butter.

The chest and back area are rubbed with such balms, but the heart area is not affected; after rubbing, a film is applied on top and they dress warmly or lie down under a blanket for at least 40 minutes. The use of such folk remedies provides improvement within a few days after the start of treatment.