Signs of pneumonia. Pneumonia: symptoms (without fever). What are the symptoms of pneumonia? Symptoms of lobar pneumonia

Pneumonia is an acute inflammation of the lungs caused by infection. The initial diagnosis is usually based on a chest x-ray.

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ICD-10 code

J18 Pneumonia without specifying the pathogen

Epidemiology

Pneumonia is one of the most common infectious diseases. In Europe, the annual number of patients with this diagnosis ranges from 2 to 15 per 1000 population. In Russia, the incidence of community-acquired pneumonia reaches 10-15 per 1000 population, and in older age groups (over 60 years old) - 25-44 cases per 1000 people per year. Approximately 2-3 million people in the United States get pneumonia each year, and approximately 45,000 of them die. It is the most common fatal hospital-acquired infection and the most common cause of death in developing countries.

Despite significant progress in diagnosis and treatment, the mortality rate of this disease is increasing. Community-acquired pneumonia is the most common cause of death among all infectious diseases. In the overall structure of causes of death, this disease ranks fifth after cardiovascular, oncological, cerebrovascular diseases and COPD, and in the older age group the mortality rate reaches 10-33%, and among children under 5 years old - 25%. The so-called nosocomial (hospital or nosocomial) and some “atypical” and aspiration pneumonias have an even higher mortality rate (up to 50%), which is explained by the highly virulent flora that causes these forms of the disease, as well as rapidly developing resistance to traditional antibacterial drugs.

The presence of severe concomitant diseases and certain risk factors in a significant proportion of patients, including primary and secondary immunodeficiency, has a significant impact on the course and prognosis of pneumonia.

The airways and lungs are constantly exposed to environmental pathogens; The upper respiratory tract and oropharynx are especially colonized by the so-called normal flora, which is safe due to the body's immune defenses. If pathogens overcome multiple protective barriers, infection develops.

Protective factors in the upper respiratory tract include salivary IgA, proteolytic enzymes and lysozyme, as well as growth inhibitors produced by normal flora and fibronectin, which coats the mucosa and inhibits adhesion. Nonspecific protection of the lower respiratory tract includes cough, ciliated epithelial clearance, and angulation of the airways, which prevents infection of air spaces. Specific protection of the lower respiratory tract is provided by pathogen-specific immune mechanisms, including opsonization of IgA and IgG, anti-inflammatory effects of surfactant, phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages, and T-cell immune responses. These mechanisms protect most people from infection. But in many conditions (eg, systemic illness, malnutrition, hospitalization or nursing home stay, antibiotic therapy), the normal flora is altered, its virulence increases (eg, antibiotic exposure) or defense mechanisms are disrupted (eg, cigarette smoking, nasogastric or endotracheal intubation). Pathogenic organisms that in these cases reach the alveolar spaces by inhalation, due to contact or hematogenous spread or aspiration, can multiply and cause inflammation of the lung tissue.

Specific pathogens that cause inflammation of the lung tissue are not identified in more than half of patients, even with a comprehensive diagnostic study. But, since under similar conditions and risk factors certain trends are found in the nature of the pathogen and the outcome of the disease, pneumonia is classified into community-acquired (acquired outside a medical institution), hospital-acquired (including postoperative and associated with artificial ventilation), acquired in nursing homes, and in persons with weakened immune systems; this allows empirical treatment to be prescribed.

The term "interstitial pneumonia" refers to a variety of conditions of unknown etiology characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the pulmonary interstitium.

Community-acquired pneumonia develops in people with limited or no contact with health care facilities. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and atypical organisms (i.e., Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae Legionella sp) are commonly identified. Symptoms are fever, cough, shortness of breath, tachypnea and tachycardia. Diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations and chest x-ray. Treatment is with empirically selected antibiotics. The prognosis is good for relatively young and/or healthy patients, but many pneumonias, especially those caused by S. pneumoniae and influenza virus, are fatal in elderly and debilitated patients.

Many microorganisms cause community-acquired pneumonia, including bacteria, viruses and fungi. Different pathogens predominate in the etiology depending on the patient's age and other factors, but the relative importance of each as a cause of community-acquired pneumonia is questionable because most patients do not receive a full evaluation, and even with evaluation, specific agents are identified in less than 50% of cases.

S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae are the most common bacterial pathogens. Chlamydia and mycoplasma are clinically indistinguishable from other causes. Common viral pathogens include respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, influenza virus, metapneumovirus, and parainfluenza virus in children and influenza virus in the elderly. Bacterial superinfection can make it difficult to differentiate viral from bacterial infections.

C. pneumoniae causes 5-10% of community-acquired pneumonia and is the second most common cause of lung infections in healthy people aged 5-35 years. C. pneumoniae is commonly responsible for outbreaks of respiratory tract infections in families, educational institutions, and military training camps. It causes a relatively benign form that rarely requires hospitalization. Pneumonia caused by Chlamydia psittaci (ornithosis) occurs in patients with birds.

The proliferation of other organisms causes infection in the lungs of immunocompetent patients, although the term community-acquired pneumonia is usually reserved for the more common bacterial and viral etiologies.

Q fever, tularemia, anthrax and plague are rare bacterial infections that can cause severe inflammation of the lungs; the last three infectious diseases should raise suspicions of bioterrorism.

Symptoms of pneumonia

Symptoms of pneumonia include malaise, cough, shortness of breath and chest pain.

The cough is usually productive in older children and adults and dry in infants, young children and the elderly. Dyspnea is usually mild and occurs with exertion and is rarely present at rest. Chest pain is pleural and localized near the affected area. Inflammation of the lung tissue can manifest as pain in the upper abdomen when infection in the lower lobe irritates the diaphragm. Symptoms vary at extreme age groups; infection in infants may manifest as vague irritability and restlessness; in the elderly - as a violation of orientation and consciousness.

Manifestations include fever, tachypnea, tachycardia, rales, bronchial breathing, egophony, and dullness to percussion. Symptoms of pleural effusion may also be present. Flare of the nostrils, use of accessory muscles, and cyanosis are common in infants.

Signs of pneumonia were previously thought to differ depending on the type of pathogen, but there are many common manifestations. In addition, none of the symptoms or signs are sensitive or specific enough to support the determination of etiology. Symptoms may even resemble non-infectious lung diseases such as pulmonary embolism, neoplasms and other inflammatory processes in the lungs.

Diagnosis of pneumonia

The diagnosis is suspected based on the symptoms of the disease and confirmed by chest x-ray. The most severe condition misdiagnosed as inflammation of the lung tissue is pulmonary embolism, which is more likely in patients with minimal sputum production, the absence of concomitant acute respiratory viral infections or systemic symptoms, and risk factors for thromboembolism.

Chest x-ray almost always reveals an infiltrate of varying severity; rarely the infiltrate is absent in the first 24-48 hours of the disease. In general, no specific study findings distinguish one type of infection from another, although multilobar infiltrates suggest infection with S. pneumoniae or Legionella pneumophila, and interstitial pneumonia suggests a viral etiology or mycoplasma.

Those hospitalized should have a complete blood count, electrolytes, urea, and creatinine to determine hydration status and risk. Two blood cultures are done to screen for pneumococcal bacteremia and sepsis, since approximately 12% of all patients hospitalized with pneumonia have bacteremia; S. pneumoniae accounts for two thirds of these cases.

Research is ongoing to determine whether blood culture results are important enough for treatment to justify the expense of these tests. Pulse oximetry or arterial blood gas analysis should also be performed.

Usually there are no indications for conducting research, including sputum analysis, identifying the pathogenic microorganism; exceptions may be made for critically ill patients in whom a drug-resistant or unusual organism (eg, tuberculosis) is suspected and for patients whose condition worsens or who do not respond to treatment within 72 hours. The usefulness of sputum Gram stain and bacteriological examination remains questionable, since samples are often contaminated and their diagnostic yield is generally low. In patients who do not produce sputum, specimens can be obtained non-invasively by simple coughing or after inhalation of hypertonic saline, or the patient can undergo bronchoscopy or endotracheal suction, which can be easily performed through an endotracheal tube in mechanically ventilated patients. In patients with deteriorating conditions who do not respond to broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, testing should include mycobacterial and fungal staining and culture.

Additional studies are ordered in some circumstances. People at risk for Legionnaires' disease (eg, people who smoke, have chronic lung disease, are over 40 years of age, are receiving chemotherapy, or are taking immunosuppressive drugs for an organ transplant) should have a urine test for Legionella antigens, which remains positive long after onset. treatment, but allows identifying only L pneumophila serological group 1 (70% of cases).

A fourfold increase in antibody titers to > 1:128 (or in a single convalescent serum > 1:256) is also considered diagnostic. These tests are specific (95-100%) but not very sensitive (40-60%); thus, a positive test indicates infection, but a negative test does not rule it out.

Infants and young children with possible RSV infection should undergo rapid antigen testing on nasal or throat swabs. There are no other tests for viral pneumonia; viral culture and serological tests are rarely available in the clinic.

PCR testing (for mycoplasma and chlamydia) is not yet available, but has good prospects due to its high sensitivity and specificity, as well as speed of implementation.

A test for SARS-associated coronavirus exists, but its role in clinical practice is unknown and its use is limited outside of known outbreaks. In rare situations, the possibility of anthrax should be considered.

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Treatment of pneumonia

A risk assessment is performed to identify those patients who can be safely treated in an outpatient setting and those who require hospitalization due to a high risk of complications. Prediction should support, rather than replace, clinical data, as the choice of treatment site is influenced by many unmeasured factors - compliance, ability to self-care, and desire to avoid hospitalization. Admission to the PICU is required for patients who require mechanical ventilation and patients with arterial hypotension (systolic BP treatment of pneumonia includes fluids, antipyretic and analgesic drugs and O2 for patients with hypoxemia.

Because microorganisms are difficult to identify, antibiotics are selected based on the likely pathogen and the severity of the disease. Consensus guidelines have been developed by many professional organizations. Recommendations should be adapted to local susceptibility patterns, available medications, and individual patient characteristics. It is important that none of the guidelines make recommendations for the treatment of viral pneumonia.

For bronchiolitis in children caused by RSV, ribavirin and specific immunoglobulin are used in monotherapy and in combination, but data on their effectiveness are contradictory. Ribavirin is not used in adults with RSV infection. Amantadine or rimantadine 200 mg orally once daily taken within 48 hours of illness onset reduces the duration and severity of symptoms in patients with suspected influenza during an epidemic, but the effectiveness in preventing adverse outcomes of influenza pneumonia is unknown. Zanamivir (10 mg inhaled twice daily) and oseltamivir (75 mg orally twice daily, or 150 mg twice daily for extremely severe cases) are equally effective in reducing the duration of symptoms caused by influenza A or B if treatment is started. within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, although zanamivir may be contraindicated in patients with asthma. Acyclovir 5-10 mg/kg IV every 8 hours for adults or 250-500 mg/m2 body surface area IV every 8 hours for children protects against lung infection caused by varicella virus. If the patient does not start treatment with antiviral drugs in the first 48 hours from the onset of the disease, then they should also be used in patients with influenza 48 hours after the onset of the disease. Some patients with viral inflammation of the lung tissue, especially with influenza, develop additional bacterial infections and require antibiotics directed against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus. With empirical therapy, the condition of 90% of patients with bacterial pneumonia improves, which is manifested by a decrease in cough and shortness of breath, normalization of temperature, decrease in chest pain and a decrease in the number of white blood cells. Lack of improvement should raise suspicion of an atypical organism, resistance to an antibiotic with an inadequate spectrum of action, co-infection or superinfection with a second pathogen, obstructive endobronchial disease, immunosuppression, distant foci of infection with re-infection (in the case of pneumococcal infection) or poor adherence to treatment (in the case of outpatients). If none of these reasons is confirmed, treatment failure is likely due to inadequate immune defenses.],[

Pneumococcal disease still accounts for approximately 66% of all fatal cases of community-acquired pneumonia with a known pathogen. The overall mortality rate in hospitalized patients is approximately 12%. Poor prognostic factors include age less than 1 year or greater than 60 years; involvement of more than one lobe; the content of leukocytes in peripheral blood is less than 5000/μl; comorbidities (heart failure, chronic alcoholism, liver and kidney failure), immunosuppression (agammaglobulinemia, anatomical or functional asplenism), infection with serotypes 3 and 8 and hematogenous spread with positive blood cultures or with extrapulmonary complications (arthritis, meningitis or endocarditis). Infants and children are at particular risk for pneumococcal otitis media, bacteremia, and meningitis.

Mortality from Legionella infection is 10-20% among patients with community-acquired pneumonia and is higher among immunosuppressed or hospitalized patients. Patients who respond to treatment recover very slowly, and radiographic changes usually persist for more than 1 month. Most patients require hospitalization, many require ventilatory support, and 10–20% die despite adequate antibiotic therapy.

Mycoplasma pneumonia has a favorable prognosis; almost all patients recover. Chlamydia pneumoniae responds more slowly to treatment than mycoplasma and has a tendency to recur after treatment is stopped prematurely. Young people usually recover, but the mortality rate among older people reaches 5-10%.

The first signs of pneumonia, symptoms in adults and treatment

There are many types of pneumonia, varying in severity from mild to severe, or even those that can be fatal.

What it is?

Pneumonia, pneumonia - inflammation of the lung tissue, usually of infectious origin with predominant damage to the alveoli (the development of inflammatory exudation in them) and interstitial tissue of the lung.

The term “pneumonia” unites a large group of diseases, each of which has its own etiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture, radiological signs, characteristic laboratory findings and treatment features.

Causes

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:

• Radioactive radiation, which is accompanied by infection.
• Thermal factors - hypothermia or burns of the respiratory tract.
• Exposure to the respiratory system of various chemical agents - toxic vapors and gases.
• Complications after viral diseases (influenza,), atypical bacteria (chlamydia, mycoplasma, legionella).
• Allergic processes in the lungs - allergic cough,.
• 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.

Classification

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

Hospital-acquired (nosocomial) pneumonia:

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

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);
• caused by mycoplasmas, chlamydia and legionella - characterized by the addition of atypical symptoms: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and other signs of digestive upset;
• aspiration pneumonia – occurs when foreign objects or substances enter the lungs. It often develops in people who are heavily intoxicated, in a coma, or under the influence of drugs.

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.

First signs

The initial signs of the disease are not easy to recognize. They may not exist at all, appear rarely or be mild. It all depends on the type of pathogen. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the changes occurring in the body.

The first signs in adults may appear:

• weakness and fatigue;
• slight increase in temperature;
• manifestation of dyspnea (lack of air);
• prolonged cough (for several days).

If the disease is not noticed in time, it threatens to develop into a severe form with extensive symptoms.

Symptoms of pneumonia

Almost every type of pneumonia has characteristic symptoms due to the properties of the microbial agent, the severity of the disease and the presence of complications.

• “Typical” pneumonia is characterized by a sharp rise in temperature, cough with copious discharge of purulent sputum and, in some cases, pleural pain. On examination: shortening of the percussion sound, harsh breathing, increased bronchophony, increased vocal tremors, first dry and then wet, crepitating wheezing, darkening on the radiograph. This type of pneumonia is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae.
• “Atypical” pneumonia is characterized by a gradual onset, a dry, non-productive cough, a predominance in the clinical picture of secondary symptoms - headache, myalgia, pain and sore throat, weakness and malaise with minimal changes on the radiograph. This type of pneumonia is usually caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (mycoplasma pneumonia), Legionella pneumophila (legionella pneumonia), Chlamydia pneumoniae (chlamydial pneumonia), Pneumocystis jirovecii (pneumocystis pneumonia).
• Aspiration pneumonia - develops after inhalation of a foreign mass into the lungs (vomit during surgery, loss of consciousness, trauma, in newborns aspiration of amniotic fluid during childbirth), while microbes - the causative agents of pneumonia - enter the lungs as part of this foreign mass. Aspiration pneumonia develops as a focal pneumonia.
• “Secondary”: aspiration, septic, against the background of immunodeficiency, hypostatic, post-traumatic, etc.

Stages

There are three stages of pneumonia that all patients go through. Each stage has its own characteristic symptoms and clinical manifestations.

The stages of development of pneumonia are:

• Stage of onset of pneumonia. The onset of the inflammatory process in the lungs is characterized by a sharp, sudden deterioration in the general condition of the patient against the background of complete health. Sudden changes in the body are explained by its hyperergic (excessive) reaction to the causative agent of pneumonia and its toxins. The first symptom of the disease is low-grade body temperature (37 – 37.5 degrees). In the first 24 hours it quickly increases to levels of 38 - 39 degrees and more. High body temperature is accompanied by a number of symptoms caused by general intoxication of the body with pathogen toxins. In some cases, the disease begins with signs of digestive upset - nausea, vomiting, and rarely diarrhea. Also important symptoms of the onset of the disease are cough and chest pain. Cough appears from the first days of the disease. Initially it is dry, but constant. Due to constant irritation and tension of the chest, characteristic pain appears in the chest area.
• The stage of the height of pneumonia. During the peak stage, symptoms of general intoxication of the body increase, and signs of inflammation of the lung tissue also appear. Body temperature remains high and is difficult to treat with antipyretic drugs. Severe chest pain is caused by inflammation of the pleural layers (the membranes of the lungs), which contain a large number of nerve receptors. Painful sensations have precise localization. The greatest intensity of pain is observed with deep sighs, coughing and when bending the body to the painful side. During the peak phase, a persistent cough persists. Due to constant irritation of the pleural layers, the cough intensifies and becomes painful. At the height of the disease, thick mucopurulent sputum begins to be released with a cough.
• Stage of disease resolution. At the stage of resolution of the disease, all symptoms of pneumonia subside. Signs of general intoxication of the body disappear, and body temperature normalizes. The cough gradually subsides, and the sputum becomes less viscous, as a result of which it is easily separated. Its volumes are decreasing. Chest pain appears only with sudden movements or severe coughing. Breathing gradually normalizes, but shortness of breath persists during normal physical activity. Visually there is a slight lag of half of the chest.

These stages correspond to pathological changes in the lungs caused by the inflammatory process at the tissue and cellular level.

Complications

The course of the disease and its outcome largely depend on the complications that develop, which are divided into extrapulmonary and pulmonary.

Pulmonary complications:

• abscess or gangrene of the lung;
• obstruction;
• pneumosclerosis;
• parapneumonic exudative pleurisy;

Extrapulmonary complications of pneumonia:

• hepatitis;
• endocarditis;
• mastoiditis;
• meningoencephalitis;
• encephalitis;
• meningitis;
• psychoses;
• sepsis.

In severe forms of acute pneumonia with extensive damage and destruction of lung tissue, the consequences of exposure to toxins develop:

• thrombohemorrhagic syndrome;
• acute cardiac, respiratory and/or liver failure;
• pronounced shift in acid-base balance;
• infectious-toxic shock;
• kidney failure.

If treatment is not timely and adequate, such complications can be fatal.

Treatment of pneumonia

A specialist must prescribe treatment for pneumonia. If the patient consults a doctor in a timely manner, treatment of pneumonia in adults and children is successful. How to treat and how to treat this disease depends on the pathogen that provoked the disease. It is for successful treatment that you need to clearly know how pneumonia begins and how to recognize it.

The treatment regimen, duration of treatment, and the need to place the patient in a hospital are determined exclusively after diagnosis by a specialist. As a rule, treatment of the disease lasts 7-10 days. The duration of treatment for double lung pneumonia in an adult is determined only by a doctor.

Those who are interested in whether people die from pneumonia should know that the greatest number of deaths occur when treating this type of disease at home, without consulting a doctor. Children under 1 year of age and elderly patients must be hospitalized, since what to do for pneumonia in such cases can only be determined by a specialist. In such cases, intensive care and artificial ventilation may sometimes be necessary.

Pneumonia, contagious or not?

To the question “Is pneumonia contagious or not?” in most cases the answer is yes. Only strong immune forces can prevent inflammation, destroying the infection when it enters the body, or stop the development of pneumonia, limiting it to the flu or the common cold.

When in contact with a sick person, you should not test your immunity to the limit, however, serious fear about your own health is not justified. To minimize the risk of infection (your own and those around you), you should follow some rules:

• Hygiene: hand washing, individual handkerchiefs and towels.
• Avoid contact between children, people with low immune defenses and the elderly with the sick person.
• Increase immunity: balanced nutrition, emotional stability, elimination of chronic infection, etc.
• Timely treatment of influenza, sore throat and other respiratory tract infections.

Following simple rules will maximally protect you from infection and the development of pneumonia. It should be remembered that a strong immune system is protection against many diseases.

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 ensuring respiratory function and carry out gas exchange in the capillaries of the lung tissue, so their inflammation leads to breathing problems 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 incorrectly selected, there is a risk of developing severe complications, for example, lung abscess, meningitis or pleural damage, 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 only a doctor can make the correct diagnosis. To diagnose an inflammatory process in the lungs, differential diagnosis may be required - 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 of the skin and mucous membranes of the lips);
• nasal congestion;
• rhinitis.

In some cases, pneumonia is accompanied by a drop in 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 the clinical picture characteristic 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 and have small specks. This picture is typical for candidiasis of the lungs. Hemoptysis with pneumonia can occur due to rupture of small vessels or be a sign of tuberculosis. To correctly determine the cause of the pathological condition, you will need to undergo a diagnostic examination, which includes laboratory diagnostics (urine and blood tests, sputum collection or throat discharge), and chest x-ray.

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 of bacterial origin is the use of 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 stronger new generation antibiotics: cephalosporins or macrolides.

Antibiotics used to treat pneumonia

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

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. Among local remedies, 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, the entry of harmful substances or liquids into the respiratory tract. In other situations, alternative medicine can be a good addition to drug treatment, but in no case should you replace medications prescribed by a doctor with traditional recipes. Below are the most effective and safe recipes for the treatment of inflammation 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 of 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 carried out 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 a warm shower (not hot!).

Video - How to treat pneumonia

Essential oils

Essential oils have a huge number of beneficial properties and can be used as part of a complex treatment of inflammation of bronchopulmonary tissue. Eucalyptus, fir, and juniper oils have a pronounced antibacterial effect and help increase the effectiveness of the treatment. The tannins and phytoncides they contain destroy 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 a pillow or blanket, but this method is 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 pathogens). 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 remain in bed. 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. The 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 of multivitamins or combined 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, it is necessary to comply with all doctor’s prescriptions and follow dietary 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. read on our website.

The lungs and, in general, the entire respiratory system catch infections quite easily. The upper respiratory organs have the function of protecting against viruses, therefore, when the immune system is weakened and the activity of microbes increases, the infectious process spreads downwards. Often it stops at the bronchial mucosa and causes bronchitis, and sometimes it goes further, inflaming the lung tissue and causing pneumonia. This diagnosis covers many ailments. Each of them has its own pathogenesis, etiology, X-ray indicators, test results unique to this disease, its own symptoms and treatment of pneumonia.

Infectious diseases that occur in the lungs are usually referred to as pneumonitis. If the respiratory parts of the lungs were affected to a greater extent, this disease is referred to as “alveolitis.”

In parallel with aseptic inflammation, one can often observe the development of pneumonia caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi.

Having noticed the first signs of pneumonia, it is necessary to take an x-ray of the lungs and sputum analysis as quickly as possible, but the main method of treatment is to prescribe antibacterial procedures. If you do not pay attention to the symptoms of pneumonia and start therapy too late, this can lead to an extremely dangerous development of the disease. There are also cases of death.

Causes of the disease

There are many reasons for the development of pneumonia:

• low standard of living;
• difficult working conditions (high dust content in the air, working with toxic substances);
• possible contacts with animals carrying pathogens;
• trips;
• smoking and other bad habits (especially for those who smoke regularly);
• individual characteristics of individual people, predisposition to various kinds of diseases, transmitted at the genetic level;
• pneumonia due to pneumonia can cause direct communication and other forms of contact with sick (infected with infectious diseases) people;
• geography of the spread of the disease in a given period.

Classification

• focal (bronchopneumonia) – damage is observed only in certain areas of the lung tissue (the bronchi and tissues of the human respiratory system become inflamed);
• segmental - the pathogen affects one or more parts of the lung tissue;
• lobar - the pulmonary lobe is affected (a striking example is lobar pneumonia, in which there is predominantly damage to the alveoli and parts of the pleura located next to it);
• drain - a combination of several small centers of influence of the pathogen;
• total - affects the entire lungs, is the most severe form of the disease.

In addition, the disease is also divided into types depending on the place of acquisition:

• community-acquired;
• in-hospital;
• treatment-related (hemodialysis, medications, regular hospitalizations, residents of nursing homes).

Symptoms

The first symptoms of pneumonia are similar to a cold. Based on the etiology of the disease, they may differ from each other. For example, a bacterial species can manifest either abruptly or gradually. Pneumonia has the property of both gradual and sudden manifestations.

What symptoms of pneumonia are typical for each patient? A constant symptom is shortness of breath, the severity of which depends on the severity and stage of inflammation. With concomitant pathologies of the bronchopulmonary and cardiovascular systems, an even greater complication of respiratory failure is observed, which is especially common in the elderly. The first symptoms of pulmonary pneumonia in this case are bluishness of the skin on the abdomen, in the area of ​​the nasolabial triangle, and on the upper extremities.

The main symptoms of pneumonia also include cough. As a rule, at first it is constant dry, and after some time it is wet, accompanied by the release of yellow-green mucopurulent sputum.

Other characteristic signs of pneumonia:

• trembling of limbs;
• fever;
• severe and acute pain in the chest;
• increased discharge from the sweat glands;
• cough with sputum of a special color (red, greenish) of a thick consistency;
• accelerated heart rate and breathing.

Viral pneumonia is manifested by the following symptoms:

• increased body temperature;
• dry cough;
• excessive fatigue;
• muscle pain;
• headache;
• general weakness and drowsiness;
• shortness of breath even from minor and short-term physical activity of low intensity.

The onset of inflammation in the lower respiratory tract during a cold is indicated by a sharp deterioration of the condition 4-7 days after the onset of acute respiratory viral infection (). Body temperature can rise to 39-40 degrees Celsius or remain at 37.1-37.5C. Knowing what symptoms are characteristic of the disease and having identified them in oneself, a person should immediately consult a doctor. Signs of existing inflammation are also the ineffectiveness of antipyretic drugs and a repeated jump in temperature during the treatment of the infection.

The first symptoms of pulmonary pneumonia caused by mycoplasma repeat the symptoms of bacterial and viral forms, but in a weaker manifestation.

Diagnostics

In order to confirm the presence of the disease, the patient is sent for an X-ray of the lungs. The pathogen itself (the source of the disease) is found by examining sputum from the respiratory tract and blood.

Diagnostic methods are divided into primary and secondary:

• X-rays of light;
• microscopic analysis of discharge with Gram stain;
• sowing respiratory secretions (sputum) into a nutrient medium and analyzing their subsequent development in it;
• biochemical and general examination of blood samples;
• blood gas analysis;
• CT scan of the chest;
• analysis of a piece of pleura;
• bronchoscopy;
• finding characteristic antibodies;
• lung tissue biopsy;
• urine test and others.

Treatment

Antibiotics are widely used in the treatment of pneumonia. Their choice depends on the causative agent of the infection. Medicines that dilate the bronchi and make sputum less thick (inhalations or tablets) are also used. In addition, treatment of pneumonia is carried out by administering corticosteroids and saline solutions through a vein. From time to time, pleural puncture and bronchoscopy are performed.

In particularly advanced cases, pneumonia is treated in a hospital. In the presence of severe respiratory failure, the patient is prescribed oxygen treatments.

There are also frequent cases of using physiotherapy, which includes:

• irradiation with ultraviolet rays;
• massages using vibration;
• therapeutic physical exercises and so on.

If it is not possible to determine the type of pathogen, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used. During the normal course of treatment, on the third day from its start, the temperature stabilizes to a physiological level. An x-ray is taken and an objective analysis of the patient’s condition is carried out.

Prevention

Based on data from the RRO (Russian Respiratory Society), vaccination of the population is the only and most effective method of preventing the development of the disease. At the moment, the Russian Federation uses a tested and proven pneumococcal vaccine produced in the United States.

Prevention of pneumonia also consists of creating normal working conditions at work, the absence of bad habits (especially smoking), proper nutrition, and the absence of stress. It is necessary to limit contact with sick patients and avoid visiting places where there are large crowds of people (during epidemic periods). People caring for patients must carefully follow all recommended precautions - wash their hands immediately after contact, work exclusively with gloves, wear gauze masks. Prevention of pneumonia also requires isolating infectious patients in separate rooms.

Content

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

What is pneumonia and why is it dangerous?

Acute inflammation of the lungs is called pneumonia. It is caused by infections that can be transmitted in different ways and affects the lung tissue. It is in fifth place on the list of diseases that cause death, and medicine does not always help. The lethal outcome among adults from pneumonia is 10-33%. Nosocomial and atypical forms of the disease claim even more lives - the risk of dying increases to 50%. In older people and people with weakened immune systems, the prognosis for pneumonia is often disappointing.

Common pneumonia kills 1-3% of young patients who do not have diseases that could impair treatment. Among elderly patients, mortality is up to 40-50%. Causes of death from pneumonia:

• concomitant diseases, such as heart pathologies, existing respiratory tract diseases (such as bronchitis), diabetes mellitus, problems in the genitourinary system;
• bad habits (smoking, especially for a long time, drug addiction, alcoholism);
• poor living conditions;
• weakened immunity.

Pulmonary disease poses a particular risk to pregnant women. It itself is difficult due to dangerous pathologies. For a woman carrying a child, it is doubly dangerous - for the expectant mother and the fetus. In the early stages, the disease threatens the embryo, whose tissues and organs are not yet formed. In the last trimester, pneumonia is less dangerous for the child than for the mother. Prevention is simple: strengthening the mother's immunity.

The first signs of pneumonia

Symptoms of pneumonia in adults depend on the type of infection that caused the disease. There are several types of pneumonia, and each has its own clinical picture. The provoking factor for the occurrence of pneumonia is hypothermia, affecting the upper respiratory tract. In older people, it often turns into a pathological form. There are several symptoms of pulmonary inflammation in adults: they are divided according to the types of insidious disease. The most common type is viral, occurring in half of the cases. Other reasons:

A disease that occurs without symptoms characteristic of pneumonia is called atypical. Latent inflammation is dangerous because its treatment is taken late, when many complications appear. Pulmonary manifestations fade into the background, the patient is more concerned about general intoxication. The x-ray shows no changes in the airways. Signs:

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

Asymptomatic atypical pneumonia is caused by legionella, viruses, chlamydia, and mycoplasma, so it is treated with antimicrobial drugs. After infection, signs of the disease appear within 2 to 10 days. Changes in the pulmonary system begin later than with typical pneumonia. The temperature rises, the patient begins to choke, he lacks air. A large percentage of those sick can be cured at home, but sometimes the illness is severe. The mortality rate from this type of disease is 3-5%, the cause is cardiopulmonary failure.

Viral

This type of disease is caused by several viruses. In first place is the flu. At the beginning of the inflammatory process of the respiratory tract, provoked by the influenza virus, malaise is noticeable for a period of 3-5 days. Then the condition worsens, shortness of breath begins, and chest pain appears. Treat with rimantadine, zanamivir, oseltamivir. The viral type is also caused by cytomegalovirus.

A serious complication of a viral lung disease – SARS, respiratory syndrome. It is caused by Paramyxoviridae viruses (they are also the cause of measles and mumps). The syndrome is very dangerous. Symptoms in adults are:

• very high fever accompanied by chills;
• dry cough (non-productive);
• headache and muscle pain;
• tiredness for no reason.

Bacterial

The cause of pneumonia in this case is bacteria: pneumococcus, staphylococcus, streptococcus. Bacterial pulmonary inflammation begins with a sharp jump in temperature to 41 degrees. It lasts up to 3 days, and this symptom is considered a clear sign of a bacterial infection. If the temperature drops and rises, this is a viral pattern. Pneumococcal pneumonia is accompanied by the discharge of “rusty” sputum, heart contractions become more frequent (tachycardia), and breathing becomes difficult. The disease is treated with antibiotics.

Gribkova

The most dangerous variant of pulmonary inflammation is fungal. This is due to the fact that it does not manifest itself at first, and people do not know that they are sick. Diagnosed late. The onset of inflammation of the lung tissue is similar to atypical pneumonia, but as symptoms worsen, the nature of the lung damage changes and cavities form. A common causative agent of fungal pneumonia is Candida albicans, a fungus. At first, the patient experiences cold symptoms: fever, cough, fatigue and shortness of breath. Then, when coughing, pus is released, and then the correct diagnosis is made.

The main symptoms of pneumonia in an adult

Colds and flu should not last more than 7 days, but if 4-7 days after the onset of ARVI the patient’s condition worsens, this is a signal of the onset of dangerous inflammation in the lower respiratory tract. Symptoms of pulmonary inflammation in adults include pallor and shortness of breath. If a person has a cold, they are accompanied by weakness, sweating, and loss of appetite - this is typical for intoxication at the onset of pneumonia.

Temperature

With atypical pneumonia, the body temperature is not always above 37.5. In ordinary cases, a sharp increase to 40 degrees is typical. In case of inflammation of the respiratory tract, antipyretic drugs do not work. If you cannot bring down the temperature, this is a sign of pneumonia. The temperature begins to drop as the antibiotics take effect. It is dangerous if the disease occurs without fever: patients sometimes do not take action until the condition worsens. How long the temperature lasts depends on the pathogen: fungus, bacteria or virus.

Cough

At the beginning of the disease, the cough is dry, which is called unproductive. It becomes intrusive, constant, debilitating. As inflammation develops, this symptom also changes. Sputum comes out, the color of which depends on the nature of the infection: yellow-green, purulent, “rusty”. A persistent cough that does not go away within 7-10 days is a clear sign of an inflammatory process in the lungs.

Voice tremors

The doctor can recognize the symptoms of the disease by assessing the patient's vocal tremors. The patient says words that contain several “r” sounds, and the doctor places his palms on his chest and determines the vocal tremor. When the disease occurs, part of the lung, or the entire lung, becomes denser. This will be noticed by the physician conducting the diagnosis by the fact that the vocal tremors intensify.

Diagnosis of the disease

If an inflammatory process in the respiratory system is suspected, a comprehensive diagnosis is carried out. Sometimes, already at the initial appointment, the doctor can determine the disease by performing auscultation, that is, listening to the chest with a phonendoscope. But the main method of diagnosing an adult is an x-ray. The patient’s blood will be taken for general and biochemical analysis. If the patient is in a hospital, sputum culture and urine are examined, and the blood is checked for antibodies to viruses.

Types of pneumonia

Mild forms of pneumonia, detected in the initial stage, are treated at home. Remember that even this form will cause complications if not properly cared for. You must follow your doctor's recommendations:

• antipyretic and anti-inflammatory medications are used;
• drinking plenty of fluids is prescribed;
• An important component of treatment is diet: the body is poisoned with toxins, a lighter diet and more fluids are required.

How to treat inflammation of the respiratory tract, how long the process will last, depends on the severity and type of the disease. The infection sometimes remains in the organ tissue for years, leading to chronic disease. Fibers and connective tissues are affected, they put pressure on the pulmonary vesicles, which leads to hardening of the lungs and pneumosclerosis. The patient feels discomfort and coughs constantly. This is a sluggish, protracted disease that gradually leads to complications.

Ordinary pneumonia is divided into mild, moderate, severe and extremely severe according to the degree of severity, which determines how the disease progresses. Severe acute forms include pleuropneumonia, when one or more lobes of the lung are inflamed. Pneumonia occurs by location:

• focal(concentrated at the site of inflammation);
• segmental or polysegmental, depending on whether it is located in one or several segments;
• shared– does not go beyond one share;
• total– covers the entire lung.

One-sided and two-sided

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

1. Right-handed– occurs more often, the right bronchus is wider than the left and shorter, the infection penetrates there more freely.
2. Left-handed– develops less frequently, with stagnant processes in the lung observed.

Bilateral covers both lungs: the entire lung tissue becomes inflamed, and the disease is provoked by bacteria (pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae). Against the background of one infection, other harmful microorganisms additionally multiply, and a mixed infection develops. Several pathogens enter the fight against humans; it is difficult to select antibacterial drugs for treatment.

Basal

The focus of inflammation located along the root of the lung is difficult to diagnose. Such cases are called hilar pneumonia. Computed tomography is used for diagnosis. The doctor must rule out tuberculosis and lung cancer; the focus of inflammation looks like a tumor in the picture. Tuberculin tests are performed. If medications against tuberculosis are mistakenly prescribed, but they do not have an effect, this is considered a diagnostic sign.

Bronchopneumonia

Bronchial pneumonia is characterized by damage to small branches of the patient’s bronchial tree. Bronchopneumonia is classified as focal. The healing process will take a lot of time. Sometimes the disease is secondary, developing against the background of bronchitis. A person tries to cure bronchitis, but it drags on, the condition worsens, weakness appears, and the temperature rises. The cough that accompanies bronchitis intensifies, unpleasant purulent sputum is released, sometimes streaked with blood.

Important symptoms: shortness of breath, increased heart rate up to 110 beats per minute,. Not only bronchitis, but also ARVI leads to the development of bronchopneumonia. Viruses and bacteria often cause this type of pulmonary inflammation; in order to treat the disease correctly, the causative agent is identified and antiviral or antibacterial drugs are prescribed. How long the disease is treated depends on the type of pathogen.

Hospital

In addition to community-acquired pneumonia, which develops under normal conditions, there is a severe form of the disease - hospital-acquired, or nosocomial. The diagnosis is made when inflammation appears two days or more after a person is admitted to a hospital hospital with a completely different diagnosis. This is the most merciless species, killing 50% of patients. Disease is caused by microorganisms. Types of nosocomial pulmonary inflammation:

• associated with artificial ventilation;
• postoperative;
• intrahospital - in hospitalized patients in serious condition.

The patients’ immunity was weakened, the body was fighting another disease, and was not ready for the invasion of new microbes. To save the situation, patients are given IVs, intravenous nutrition is used to maintain the vital forces of the body, and new generation drugs and potent drugs are used. It is not always possible to cure hospital-acquired pneumonia. Treatment of the disease at home in this case is excluded.

Share

Lobar pneumonia affects the lobes of the lung and pleura. With this type of disease, it is important to prescribe antibiotic injections in a timely manner, the duration of which is determined by the doctor. Physiotherapy and detoxification are used. The disease begins suddenly and acutely. There are three forms:

• upper lobe– has a severe course, with neurological disorders;
• lower lobe– gives a pseudo-picture of an “acute abdomen”, which is confusing during diagnosis; chills and “rusty” sputum are characteristic;
• central– inflammation develops deep in the lung, the symptoms are mild and difficult to determine.

Krupoznaya

It is acute. The nature of the lung damage is bilateral. If the pathology is not recognized and treatment is not started quickly, the patient will die from brain hypoxia and cardiovascular failure. The first day the patient has a dry cough. The next day, rust-colored sputum comes out and vomiting occurs. On the third day it gets worse, shortness of breath appears, and tachycardia develops. The patient is unable to climb one floor. Lobar pneumonia is treated in pulmonology, in hospital or intensive care. The patient's pulmonary lobes are completely affected on both sides.

Video

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