Pneumonia is the presence of an inflammatory process in the lungs. And the name of the disease "community-acquired pneumonia" suggests that it occurs as a result of exposure to an etiological factor outside the hospital. The pulmonary parenchyma is inflamed, while one lung, its share or a small area can be affected. If both lungs are involved in the process, then the diagnosis will sound - bilateral community-acquired pneumonia.
Causes of the disease
The cause of inflammation can be a wide variety of microorganisms, fungi, viruses. Among them, the most common are: strepto-, staphilo- and pneumococci, Klebsiella, influenza and parainfluenza viruses, mycoplasmas and other pathogens. Weakness of the immune system, severe hypothermia, prolonged and constant exposure to harmful chemicals in the workplace can lead to the disease. Community-acquired pneumonia can develop as a complication of inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract (tracheitis, bronchitis , etc.), as well as in the presence of an allergic predisposition of the body.
The pathogenesis of the disease is as follows: the pathogen, having penetrated by air or hematogenously into the lung tissue, begins to multiply intensively. This is facilitated by bronchial secretions and fluid resulting from pulmonary edema. An important role is played by the immunological reaction to the presence of tissue damage. With a viral etiology of the disease, pneumonia can be complicated by the attachment of a bacterial infection. She usually joins in seven to ten days from the onset of a viral disease, against the background of a sharply weakened immune system and reduced antibacterial activity of the macrophage lung system. Chronic community-acquired pneumonia in adults can result from an untreated acute form.
Clinical manifestations of the disease
Croupous pneumonia has an acute and rapid onset. Often the disease is provoked by hypothermia of the body, after which there is severe chills and high body temperature, reaching 41 ° C. A dry cough is noted, in which the patient complains of chest pain from the affected side. Then purulent, rusty sputum appears. The patient feels poorly, the skin is pale or sometimes cyanotic due to tissue hypoxia. Respiration is frequent and shallow; additional muscles may be involved. On the lips and other mucous membranes there may be herpetic eruptions. On examination, the chest from the affected side lags in the breath, auscultation of breathing is weakened. The pulse is frequent, pressure with a tendency to hypotension. In the blood, high leukocytosis and ESR. In the images from the affected area, total blackout is visible.
The combination of viral pneumonia with a bacterial infection greatly worsens the patient's condition. Shortness of breath with respiratory failure and toxic shock may occur.
With bronchitis, upper respiratory tract infections, a focal lung lesion often develops. Such community-acquired pneumonia also begins with a fever, but the general condition is not as severe as with croupous inflammation. A cough also appears, initially dry, then with sputum.
Viral pneumonia has a special clinic. With severe intoxication, temperature, poor health, the clinic of the defeat of the respiratory tract is objectively not so pronounced, and only with an additional examination, the correct diagnosis is possible.
Complications of the disease can be pleurisy, pneumothorax, the formation of abscesses, inflammatory diseases of the organs of other body systems.
How is community-acquired pneumonia diagnosed? Disease treatment
The diagnosis is established on the basis of characteristic complaints, examination data, using laboratory research methods (blood test, sputum analysis with culture and determination of sensitivity to antibacterial drugs), chest x-ray, spirography. In difficult cases, computed tomography may be required .
Mild forms of pneumonia can be treated at home, under the supervision of a physician. Other forms are treated in a hospital. A mandatory component of therapy is antibiotics. They are used taking into account the sensitivity of the pathogen. At the same time, with the aim of detoxification, infusion therapy is carried out , antihistamines and expectorant drugs, multivitamins are prescribed. Physiotherapeutic treatment, breathing exercises are effective .