Polysegmental pneumonia - what is it? Treatment and other features will be described in this article. First of all, we can say that this is a very serious pathology, which poses a threat to human life. You need to treat the disease immediately after the first symptoms have appeared. In no case should you self-medicate. A visit to a specialist and the use of medications is a prerequisite for therapy.
Features of the disease
Polysegmental pneumonia - what is it? This development of the inflammatory process is not just in the lungs of a person, but simultaneously in several of its segments.
Pathology affects the areas of the lungs that have the greatest number of alveoli. In most cases, polysegmental pneumonia causes very serious complications.
Because of this, treatment must necessarily be comprehensive, all measures should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of a specialist. In this case, respiratory failure is considered to be the main complication of the disease.
Reasons for the development of pathology
It is important to know not only what it is - polysegmental pneumonia, but also its causes, which can provoke the development of such a disease. Specialists identify several of the most common.
- The lungs are destroyed by ailments from the category of fungal and parasitic.
- Viruses enter the lungs.
- A person becomes infected with a bacterial infection.
Children are considered especially sensitive to the disease. This feature even got a special name - immediate-type hypersensitivity - GNT. A similar reaction occurs only in those parts of the respiratory tract that have been affected by the disease. The main manifestations are severe lack of air and suffocation.
For a long time, a variety of viruses, fungi, bacteria, parasites can dwell in the human body and at the same time not manifest themselves. In order for them to be activated, immunity must be significantly weakened.
This means that at a time when a person is sick with colds, SARS, or the flu, his immune system becomes weak and vulnerable. That is why the main reason for the development of polysegmental pneumonia is considered to be weak immunity.
How does immunity and age affect the development of pathology
It is important not only to possess information about what it is - polysegmental pneumonia, but also to have an idea about the influence of other factors on the development of this disease. The accelerated progression of this type of pneumonia can be affected by factors such as:
- The immune system. Immunity plays a very important role, which is difficult to overestimate. When the immune system is weakened, then you should think about it and take something to restore it, otherwise you can get sick with a variety of diseases. It is worth noting that the simplest cold has an extremely negative effect on the state of the immune system. Therefore, you need to be careful and as careful as possible. The disease, even in mild form, requires immediate treatment in order to avoid further serious complications.
- Small age. This pathology more often than usual affects newborn babies. This can be explained by the fact that they have an insufficiently strengthened respiratory system. In addition, their immune system is only at the formation stage. An ordinary cold can develop into a serious lung disease in just a few hours. Therefore, newborns should be treated immediately and always under the supervision of a doctor.
- Elderly age. In the same way as in children, polysegmental pneumonia in adults develops most often in old age. The older a person, the weaker his immunity, so colds are a common occurrence. In the case of older people, polysegmental pneumonia manifests itself in the form of respiratory failure. If the condition is too neglected (bilateral polysegmental pneumonia), then this can even result in death.
Types of disease
Pneumonia of this type is divided into several different types, namely:
- Community-acquired polysegmental pneumonia. This means that the pathology began to develop at home or in the first few days after the person was hospitalized.
- Nosocomial. It occurs three days after the patient is placed in a hospital.
- Aspiration. Most often found in people who are often worried about vomiting. These may be patients suffering from lesions of the central nervous system, alcohol-dependent people, or those who have serious mental health problems.
- Immunodeficiency pneumonia. It occurs in people with AIDS or in drug addicts and cancer patients.
Classification of the disease with the flow
- Sharp. The development of the disease begins suddenly, which leads to a very rapid spread of infection.
- Lingering. Pathology develops for a very long time, while there are no improvements in health status. In this case, the disease can progress to bilateral polysegmental pneumonia.
Also, the acute form can become lingering. This means that the development of polysegmental pneumonia begins very sharply, but develops for a long time and without improvement.
Signs of an inflammatory process in the lungs
Due to the development of inflammation, intoxication of the body occurs, which is manifested by the following symptoms of pneumonia in adults:
- Body temperature is high, which can be unchanged for several days.
- Chills. It develops due to the fever of the patient.
- Muscle weakness.
- Joint pain.
A bronchopulmonary symptom leads to the appearance of the following symptoms:
- Wheezing is clearly audible during conversation and breathing. They arise due to severe swelling of the bronchial walls.
- Wet cough is gradually increasing.
- There is severe pain in the chest.
When a person is ill with polysegmental pneumonia, a huge amount of fluid accumulates in his body. She leaves the body only during a cough. It is worth noting that even if a person is completely cured, then the cough will disturb for some more time. So all unnecessary liquid that remains is removed from the body.
Intoxication syndrome
Often polysegmental pneumonia becomes the cause of the development of intoxication syndrome. It has the following symptoms:
- Very high body temperature.
- Chills and headaches.
- Lethargy, weakness.
- A strong pulling pain is felt in the joints and muscles.
- There are problems with sleep and appetite.
A similar symptom occurs with the development of a variety of pathologies, and many people can confuse it with a banal ARVI. Therefore, it is worthwhile after the first signs to consult a doctor who, after examination, will make the correct diagnosis.
Bilateral community-acquired polysegmental pneumonia
This type of pathology affects both lungs at once, while the therapy does not need to be carried out exclusively in a hospital, sometimes it can be treated at home. As a rule, adult patients can be treated independently, but take only those drugs that have been prescribed by a specialist.
If a child is ill up to a year, then therapy in a hospital is a prerequisite. If you self-medicate in this situation, it can even lead to death.
If a person suffers from a community-acquired form of polysegmental pneumonia, then the following symptoms are clearly manifested:
- The duration of coughing exceeds 14 days.
- After a flu or a cold, a very sharp deterioration in health and well-being occurred.
- The skin has become too pale.
- Body temperature reaches record levels over several days.
- Blueing or cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle is observed.
- In the muscles and joints, severe pains are felt.
- There is no appetite.
- The patient constantly lacks air and is very difficult to breathe.
- During cough, sputum is released along with pus.
- Chills and sweating.
Features of pneumonia depending on localization
Polysegmental pneumonia can affect any of the lungs.
- Defeat of the right lung. In the case of right-sided polysegmental pneumonia, the inflammatory process develops in the right side of the lung, and all microbes begin to accumulate in the lower region. In a short period of time, their number can become incredibly large, which leads to numerous difficulties in therapy.
- Damage to the left lung. Left-sided polysegmental pneumonia has exactly the same principle of defeat as in the case of the right lung, but on the other side. The development of the disease occurs in a mirror.
- Bilateral pneumonia. If the development of the disease provoked pneumococcus or streptococcus, then the risk of death is incredibly high. This form of pneumonia is especially dangerous for the elderly and children under one year of age. When both lungs are affected, the body experiences a very strong load and becomes too weak, and eventually ceases to fight the inflammatory process altogether. If the body was affected by bilateral polysegmental pneumonia, the prognosis is, unfortunately, disappointing.
Complications of the disease. Extrapulmonary type
In this case, there can be only two types of complications. To avoid them, you need to contact a specialist in time. These complications will be discussed in more detail below.
Such complications arise not in the lungs, but in completely different organs that affect the inflammatory process. These include:
- Endocarditis.
- Meningitis.
- Blood clotting problems.
- Anemia
- Hepatitis.
Pulmonary Complications
Occur directly in the affected lungs. These include the following:
- Respiratory failure.
- Severe form of bronchitis.
- Pleurisy.
- Abscess of the affected lung.
Together with all the complications, some new symptoms appear:
- Coughing becomes stronger.
- Several times more sputum is released.
- Wheezing is getting stronger.
- Shortness of breath occurs, breathing is even more difficult.
- There is severe pain in the chest.
Diagnosis of the disease
To correctly diagnose the patient, it is recommended to use the following diagnostic measures.
First of all, an x-ray is taken. Thanks to this, it is possible to accurately determine all affected areas, as well as their volume. In addition, some laboratory tests are needed. Only after the patient undergoes a full diagnosis will it be possible to make a final diagnosis. It is also important to know that ultrasound of the lungs and bronchi shows various disorders in the functioning of these organs.
Treatment
There are two treatment options for polysegmental pneumonia: drug and folk. After the diagnosis is completed, you can proceed directly to the treatment of such a serious disease. The doctor prescribes the following drugs:
- An antibiotic, depending on the microbe that triggered the development of the disease.
- Preparations for expectoration and removal of sputum from the lungs.
- You need to drink a lot of warm liquid, preferably herbal decoctions.
- Nutrition should be healthy and contain the maximum amount of vitamins, trace elements.
- Regular breathing exercises are done.
In order to quickly cure polysegmental pneumonia, you need to follow all the recommendations of your doctor. After the treatment is over, it is worth taking an X-ray again to make sure that you are completely cured. It is also worth noting that an ultrasound of the lungs and bronchi shows the course of this disease.
Alternative methods of treatment
- Oats Take a glass of thoroughly washed oats and fill it with a liter of milk. Cook over low heat for an hour. Then strain and take only hot. For taste, you can add a little honey, oil. It is best to take the medicine immediately before bedtime.
- Vodka. It can be used even at high temperatures. Mix in a small container a tablespoon of vodka, a teaspoon of honey, 250 ml of boiling water, two tablespoons of green tea. You need to insist 20 minutes. Then drink in one gulp and wrap yourself well to sweat.
Conclusion
If you notice even the slightest signs of a cold or flu, then you should immediately begin treatment, because the disease can very quickly develop into polysegmental pneumonia, which is incredibly difficult to cope with. In addition, this pathology can cause many unpleasant, painful, life-threatening complications.