The term "local pneumofibrosis" refers to a pathological process characterized by proliferation of connective tissue in a limited area of the lung. At the same time, the formation of small cavities that look like a honeycomb occurs in the organ. Local pneumofibrosis is not an independent disease, it is always a consequence of any pathology.
Development mechanism
The human lungs are represented by elastic tissue. The process of breathing directly depends on their indicator of ability to restore its original form. If the elasticity is high enough, the body needs to make great efforts to stretch the tissue as much as possible. This increases the level of intrapulmonary pressure. It, in turn, exerts an effect on the walls of the alveoli from the inside, due to which they straighten out on inspiration.
Under the influence of various adverse factors, proliferation of connective tissue of a focal nature occurs, that is, the process of formation of local pneumofibrosis sites starts. In this case, the alveoli are affected. These structures are represented by inelastic tissue, and therefore the body no longer needs to make significant efforts to straighten them. Against this background, the rate of intrapulmonary pressure decreases and the walls of the alveoli fall. The logical result is the exclusion of pathological sites from the respiratory process. This is the main mechanism for the development of pathology.
The disease can also occur against the background of impaired blood and lymph circulation. In this case, local pneumofibrosis is a consequence of stagnation of fluid connective tissue formed in the vessels surrounding the respiratory organ. Over time, a protein effusion begins to appear, which slowly grows with pathological tissue. Gradually, it affects some alveoli (usually those that are located as close to the stagnation zone as possible). In this case, the pathologically altered area also ceases to participate in the breathing process.
Causes
It is important to understand that local pneumofibrosis of the lungs is a disease that never occurs independently. It is always a consequence of the development of other (primary) pathologies.
The most common causes of pneumofibrosis:
- Bronchitis.
- Regular inhalation of gases, fumes of toxic compounds, dust.
- Pneumonia.
- Vasculitis.
- Tuberculosis.
- Fungal pathology.
- Syphilis.
- Injuries in which lung tissue is damaged.
- Hypoxia
- Acceptance of medications that have a toxic effect on the body.
- Smoking.
- Hereditary predisposition.
In some medical literature, the disease is divided into linear local pneumofibrosis and severe. In the first case, the cause of the ailment is an inflammatory pathology. In this case, the formation of rough scars occurs. Severe local pneumofibrosis is a consequence of chronic diseases.
The following categories of people are at risk:
- immunocompromised people;
- smokers
- workers who regularly come into contact with dust, wood shavings, flour, cement, asbestos, metal chips, coal, and fumes of toxic compounds in the course of their activities.
Many of them sooner or later start the process of developing chronic bronchitis. He, in turn, is the cause of pneumonia. Against this background, sputum stagnates, forming plugs, which contributes to the proliferation of connective tissue.
In a child, local pneumofibrosis occurs for the same reasons as in an adult. It is important to timely treat bronchitis, pneumonia and other diseases, as well as to prevent the baby from contacting with tobacco smoke.
Symptoms
You need to know that local pneumofibrosis of the lungs is such an ailment that can develop for years and does not manifest itself for a long time. The disease is considered complex, but it does not have specific symptoms.
The main signs of local pneumofibrosis both on the right and on the left:
- Dyspnea. It is pronounced. Appears after physical exertion.
- Cough. It arises constantly, gives the patient torment.
- Pallor of the skin. In most cases, the formation of local pneumofibrosis is accompanied by the development of anemia - a condition resulting from insufficient oxygen intake.
- A sharp decrease in body weight for no apparent reason.
- Constant feeling of weakness, general malaise.
- The rapid onset of fatigue, reduced performance.
- Mild pain in the chest. If local pneumofibrosis of the right lung develops, discomfort is noted on this side, left - on the other.
- Wheezing during the respiratory process.
These symptoms appear, as a rule, at the initial stage of the development of pathology. As the disease progresses, the clinical picture is supplemented by signs of heart failure, tachycardia, patients complain of severe edema.
Dyspnea intensifies over time. If at the initial stage it appeared after any physical activity, then it arises regularly and at rest. Shortness of breath is accompanied by episodes of dry cough. In rare cases, viscous sputum is released. If streaks of blood are found in the latter, this indicates the presence of life-threatening complications: a violation of the integrity of the vessels of the lung tissue, organ decay.
Diagnostics
When the first alarming signs appear, it is necessary to consult a therapist or pulmonologist. In the process of admission, the doctor conducts the initial diagnosis, which consists in collecting medical history data and a physical examination. The specialist needs to provide information on what symptoms worry, how long they appeared, their severity. During the examination, the doctor assesses the condition of the skin, listens to the patient with a stethophonendoscope, and carries out percussion. These measures allow you to identify breathing noises, analyze the nature of the latter, identify the boundaries of the focus of the pathology.
Based on the results of the initial diagnosis, the doctor draws up a referral for a comprehensive examination of the patient, which includes both instrumental and laboratory methods:
- Regtgen. It is the main way to detect an ailment. With the help of X-ray examination, it is possible to detect pathology at the earliest stage of its development, as well as to identify concomitant diseases. In addition, in the process of diagnosis, cancer is confirmed or excluded (its symptoms are similar to the symptoms of this ailment). In the pictures, sections of local pneumofibrosis are clearly visible on the left, right, or immediately from two sides. In the focus of the pathology, you can even see the shadows of the affected vessels. In advanced cases, areas resembling bee honeycombs and scars, during the formation of which occurred by deformation of the pulmonary roots, are visualized.
- Assessment of the function of external respiration. The method is also one of the main ones. In the course of the study, the Tiffno index, functional and vital lung capacity are calculated. Local pneumofibrosis is indicated by a decrease in these indicators.
- Bronchological examination. In the process of its implementation, the doctor can obtain information on whether a tissue lesion of a local nature occurred or if it is a diffuse pneumofibrosis (a form of the disease in which the destruction of the lungs occurs completely, and not of their individual sections).
- CT, MRI. Additional diagnostic methods that are highly informative. With their help, it is possible not only to determine the localization and size of the pathological focus, but also to assess the prevalence of the disease.
- ECG. Appointed in order to identify the extent of damage to the heart. For the same purpose, an ultrasound of the muscle is performed.
- Blood test (clinical, biochemical).
If the course of the disease is accompanied by sputum separation, a study is carried out. This is necessary in order to exclude the presence of tuberculosis, as well as to identify in it components of an allergic or inflammatory nature.
Conservative Therapies
After analyzing the results of a comprehensive diagnosis, the doctor determines how to treat local pulmonary pneumofibrosis. A specific treatment regimen does not currently exist. This is due to the fact that the formation and proliferation of connective tissue are irreversible processes. First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the underlying disease.
In most cases, the treatment regimen includes the following items:
- Taking medications. Doctors prescribe antibacterial drugs to suppress the vital activity of pathogenic myco-organisms in the lungs. In addition, with a wet cough, an expectorant is indicated.
- Physiotherapy. During the procedure, the severity of stagnant processes decreases, due to which sputum discharge improves.
- Breathing exercises. Its goal is a significant increase in lung volume. Due to this, the patency of the bronchi is improved, the alveoli straighten and the maximum oxygen saturation occurs.
- Ozone Therapy
Also, people with local pneumofibrosis need to adjust their lifestyle and diet. It is imperative to exclude contact with harmful compounds and dust, avoid stressful situations and follow the principles of proper nutrition.
Surgical treatment
In some people, the development of local pneumofibrosis is asymptomatic, or the signs have a weak degree of severity, and the patient does not consider them the basis for seeking qualified medical help. In such cases, the ailment, as a rule, is detected randomly during a routine examination. To find out if the patient needs surgical intervention, the doctor allows bronchoscopy, CT or MRI.
Surgical treatment is prescribed in rare cases. Its implementation is considered advisable if a secondary infection joins the site of inflammation, that is, areas of pneumofibrosis begin to fester. In this case, the surgeon removes part of the lung - the tissue affected by the disease.
Folk methods
The use of non-traditional methods of treatment does not exclude the need to visit a doctor. Alternative methods can be applied only after obtaining the permission of a specialist. This is due to the fact that healing herbs can cause a number of undesirable reactions.
The most effective recipes are described below, with the help of which it is possible to stop or significantly slow down the progression of the disease, cleanse the lungs from sputum and prevent the attachment of a secondary infection:
- Grind the rose hips and the roots of elecampane (oman). Take 2 tbsp. l the resulting raw material, pour it with 600 ml of water. Put the container on fire. After the product boils, it needs to be boiled for about 15 minutes. After this time, remove the container from the fire, the liquid must be infused for about 2 hours. It is allowed to add honey to taste. The resulting product must be drunk three times a day, 150 ml. The course of treatment is 2 months, while breaks are prohibited.
- Take a pinch of cayenne pepper and the same amount of anise seeds, stir them in hot milk. You can add honey to your taste. Drink the resulting product daily, before bedtime. The course of treatment is at least 1 month.
- Take 50 g of rosemary, chop. Pour in raw materials 0.5 liters of red wine. To improve the taste, it is allowed to add a small amount of sugar. Put the container on fire, bring to a boil. Then the remedy must be infused for 2 days. After that, it needs to be filtered, poured into a glass bottle and put into storage in the refrigerator. Scheme of admission: daily for 1 tsp., 1 hour after any meal.
Decoctions can also be prepared on the basis of thyme, horseradish, and flax seeds.
Effects
In order for patients to realize the seriousness of the problem, doctors always talk about the danger of local pneumofibrosis of the lungs. This is an insidious disease, which is often found at the stage of development of complications, and therefore its treatment is difficult.
The main consequences of local pneumofibrosis:
- Pulmonary heart.
- Secondary pneumonia
- Respiratory failure.
- Arterial hypertension.
- Malignant neoplasms.
- Hemorrhage.
- Destruction of the organ.
To prevent the development of complications, it is necessary to consult a doctor when the first alarming symptoms appear.
Prevention
You can significantly reduce the risk of a disease by observing the following rules:
- It is necessary to completely abandon smoking.
- It is important to avoid contact with harmful compounds. If this is not possible for any reason, respirators or masks must be used to protect the body.
- It is necessary to treat pneumonia and bronchitis in a timely manner. In order to detect the presence of an ailment at an early stage, it is necessary to undergo fluorography or x-ray examination regularly.
Finally
Local pneumofibrosis is a pathology characterized by focal lesion of the lung tissue. The disease is often asymptomatic in the early stages, which is of some difficulty in the diagnosis. In this regard, if even weak symptoms occur, you need to contact a therapist or pulmonologist. It is impossible to completely cure the disease, all methods are aimed at stopping its progression and alleviating the patient's condition.