Pneumonia is not just “pneumonia,” an obscure and frightening term. This is, firstly, the shutdown of the lung area from gas exchange (that is, the healthy departments will need to take on the function of the affected department to ensure the normal supply of oxygen to organs and tissues), and secondly, this is poisoning of the body by the products of lung tissue destruction.
Bilateral pneumonia means that the foci of inflammation are in two lungs. That is, this is a dangerous condition: the remaining healthy departments cannot always cope with the provision of organs with oxygen. You can figure out how much the lungs have suffered, from the further terminology that comes after the word “bilateral”. But first you need to remember that the right lung consists of three lobes, the left - of two. Each lobe consists of several segments.
So, there are such types:
- focal pneumonia: in the lung there is a small area of inflammation;
- segmental pneumonia: one segment is affected;
- polysegmental pneumonia: several segments are affected;
- lobar (also called croupous) pneumonia: one share is involved.
Bilateral pneumonia rarely affects both lungs equally. So, in one organ it can be multisegmented, in another - focal. The larger the area of those sites that are inflamed, the heavier the prognosis and longer treatment.
What causes bilateral pneumonia
It can be viruses, bacteria and fungi. Of viruses, it is mainly the influenza virus (especially H1N1). Of bacteria, this is inherent in staphylococcus, pneumococcus, and some other microorganisms.
How to suspect bilateral pneumonia
The classic signs of pneumonia are: a frequent exhausting cough (wet, less often dry) that occurs against the background (or at the same time) of an increase in body temperature to rather high numbers, weakness, loss of appetite. Influenza pneumonia develops as follows: against the background of fever, pain in the bones, muscles, head, cough. It is wet, may be accompanied by pain behind the sternum, coughing up bloody sputum.
In a two-way process, a feeling of lack of air, shortness of breath is added very early to the above symptoms. If the inflammation captures large areas, shortness of breath may be more than 40 breaths per minute, the person’s skin becomes pale, and the lips become bluish. These are very dangerous signs that require an immediate emergency call and hospitalization.
There may also be a violation of consciousness either in the direction of its oppression (drowsiness up to a coma), or, conversely, in the direction of arousal.
How is bilateral pneumonia treated?
This variant of pneumonia is treated only in a hospital, often in the intensive care and resuscitation department, which is equipped with
mechanical ventilation devices and other necessary equipment in these cases.
- Very powerful antibiotics are prescribed that have a wide spectrum of action. A combination of two or even three antibacterial drugs is usually used.
- If there is a suspicion of an influenza virus, Tamiflu is prescribed.
- Treatment of pneumonia in a hospital also includes the provision of oxygen support: using a mask or nasal catheters, in severe cases, the patient is injected into anesthesia and transferred to respiratory depression.
- Inhalations are performed so that sputum, and with it the cells that have performed their function, do not stagnate in the lungs, but exit.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Medications to maintain normal cardiac activity, as bilateral pneumonia is a big burden on the heart.
What to do after pneumonia
If the x-ray shows that the inflammation in the lungs is decreasing, it is important to continue the therapy that ensures the normal drainage of sputum on the bronchi. After the inflammation, a cough may persist for a long time.
Treatment after pneumonia includes:
a) inhalation;
b) taking expectorant drugs ("Lazolvan", "Ambroxol");
c) taking funds to strengthen the immune system (tincture of eleutherococcus, tincture of echinacea, various herbal teas);
d) antihistamines ("Erius", "Loratadin");
e) mandatory - breathing exercises: inflating balloons, exhaling air with force into a tube lowered into water, and so on.
After pneumonia, it is important to get enough sleep, eat with a high amount of calories (and a high protein content), and limit yourself from stress. After all, the body suffered such stress, it fought hard with the disease and needs recovery.