Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs that often develops against the background of other diseases of the respiratory system. Bacteria and viruses provoke the pathological process, however, it can begin due to hypothermia, physical and mental fatigue, unbalanced nutrition or smoking. The inflammatory process can have two types of course: acute and chronic.
Signs of the disease
The main symptom of pneumonia is a high temperature, up to 39 ° C, and fever, cough with the release of profuse sputum, constant shortness of breath. Chest pains may appear. Also, all patients suffer from constant weakness, impaired appetite, sleep problems, sweating, fatigue. In addition, wheezing is heard when listening. Often, a symptom of pneumonia or a complex of those is taken for the flu or ARI and does not go to the doctor. But if all these signs are present, it should be remembered that the final diagnosis can only be made by the attending physician, because self-medication of this disease in most cases leads to deaths.
Diagnostics
Before making conclusions about the presence of the disease, it is necessary to conduct an X-ray examination, make a clinical blood test, in some cases, you can not do without computed tomography of the lungs. And the sooner a diagnosis is made and treatment is prescribed, the faster the disease will be defeated.
The nature of sputum
The underlying symptom of pneumonia is a cough, and it can be accompanied by different sputum. A rusty color indicates a croupous form of the disease, purulent - the presence of a bacterial, often streptococcal infection, blood impurities indicate a serious damage to the mucous membranes of the bronchi. Another symptom of pneumonia that can accompany a cough is shortness of breath, i.e. lack of air. It can be permanent, appear suddenly or during exercise.
Latent pneumonia: symptoms
In some cases, this disease occurs in an invisible (hidden) form, without fever, but with a slight cough. Such a course of the process is dangerous to health, therefore it is important to diagnose it in time. If the cough does not go away within a few weeks, then you should definitely contact a specialist who will direct the patient to an X-ray, listen to the lungs, conduct an auscultation and prescribe adequate treatment.
Treatment
What are the symptoms of pneumonia, you now know, but how is the treatment going? Most often in a hospital, but there are times when it is possible at home, and for this certain conditions are necessary. If, nevertheless, it came to a doctor’s call, it is necessary to put the patient to bed, wrap them in a blanket and drink tea with lemon or raspberry. If a cough with sputum, then a hot drink is strictly contraindicated. It is also not recommended to bring down the temperature if it is not higher than 38 degrees. The treatment of pneumonia is aimed at removing the inflammatory process. The main measures for recovery:
• Strict bed rest.
• The room in which the patient is located must be kept clean.
• Oral and skin hygiene.
• Drink plenty of water.
• The patient's food should be vitamin, high-calorie, rich in trace elements.
• Special massage for sputum discharge.
• Alkaline and saline inhalations.
• Setting mustard plasters, cans, warming compresses.
• Use of expectorants.
If you follow all these recommendations and follow the doctor's prescription, the treatment will be successful.
After recovery comes, it is advisable to strengthen your health by taking a ticket to the sea or to the sanatorium.