Inflammation: stages, types, signs, symptoms, treatment

Few of us have never had a cold, never suffered from a cold, and did not get abrasions or scratches. All these, one might say, harmless health troubles, not to mention more serious ailments, such as pneumonia or gastritis, are associated with the pathological process in organs or tissues, the name of which is inflammation. The stages in him, like in any disease, there are different - from the initial, easiest and quickly treatable, to the last, most severe and irreversible. How does inflammation occur? What is happening in our body at this moment? How to treat inflammation? What are the forecasts and consequences? We will try to clearly and in detail answer each of the questions posed.

The essence of inflammation

There are thousands of diseases in the world. All of them are either caused by inflammatory processes in the human organs, or cause inflammation. The stages of the latter with various ailments can vary, the causes of occurrence may differ, the symptoms may not coincide, but the result without proper treatment is almost always the same — irreversible changes in health, and sometimes death. However, inflammation has a good side. It occurs in the body to protect it. This function took millions of years to form throughout human evolution. That is, inflammation is such a pathological process that develops with any damage to eliminate the irritant and restore tissue. Inflammation can be called a start button, which includes the protective actions of the body and at the same time a barrier that does not allow negative processes to leave the inflamed area. It accumulates toxins that can cause intoxication. With inflammation, specific particles are produced - these toxins are destructive. And another useful function of inflammation is that they produce antibodies and strengthen the immune system.

There is also negative, and considerable. Such processes can lead to the breakdown of compensatory mechanisms and create a threat to human life.

inflammation of the cause

Classification

Not only at the place of localization (throat, stomach, lungs, and so on), but according to many other signs, doctors classify inflammation. The stages are as follows:

  • alteration;
  • exudation;
  • proliferation.

In the form of the course of inflammation, there are:

  • sharp (lasting from several minutes to several hours);
  • subacute (the flow period is calculated in days and weeks);
  • chronic (appear in cases when the acute or subacute form is not cured, lasts for years, sometimes for life).

In whatever form the inflammatory process is diagnosed, the causes of its occurrence are as follows:

  • infectious (viruses, bacteria);
  • toxic (exposure to harmful chemicals);
  • autoimmune (the body produces unnecessary antibodies or aggressive cells);
  • purulent-septic;
  • traumatic;
  • paraneoplastic (develop mainly with cancer);
  • post-traumatic;
  • physical (e.g. temperature effects unfavorable to the body).

The reasons why inflammation occurred, the stages and forms of its course are the main characteristics by which doctors classify the disease. So, pneumonia is an infectious inflammation of the lung tissue, which can be acute and at the same time exudative. Let’s analyze incomprehensible terms in more detail.

How does the inflammatory process develop?

The start for any type of inflammation is such changes in the structure of cells, and with them the organs as a whole, in which their normal life is disrupted. This determines the signs of inflammation. Under the influence of an unfavorable factor, changes in the cytoplasm, membrane, and nucleus begin in the cell very quickly. This process activates the production of so-called mediators - special biological chemicals that activate biochemical reactions, that is, give rise to an action potential. Mediators include histamine, bradykinin, serotonin and many other specific agents. All of them are responsible for various signs of inflammation. So, histamine leads to vasodilation and an increase in the permeability of their walls. Bradykinin and callidine are involved in the onset of pain. In the area where the vessels are dilated, the initial sign of inflammation is manifested - redness. Since the total cross-sectional area of ​​the dilated vessels increases, the volumetric flow rate of blood in them increases, and the linear decreases. This causes a second sign of inflammation - a jump in temperature.

stage inflammation

In the future, each link in the chain reaction is characterized by a more severe manifestation. A drop in linear velocity activates the production of red blood cells, which slow down blood flow even more. This increases thrombosis, in which the vessels may completely overlap. There is a so-called stasis, which is the cause of tissue necrosis. After stagnation of blood in the capillaries, stagnation in the venules begins. This leads to the accumulation of exudate in the tissues. The next sign of inflammation appears - a tumor, and then another sign - pain.

White blood cells, salts, and proteins begin to leak through the thinned walls of blood vessels (exudation occurs). At the same time, leukocytes move to the factor that caused inflammation, since their main role is phagocytosis. Subsequently, in the inflammatory infiltrate (the place where biological elements uncharacteristic of it accumulate), some of the cells die, the other transforms, turning, for example, into macrophages.

To summarize, we can distinguish the following general symptoms of inflammation:

  • redness;
  • an increase in temperature either in the inflamed area, or in the body as a whole;
  • swelling;
  • soreness.

In addition, common symptoms include:

  • the development of leukocytosis;
  • increase in blood ESR;
  • a change in immunological reactivity (the body's response to the introduction and action of an inflammatory factor);
  • signs of intoxication.

But each disease has its own specific symptoms. So, with pneumonia it’s a cough, wheezing in the lungs, with gastritis, nausea, sometimes vomiting, belching, heartburn, painful urination with cystitis, and so on.

Alteration Stage

The term "alternative inflammation" in modern medicine is almost never found, but still exists in veterinary medicine. It means pathological changes in some organs (kidneys, heart, liver, spinal cord and brain), in which necrotic and degenerative changes in tissues (in the parenchyma) are recorded without exudation and proliferation. An alternative inflammation occurs most often in an acute form and can lead to complete destruction of the organ.

chronic inflammation

Alteration is divided into two subspecies - primary and secondary.

Primary in nature is the result of the introduction of a source of inflammation into the body. Secondary is the body's response to damage caused by the inflammatory agent. In practice, both of them have no clear boundaries.

The diseases caused by such inflammation include typhoid fever, myocarditis, dysentery and others. Now most doctors call alternative inflammation necrosis.

Exudation stage

Exudative inflammation is such a stage of the pathological process, in which there is an exit from the capillaries and other small vessels in the cavity or in the body tissue of various fluids (exudate). Depending on what exactly comes out, the following types of inflammatory processes are distinguished:

  • serous;
  • fibrous;
  • purulent;
  • putrefactive;
  • catarrhal;
  • hemorrhagic;
  • mixed.

We will analyze each of them.

Serous

Another name for the disease is serous exudative inflammation. This is such a pathological process in which at least 2% and no more than 8% of the serum protein is detected in the exudate, but there are literally a few white blood cells. It occurs in the mucous membranes and in the serous thin, smooth and elastic membranes (for example, in the peritoneum, pleura, pericardium). Inflamed membranes become dense, cloudy and rough. Symptoms of inflammation are not pronounced. The patient may experience a slight temperature and mild pain. The reasons for this pathology:

  • chemicals (intoxication, poisoning);
  • physical impact (injuries, including burns and frostbite, bites of some insects);
  • microorganisms (Koch sticks, herpes, meningococcus);
  • allergy.

Serous inflammation is either acute or chronic.

ligament inflammation

Fibrous

This type of inflammation is characterized by the presence in the exudate of leukocytes, monocytes, macrophages, dead cells and convolutions of fibrin - a blood plasma protein that forms the basis of blood clots. In the inflamed zone, tissue death and the formation of a large number of platelets occur, a thin fibrous film forms under which microbes actively begin to multiply. Fibrous inflammation can be croupous and diphtheria. With croupous film is formed on the mucous membranes of the trachea, peritoneum, alveoli, bronchi. It does not germinate in the tissue, so it is easily removed without leaving a wound. With diphtheria, a film forms on the mucous membranes of the intestines, esophagus, and stomach. It turns out to be dense, as if fused with the layers below it, so when it is removed, the wounds remain. “Female inflammation” is what a similar process in the uterus is sometimes called. It can occur for various reasons - infections (gonorrhea, syphilis), hypothermia, mechanical damage (abortion, childbirth), poor hygiene. In all cases, in the acute form, there are pains in the genitals or lower abdomen, vaginal discharge, and fever. This can lead to diseases of the kidneys, heart, endocrine system. Female inflammation, which is chronic, can occur without any noticeable symptoms, but leads to adhesion of the fallopian tubes, infertility. This form develops if the woman does not cure the acute disease to the end, as well as with some types of infection (for example, gonococci) that occur in the initial stages is almost asymptomatic.

female inflammation

Purulent and putrefactive

If pus is present in the exudate - a specific substance, including purulent serum, tissue detritus, neutrophilic white blood cells, eosonophils, - purulent processes accompany inflammation. They are caused by various microorganisms, such as gonococci, staphylococci and others. Forms of purulent inflammation:

  • abscess (suppuration);
  • phlegmon;
  • empyema.

An abscess occurs either as an independent inflammatory process, or as a complication of a previous disease. In this case, a barrier capsule is formed, which prevents the spread of pathogens into neighboring tissues.

Phlegmon differs from an abscess in that it does not have clearly defined boundaries. There are a lot of phlegmon species. This is subcutaneous, and intermuscular, and retroperitoneal, and perinephric, and many others. If the phlegmon goes to neighboring tissue sites, sepsis may begin.

Empyema is somewhat similar to an abscess, but with it there is a significant accumulation of pus in the body cavity, and there is no protective membrane.

Putrefactive inflammation develops from purulent, if putrefactive microflora enters the focus. In this case, tissue necrosis occurs, causing intoxication of the patient's body and characterized by a putrefactive odor. This type of inflammation is possible with extensive wounds, for example, during hostilities, and in women with unskilled abortions. How to treat inflammation in such a severe form? Only therapy with the right antibiotics combined with surgery can make the prognosis favorable.

how to relieve inflammation

Hemorrhagic

This type of pathology is a continuation of the above inflammatory processes and develops if the permeability of the walls of the blood vessels increases, up to a violation of their integrity. At the same time, a large number of red blood cells fall into the inflamed place, making the exudate dark red, almost black in color, and if the inflammation affects the digestive tract, their contents turn chocolate in color. Hemorrhagic inflammation is caused by bacteria, viruses, sometimes fungi, some chemicals and toxins. It is observed in diseases such as smallpox, plague, anthrax.

Catarrhal

This process is not independent, because it is formed when mucus is added to an already existing exudate. Cataract inflammation is caused by the following causes:

  • infection (viruses, bacteria);
  • high or low temperatures (burn, frostbite);
  • chemical substances;
  • products of improper metabolism.

Examples include allergic rhinitis (hay fever, or, popularly, the common cold), bronchitis, which turned into a purulent-catarrhal form in which the mucous membrane of the bronchi and trachea are inflamed. Is it possible and how to relieve inflammation of this form at home? Traditional medicine advises the use of aromatherapy (breathe with oils of fir, geranium, eucalyptus and others). With catarrhal sinusitis, remove mucus from the nose, rinse with solutions of salt, herbs or plain water, instill vasoconstrictors in the nose. With catarrhal sore throat, gargle, with catarrhal bronchitis, drink plenty of warm liquid, do breathing exercises, take expectorant and antitussive drugs. With any localization of catarrhal inflammation, drug antiviral therapy is carried out, but antibiotics are used only as prescribed by the doctor and only in the presence of complications, for example, with the development of purulent inflammation.

signs of inflammation

Proliferative inflammation

This form is observed with all types of inflammation, and it is most active at the final stages of the disease. The term "proliferation" can be explained as follows: this is a neoplasm, the birth of cells and entire cellular structures. Basically, this happens during the recovery period of an organ or tissue after an inflammation, when the mesenchymal cells produce fibroblasts, and those, in turn, synthesize collagen, which often ends in scarring. The types of proliferative inflammation are as follows:

  • granulomatous (with the formation of nodules);
  • intermediate (infiltrate is formed in the liver, myocardium, kidneys, lungs);
  • with the formation of genital warts and polyps;
  • around foreign objects and parasitic microorganisms.

Acute and chronic inflammation

The acute inflammatory process is developing rapidly. It is characterized by the symptoms indicated above, namely: redness of the affected area, fever, swelling, pain, exudation, impaired blood circulation in the capillaries and venules. Chronic inflammation is characterized by the fact that with this form, active macrophages begin to accumulate in one place. The pathological process is caused by such reasons:

1. Part of the parasites, being eaten by macrophages, do not die, but begin to multiply. This is observed, for example, with Koch sticks that cause tuberculosis. Macrophages with live parasites inside go on to the active production of inflammatory mediators.

2. Macrophages do not eat parasites, but particles that they can neither split nor throw out. These include complex complexes, for example, the polysaccharide zymosan contained in yeast. Around such phagocytes, granulomas begin to form very quickly.

Acute inflammation, with all its severity, ends quickly (unless it comes to purulent abscesses), while chronic pain has tormented a person for years. It cannot end quickly for the following reasons:

  • macrophages, which are the trigger of inflammation, live very long;
  • while macrophages are alive and active, resorption by granulomas is impossible.

Chronic inflammation in the stage of remission of the patient practically does not bother and activates (the stage of exacerbation occurs) when fresh highly active macrophages are added to the inflammatory focus.

purulent processes

Which inflammation is more dangerous: acute or chronic

For all their apparent harmlessness, chronic inflammation is the most dangerous. For example, inflammation of the ligaments of the limbs leads to diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, arthritis and others. The acute form of all these ailments is manifested by pain, redness of the body area around the focus of inflammation, and fever. Upon transition to a chronic form, pain occurs only under the influence of some external factors, for example, weather conditions, high physical exertion or mechanical stress. However, the chronic form is dangerous by irreversible deformations of the ligaments, cartilage, joints, involvement of the neighboring sectors of the musculoskeletal system (for example, with rheumatoid arthritis affects the cervical spine), complete destruction of the joint and degenerative changes in the ligaments, which leads to disability. Inflammation of the ligaments of the limbs can be caused by multiple causes, including:

  • injuries
  • increased physical activity;
  • infections
  • metabolic disease.

Inflammation of the ligaments of the throat is caused by the penetration of infection into the ENT organs, smoking, hypothermia, inhalation of harmful gases, and a strong cry.

The acute form is manifested by sore throat when talking and swallowing, redness, fever, tickling, hoarseness, but with proper treatment, the disease passes quickly and without a trace. If the acute form becomes chronic, the patient develops shortness of breath, swollen larynx, and chronic catarrhal inflammation can lead to atrophy of the mucous membrane.

inflammation treatment

How to relieve inflammation

If the body is strong enough and able to withstand the inflammatory factor or this factor is short-term and weak (for example, a scratch on the skin), the inflammation disappears after a couple of days. You can only slightly help this process by disinfecting the site of damage. At home, the treatment of inflammation of the mucous membranes of the throat and oral cavity (along with drug therapy) is carried out using decoctions of chamomile, celandine, and calendula. Gargling with a solution of soda helps with the addition of a couple of drops of iodine to it.

During an exacerbation of the chronic form of inflammation of the ligaments and joints, compresses from the alcohol tinctures of many plants (macular, acacia, lilac and others) are used. All these methods are only auxiliary. To receive basic treatment, you must consult a doctor. Some patients are in a hurry to take antibiotics for inflammation of any etiology, which can cause deterioration, even critical. The fact is that antibiotics are designed to fight some living parasites and are useless if the inflammation is caused by other reasons. There are more than a dozen groups of such drugs that destroy certain types of pathogens and are harmless to others. Their use without purpose contributes to the further development of the disease and aggravation of the patient's condition.

In chronic forms of inflammation, supportive therapy is indicated, which consists in creating a satisfactory condition for the patient, rich in vitamins, and eliminating irritating factors hazardous to health (overwork, hypothermia, stress, and the like). During periods of exacerbation, medication and physiotherapy are carried out.


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