Nobody likes to be sick, even if it concerns the most common and, at first glance, harmless cold. Even worse, when complications begin to appear and ARVI develops into bronchitis or pneumonia.
Let's talk about pneumonia: symptoms depending on the type of disease, treatment methods and prevention. Special attention will be paid to the issue of coughing with pneumonia and methods of dealing with it at home.
What is pneumonia?
So, pneumonia is a disease that occurs as a result of damage to the respiratory departments of the lungs and causes their inflammation. As a rule, it is accompanied by high temperature. Coughing with pneumonia is usually dry and may be accompanied by chest pain.
Symptoms of the disease
Pneumonia can be of two types: typical and atypical. Depending on this, the symptoms of the disease will vary.
A typical form of pneumonia is usually accompanied by fever and a strong cough. These signs are an indicator of the onset of the disease. What is the cough for pneumonia? At the beginning of the disease, it is dry, but over time sputum begins to appear, which has a thick consistency and a greenish tint, sometimes with blood streaks. In addition, shortness of breath, chest pain, severe weakness throughout the body, headache, and so on are possible.
Can there be pneumonia without coughing? The answer to this question will be positive. This is how the atypical form of pneumonia manifests itself . This type of disease is much more dangerous, since it is very difficult to determine in the initial stages. The development of SARS is very slow, and its first symptoms will be in the form of a slight pain or sore throat, mild malaise and headache. As you can see, this condition can easily be confused with the onset of a common cold or even fatigue. Although in fact, at this moment, inflammatory processes began to occur.
So, we examined what cough is with pneumonia, symptoms and forms of the disease. The next important point is how treatment occurs.
Pneumonia treatment
It is necessary to treat pneumonia in a hospital, since it is very difficult to do this at home. During the period of the disease, the patient requires bed rest and maximum care.
Preparations for the treatment of pneumonia can be divided into two groups:
- Symptomatic This is a group of drugs that alleviate the condition of the patient. For example, they include expectorant, general strengthening, antipyretic drugs (Paracetamol, Mukaltin, Ambroxol).
- Antimicrobial. This group includes the use of antibiotics, which are the main part of the treatment. Most often, penicillin-based preparations are used (Amoxicillin, Ampicillin). In case of hypersensitivity, the use of such drugs is contraindicated, therefore, they are replaced with cephalosporin antibiotics (Cefatoxime, Cefazolin) and macrolides (Azithromycin). These drugs are equally effective in controlling the causative agent of the disease, although they are less allergenic.
In addition to the use of pharmaceuticals, complex therapy involves inhalation. They are a great way to ease breathing and coughing with pneumonia.
No less important than the treatment itself is the rehabilitation process after a disease. It includes a variety of physiotherapeutic procedures and breathing exercises. If possible, then sanatorium treatment will also be useful.
How to relieve cough with pneumonia while at home
As mentioned above, treatment of pneumonia and, accordingly, coughing with pneumonia usually takes place in a hospital. But still there are times when the patient remains at home.
Additional treatment for cough with pneumonia at home can be carried out in several effective ways.
Inhalation
They help eliminate sputum and relieve cough. For inhalation in pneumonia, it is best to use fir oil. Only 4-5 drops are enough for a pot of water. Inhale the vapors under a towel, and after completing the procedure, rub the chest in the lungs with the same oil and wrap yourself in a blanket.
Garlic mustard plasters
They are not only an effective way to get rid of cough, but also have an excellent anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic and bactericidal effect. To prepare such mustard plasters, it is necessary to soak a small piece of tissue in vegetable oil and spread finely chopped pieces of garlic on it. You need to lay them on your back or chest and hold for up to 20 minutes.
Potato wraps
It is necessary to mix the chopped jacket potatoes with vegetable oil, mustard and alcohol (1 tablespoon each) and place in a bag specially made for this purpose. After that, it must be put on the lungs (excluding the region of the heart), wrapped in cellophane, covered with warm clothing and bandaged. The compress will remain warm until the very morning and provide maximum warming of the body.
Cough after pneumonia
We talked about the appearance and treatment of cough with pneumonia. But there are situations when this phenomenon is observed after a full recovery. There is nothing wrong with this, because thanks to him, all sputum is finally removed from the lungs. Such a cough can last for another two, or even more, weeks.
Treatment for cough after pneumonia
If, besides coughing, there are no more signs of the disease and the treatment with medications is already over, it is better to use simple alternative methods to combat it. This can be inhalation with fir oil (more on this was discussed above) or special drinks: lemonade with honey or boiled milk with figs.
It’s better not to use pharmaceutical preparations so as not to overload the organism, which is already tired after the illness, with chemistry.
Disease prevention
To prevent pneumonia, you need to listen to the simple tips that experts on this issue give.
So, to avoid pneumonia, you must:
- observe personal hygiene rules and wash your hands regularly with soap;
- eat foods rich in vitamins;
- it is advisable to start tempering the body, playing sports or doing daily exercises;
- get enough sleep and rest, if possible avoid stressful situations;
- dress according to the weather: do not wrap yourself during the heat and do not freeze;
- avoid crowded places during periods of seasonal increase in incidence;
- give up habits that harm not only the general state of health, but also worsen immunity;
- regularly ventilate the room in which you need to stay for a long time.
A separate way to prevent the disease is vaccination. Especially its holding is shown to young children attending kindergartens, elderly people over 65, as well as those who suffer from any chronic diseases.
Be healthy!