Throughout life , the human respiratory system is subjected to multiple attacks from the external environment. Unfavorable environmental conditions, all kinds of viruses, bacteria, fumes of inhaled chemicals have an adverse effect on it and provoke various diseases.
What is a pathology?
Popcorn lung disease, or bronchiolitis obliterans, is a severe lesion of the respiratory system, localized in the final parts of the bronchi.
It consists in full or partial blockage of bronchioles due to their inflammation. The process is constantly progressing, leading to:
- scarring of the affected tissue;
- loss of access to oxygen;
- impaired blood flow;
- concomitant diseases.
It begins, as a rule, acutely, and resembles the following pathologies:
- bronchitis;
- airway obstruction;
- pneumonia;
- asthma
For this reason, the correct diagnosis is not immediately made. The patient is treated for a long time from the above pathologies, and bronchiolitis at this time goes into a chronic form, which is completely impossible to eliminate.
Characteristic signs
Symptoms of popcorn lung disease should not be attempted to recognize at home. Even experienced doctors, and in some cases, X-ray equipment, cannot do this.
According to statistics, in 50% of cases, the chest picture does not show any changes.
The most reliable diagnostic method is an MRI or CT scan of the respiratory system, where in every detail every area of the affected organ is evaluated.
You can suspect bronchiolitis by the following signs:
- Shortness of breath . In the initial stages, it is insignificant, but increases as it progresses.
- Blue skin (cyanosis). Initially occurs in the area of the nasolabial triangle, then spreads to the face and body.
- Cough. In the early days, dry rales and wheezing are heard. After a while, a slight improvement occurs, which is replaced by a new stage of unproductive cough.
Effects
Complications of popcorn lung disease are very dangerous. They lead to a sharp deterioration in well-being with a further fatal outcome. These include:
- Pulmonary heart. As the course progresses, bronchiolitis affects the work of the pulmonary circulation and causes an increased load on the right ventricle of the heart, which leads to hypertrophic tissue changes.
- Secondary emphysema. The picture is expressed by the increased airiness of the body. It occurs as a result of a violation of pressure in the pulmonary ducts (against the background of partial obstruction of the airways).
- Pneumosclerosis As the number of inflammatory foci increases, the healthy organ tissue is gradually replaced by fibrous.
- Slowing blood flow. Violation negatively affects breathing, inhibiting it.
- Disappearing lung. A rather rare pathology, localized in one part of the organ, less often in two. It is expressed in dystrophic changes in its tissue, and filling 3 parts of the space with air bullae.
Infections
The causes of popcorn lung disease are different, but the first place among them are all kinds of infections. For instance:
- herpes;
- adenovirus;
- cytomegalovirus;
- parainfluenza virus;
- Aspergillus and Candida fungi;
- Klebsiella;
- legionella;
- mycoplasmas.
Once in the human body, these microorganisms damage healthy cells, causing non-specific reactions in the form of blockage of bronchioles.
More often, such pathological processes are diagnosed in children who have had rubella, measles or chicken pox. In adults, other factors occupy a leading position.
In most cases, such bronchiolitis develops in people with weakened immunity, often with HIV infection and other long-running chronic processes that reduce the body's defenses.
Surgical intervention
The defeat of bronchioles can occur during the period of engraftment of donor tissue.
In 20 - 50% of cases, it is diagnosed in people who underwent a transplant operation:
The disease is characterized by a severe course, and the prognosis is usually unfavorable. In such cases, repeated transplantation may be required, which is highly undesirable due to the condition of such a patient.
Other pathologies
Recently, all kinds of autoimmune diseases are being diagnosed more and more often. It is impossible to establish the exact cause of their occurrence, but doctors tend to suggest that this may be due to factors such as:
- environmental degradation;
- poor nutrition;
- exposure to various chemicals surrounding modern man;
- bad habits;
- decreased motor activity.
Most often, the occurrence of popcorn lung disease is associated with the presence of:
- systemic lupus erythematosus;
- scleroderma;
- rheumatoid arthritis.
Often it develops against the background of:
- Steven-Jones syndrome;
- Crohn's disease;
- ulcerative lesions of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract (stomach, duodenum, colon and small intestine);
- aspiration pneumonia;
- allergic alveolitis.
At the moment, chronic obliterating bronchiolitis is not fully understood, therefore, the causes of its occurrence may be much more.
Cigarettes
In recent years, doctors around the world are seriously concerned about the extent of the spread of nicotine addiction.
Signs of popcorn lung disease in smokers occur quite often, although they do not always indicate the development of this unpleasant ailment.
According to statistics, most patients with chronic bronchiolitis suffer from nicotine addiction.
Once in the respiratory system, caustic smoke irritates the delicate mucous membrane, thereby weakening it. Respiratory organs become the entrance gate for various representatives of the pathogenic flora, which are normally destroyed by the body's defense system.
Over time, the bronchial tubes of smokers become more vulnerable. There is an obsessive dry cough caused by inflammation and swelling of the large and small bronchi (bronchioles).
It may be a sign of the onset of the following respiratory tract diseases :
- obliterating bronchiolitis;
- emphysema
- chronic bronchitis;
- tuberculosis
- cancer.
As a rule, getting rid of such a cough is almost impossible.
Vaping
Not so long ago, electronic cigarettes called vapers replaced conventional cigarettes. They are filled with a special liquid, which releases aromatic vapor.
Manufacturers of such devices assure that no harmful carcinogenic and toxic substances are formed in the process of vaporization, which makes their use absolutely safe for health.
This is actually not the case. Popcorn lung disease from electronic cigarettes occurs no less than from ordinary ones.
Few, buying a similar liquid, are interested in its composition, but in vain. About 75% of all vaper refills include the dangerous substance diacetyl.
It is often used in the food industry for flavoring various sweets, creams, and more.
By itself, it is harmless, its vapors released during heating are toxic, which, in fact, happens in a new smoking device.
For the first time, the dangerous properties of a chemical substance became known in the period 2002-2005.
In one of the American factories in Missouri, which was engaged in the production of popcorn, mass cases of popcorn lung disease were detected.
In the course of numerous studies of diacetyl, it was proved that it really has a detrimental effect on the work of the respiratory system. But the substance was not banned. To this day, it is part of smoking fluids, confectionery, etc. as a flavoring.
Most often it can be found in the following fillers:
Fans of such new products should be especially careful and carefully study the composition before purchase.
Treatment
To make an accurate diagnosis, you will need to undergo the following studies:
- general analysis of blood and urine;
- chest x-ray;
- CT or MRI;
- bronchoscopy.
A photo of popcorn lung disease (x-rayed) looks something like the image below.
If an acute form of the disease is detected, the patient is treated only in a hospital. Often the process takes a long time and does not always lead to a positive result.
The therapeutic regimen is selected individually, taking into account many features.
Most often prescribed:
- antibiotics
- hormonal drugs;
- expectorant;
- vitamins, minerals.
In the case of a chronic course, it is completely impossible to eliminate bronchiolitis. All the efforts of doctors are aimed at eliminating emerging complaints, preventing exacerbation and further progression.
If bronchiolitis is very difficult, the question may arise about the need for organ transplantation.
In general, the prognosis is unfavorable. The earlier the disease is detected, the greater the chance of a person.
Self-treatment of popcorn lung disease does not make sense, it is guaranteed to aggravate the condition.
Many people underestimate the cough, fraught with many dangers. In a healthy body, it really passes quickly (even if untreated) thanks to a strong immune defense. But if the latter is weakened, bronchiolitis can turn into a chronic form and provoke a number of serious diseases.