With total pneumonia, the pathological process extends to the entire lung (in contrast to subtotal lesion, in which only part of the organ is affected). In this case, inflammation can be present both on one and on two lobes of the organ. The results of treatment and the prognosis for recovery will depend on the degree and severity of lung damage, due to the volume of tissue damage. Timely diagnosis and initiated therapy are also important. The treatment principle for total and subtotal pneumonia is largely similar.
Pathology Details
Total pneumonia is a disease that has been fairly well studied by specialists. The condition is an inflammation, often an infectious plan, in which the alveoli of the lungs are filled with purulent formations or fluid. As a result, the natural process of gas exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide is disrupted. It affects either one lobe of the lung, or both at once. The disease is also called pneumonia. As provocateurs of the development of the disease, viruses, fungi or bacteria act.
Pathology classification
Pneumonia can be divided into several types:
- Community-acquired - develops outside the hospital under the influence of fungi, bacteria or viruses.
- Hospital - may develop in a hospital if a person stays there for more than 72 hours.
- Aspiration - develops if food, water or other objects get into the respiratory tract.
- Atypical - occurs under the influence of adverse microflora.
Factors contributing to the development of the disease
Provocative factors can be internal and external. External causes include:
- a variety of pathogen;
- human living conditions;
- timeliness of diagnosis;
- quality of treatment measures.
Many patients with the onset of coughing do not try to seek medical help, preferring self-medication, as a result there is a complication in the form of pneumonia.
Despite the fact that many drugs are able to have a therapeutic and even complex effect, but if they are used incorrectly, the condition worsens. In addition, many viruses and bacteria are able to mutate and adapt to the effects of a particular drug.
Internal factors:
- weakened immunity;
- age of the patient;
- accompanying illnesses;
- bad habits.
Particularly dangerous is reduced immunity, since the body in this case is not able to withstand even a mild cold, which can under favorable conditions go into pneumonia.
Etiology of pneumonia
There are many causes of pneumonia. It can be divided into infectious or non-infectious, it can develop as a complication of the underlying disease or proceed as an independent ailment. In most cases, lung tissue is affected by the development of a bacterial infection. In second place is a viral or mixed (bacterial-viral) infection.
The main pathogens:
- Gram-positive microbes are staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci.
- Gram-negative enterobacteria - Pseudomonas aeruginosa, intestinal bacteria, klepsiella, etc.
- Mtkoplasma.
- Viruses - adenoviruses, influenza and herpes viruses, picornaviruses.
- Fungal infections - candida, dimorphic yeast fungi, etc.
If pneumonia is non-infectious in nature, then the following reasons can cause the disease:
- Inhalation of poisonous and asphyxiating gases - chlorophos, gasoline vapors, kerosene, oil.
- Trauma to the chest area - severe bruising, compression type compression, or stroke.
- Presence of allergens - plant pollen, industrial dust, animal hair, or exposure to certain medications.
- Burns in the airways.
- Radiation therapy for cancer.
Acute total pneumonia often develops against the background of the action of the main pathogen in the presence of diseases such as measles, anthrax, scarlet fever, leptospirosis, etc.
Symptomatic manifestations
The most dangerous condition is the period when the symptoms of the disease do not appear. The person does not cough, his temperature remains normal. In such circumstances, the diagnosis is carried out late, which exacerbates the situation of the patient.
If symptoms of total pneumonia are present, then they appear as follows:
- Body temperature can rise to 39 degrees or even higher.
- Dyspnea begins.
- When coughing, sputum is separated, in which, with a severe course of the disease, blood formations may be present.
- The patient is shivering.
- In the area of the affected lung, pain is felt, especially on inspiration.
- Most often, pain is felt during pleural pneumonia.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Blue on the skin.
- Headache.
If the baby is sick, then many of the listed symptoms may be absent, it is possible to recognize the wrong by the lethargy of the child, weakness, poor appetite and elevated body temperature. The most dangerous manifestation of the disease is lack of air, this condition can even lead to death. Therefore, total pneumonia in children is treated only in a hospital setting.
Complications and possible consequences of pneumonia
Complications can be pulmonary and extrapulmonary. The second includes:
- hepatitis;
- meningoencephalitis or just encephalitis, or meningitis;
- endocarditis;
- various otitis media;
- myocarditis;
- anemic condition;
- mastoiditis;
- glomerulonephritis;
- septic lesion;
- psychoses.
Complications of the pulmonary plan:
- bronchitis;
- the appearance of pneumosclerosis;
- pulmonary atelectasis;
- exudative pleurisy;
- lung abscess;
- obstructive condition;
- pleurisy.
With extensive damage to lung tissue under the influence of secreted toxins, severe complications develop:
- acute failure of the respiratory, cardiac or hepatic system;
- violation of the acid-base balance with severe manifestations;
- infectious toxic shock;
- thrombohemorrhagic syndrome;
- renal failure.
The most dangerous is bilateral pneumonia.
Diagnostic measures
The basis of diagnostic measures for total pneumonia is as follows:
- A fiscal study, this includes a medical history, percussion and auscultation of the lungs.
- Definition of a clinical picture.
- The results of laboratory and instrumental studies.
Mandatory diagnostic actions include a blood test and determination of total pneumonia on an x-ray.
How to treat the disease?
Therapeutic measures are carried out in a hospital. Depending on the condition of the patient and lung damage (total right-sided pneumonia, left-sided lesion or bilateral), it is determined:
- In the department of pulmonology, where there is the possibility of supplying additional oxygen.
- Intensive care unit, where there is a ventilator.
- With extensive bilateral total pneumonia, chemotherapy is indicated using several drugs at once, depending on the direction of the infection.
The use of antibiotics, even with a wide spectrum of effects, does not always lead to positive results. Since with viral inflammation, you will have to supplement the treatment with Tamiflu-based drugs.
Anti-inflammatory and symptomatic treatment
If total bilateral pneumonia is present, then cardiac drugs are required to reduce the load on this organ, which is forced to work at full strength.
Mandatory antibiotics are prescribed in the following areas:
- Cephalosporins - the most popular drugs from this group are Ceftriaxone and Cephilim.
- Macrolides - Clarithromycin, Azithromycin, Erythromycin.
- Fluoroquinolones - Levofloxacin, Moxifloxan.
- Carbopenems - this antibiotic is less common, the main drug is Meronem.
With total pneumonia, the most commonly prescribed drug is Moxifloxacin.
While taking antibacterials, it is important to take antifungal medications such as Nystatin or Fluconazole.
Of mucolytics, most often prescribed:
- Ambroxol;
- "Mukolvan";
- "Acetylcysteine."
The duration of their admission is determined by the doctor, most often it is 10 days or more. As a supplement to treatment, it is important to take bronchodilators, such as Eufillin and Efidrin.
Pneumonia Prevention
In order not to encounter such a dangerous disease as pneumonia, it is necessary to develop for yourself a series of preventive actions that will strengthen the body's defense mechanisms:
- Start hardening.
- Try to strengthen your immune system.
- Timely eliminate chronic foci of infection.
- Timely treat carious teeth.
- Avoid hypothermia.
- Elimination of bad habits in the form of alcohol and smoking, they contribute to the development of a number of diseases.
- Combat dust indoors.
- When working in hazardous production, use all means of protection, and it is better to change such work to safer.
- In the presence of allergies, minimize contact with provocateurs.
They will help to avoid the development of pneumonia and flu vaccines in the disease season. An important role is played by human nutrition, it must be not only complete, but also balanced.