Pneumonia is a serious infectious disease. Under normal conditions, it can have a fairly pronounced clinical course, however, certain factors can greatly lubricate the main manifestations of the disease.
Pneumonia in adults: symptoms, signs, causes in normal conditions
This disease occurs due to the development of microflora in the lung tissue and its gradual damage. The beginning of such a pathological process is capable of getting into the body a wide variety of infections.
Another factor contributing to the development of pneumonia is a local or general decrease in immunity.
Among the main symptoms of this disease, it is necessary to note first of all an increase in body temperature, a strong cough, the occurrence of shortness of breath with very little physical exertion, poor general health.
Pneumonia in adults: symptoms, causes, types in unusual conditions
There are two main reasons why the clinical manifestations of the inflammatory process in the lungs will differ from the classics. Among them, the following should be noted:
- decreased immunity;
- uncontrolled intake of antibacterial agents.
Both of these reasons can significantly change the clinical picture of pneumonia.
Inappropriate use of antibiotics
To date, the uncontrolled use of antimicrobials has become a real problem for society. The fact is that this circumstance over time gradually leads to the formation of resistance to an antibacterial agent in infection. As a result, the antimicrobial drug simply ceases to have a sufficient effect on the pathogenic bacteria.
In addition, the self-administration of such drugs can significantly reduce the severity of the main clinical manifestations of the disease. For example, pneumonia occurs in children and adults. Without a temperature reaching quite high values, few people will immediately worry and decide to see a doctor. As a result, the disease will proceed in a latent form, and the patient will not receive rational treatment. This will lead to the gradual involvement in the pathological process of more and more new sections of lung tissue. As a result, the patient will experience other, more threatening, clinical manifestations. The main signs of pneumonia in adults without fever are an increase in shortness of breath, the appearance of streaks of blood in the sputum that expands when coughing, and chest pain that occurs when the pleura is involved in the pathological process.
Now doctors are trying to limit the independent use of antibacterial drugs by patients. One of the main ways was the issuance of such drugs only by prescription.
About a decrease in immunity
The clinical picture of pneumonia can change dramatically, not only under the influence of antibacterial agents, but also in the face of a decrease in the protective properties of the body. As a result of this, the typical first signs of pneumonia in adults may not be present. As a result, the patient does not immediately notice a serious problem. Signs of pneumonia in adults without fever in such conditions are expressed in the appearance of a painful blush on the side of the lesion of the lung tissue. This symptom has especially high diagnostic value in the case of an isolated lesion of a single lung.
The temperature increase in this case is not observed for the reason that the body's defenses are depleted. At the same time, hyperthermia is a critical defense factor. The fact is that under conditions of elevated temperature, pathogenic bacteria are much more difficult to grow and multiply. As a result, they are gradually destroyed by white blood cells.
Additional signs
Symptoms of pneumonia without fever in adults are quite diverse. First of all, we are talking about the appearance of a painful blush. This symptom is especially well distinguished if the patient has unilateral pneumonia without fever. Signs of bilateral pneumonia are less noticeable, as the blush will be located on both cheeks.
In addition, a patient with pneumonia, for which rational treatment is not performed, has a pale complexion. When breathing, a lag of the excursion of that half of the chest in which the inflammatory process proceeds may occur. Naturally, such signs of pneumonia in adults without temperature are well detected only in cases with unilateral pathology. In this case, the second cheek may be paler than usual.
There are several more signs that pneumonia develops in children and adults. Without temperature, people often do not pay attention to pain in the chest, intensifying with each breath. This approach is dangerous in that you can skip a serious pathology. So if there is pain in the chest, intensifying during inspiration, it is better to consult a specialist to exclude the inflammatory process in the lung tissue.
When should shortness of breath make you think?
Symptoms of pneumonia without fever in adults, as you can see, are quite diverse. One of the manifestations of the disease is shortness of breath. Normally, it can occur in any person after certain physical exertion. In the event that shortness of breath appears at rest, then one of the reasons may be the inflammatory process that occurs in the lung tissue. At the same time, despite the lack of motor activity, without rational antibacterial therapy, dyspnea gradually only grows.
However, this symptom does not always indicate that pneumonia develops without fever. Symptoms of the same type occur with cardiac pathology, when the patient gradually increases stagnation. Radiography of the chest organs will help to determine the exact cause of shortness of breath.
It is also necessary to remember that young patients should pay special attention to shortness of breath at rest, since in the vast majority of cases they do not have a pronounced cardiac pathology.
What do you need to do first?
In the event that there are typical first signs of pneumonia in adults, you should immediately consult a specialist - a general practitioner or pulmonologist. They will conduct a general examination, including auscultation of the lungs. Based on the results of the initial diagnostic measures, the doctor will decide whether to perform an X-ray examination of the chest organs. If the doctor suspects something and sends the patient to such an examination, then in no case should you refuse. After radiography, the doctor will be able to accurately establish the diagnosis and prescribe a rational treatment.
What is dangerous pneumonia without fever?
This disease, if it occurs without hyperthermia, is very insidious. The fact is that in itself, even with timely rational treatment, pneumonia is very, very dangerous. If antibiotic therapy is not carried out during pneumonia, then there is a real danger that the disease will lead to the most dire consequences. But not only this should scare pneumonia without fever. Such a disease is also dangerous because the patient is most likely weakened by immunity, or he has recently taken certain antibacterial drugs. In both cases, you usually have to use some of the most advanced antimicrobial agents. In a situation with reduced immunity, we are talking about the fact that the body itself does not have the strength to resist infection. In the second situation, pathogenic microorganisms have already developed resistance to one or another type of antibiotic.
How to reduce the risk of pneumonia?
First of all, it is necessary to avoid serious hypothermia. The fact is that with a significant decrease in temperature in a particular area of the human body, the level of local immunity decreases. As a result, pathogens have an excellent opportunity to reproduce unhindered, affecting more and more new areas of lung tissue.
In addition, it is very important to take antibacterial drugs strictly according to the recommendations of doctors. At the same time, their use should be stopped not when the signs of an infectious disease cease to make themselves felt, but only after the completion of a full course of treatment. Otherwise, a certain number of pathogens will remain. In this case, the next time the use of this same antibiotic will be much more modest success, and you will have to change the drug.
Another important point is the support of immunity. In order for it to be normal, it is necessary to maintain a normal level of physical activity, eat properly and in sufficient quantities, and devote the proper time to sleep and normal rest.
About laboratory research
They are carried out if there are signs of pneumonia in adults. Without temperature or with hyperthermia, this disease occurs - laboratory tests are necessary. First of all, we are talking, of course, about a general blood test. This study allows us to assess how severe the infection process is in the lung tissue. At the same time, doctors are most interested in the number of leukocytes, as well as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The fact that the process has an infectious etiology will be indicated by an increase in the level of white blood cells (more than 9 * 10 9 / l). The fact that inflammation is occurring in the body is indicated by an increased level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Often, the doctor prescribes not a regular general blood test, but a study with a formula that allows the doctor to determine which type of microorganism caused the development of the pathology. With an increased level of neutrophils, we can talk about bacterial pneumonia, and with an increase in the number of lymphocytes, we can talk about the viral etiology of this disease.