Acute pneumonia in adults
Acute pneumonia is one of the most common complications of respiratory problems. In 9% of patients, it leads to death. And it’s not always the coronavirus!

Acute pneumonias are seasonal – they occur much more often in the autumn-winter period with sudden changes in weather, when the body is weakened, and the number of pathogenic microorganisms, especially viruses, increases.

What is acute pneumonia

Acute pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs that has an infectious origin. The disease proceeds with intoxication, impaired lung function in the exchange of gases with blood, has typical changes on X-ray or CT. Acute pneumonia is considered if it lasts up to 3 weeks. If pneumonia proceeds from beginning to end up to 2 months, it is called protracted. If the inflammation does not go away even after 2-3 months, this is already chronic pneumonia.

Acute pneumonia usually occurs in people whose immunity has been temporarily reduced due to various diseases, stress factors, or damage to the bronchi and lungs.

Causes of acute pneumonia in adults

Most often, acute pneumonia is caused by pathogens of various infections. In the first place – bacterial pathogens: pneumococci (accounting for up to 40% of pneumonia), mycoplasmas (up to 20%), staphylococci (up to 5%), rod flora. In second place are viruses – influenza, RS-virus and adenoviruses, coronaviruses. Very rarely, pneumonia is caused by fungal infections.

Acute pneumonia can also occur when exposed to chemicals, adverse physical factors – these are alkalis, acids (volatile), radiation, extremely low or high temperatures. Sometimes allergic pneumonia, inflammation caused by helminths (worms) or as a side effect of certain medications are possible.

Predisposing factors for the development of acute pneumonia are:

  • bad habits (they form chronic intoxication of the body);
  • sharp and severe hypothermia and prolonged overheating;
  • chronic infections in the body;
  • allergy;
  • stress;
  • prolonged bed rest.

Also, pneumonia often develops in people suffering from diseases of the bronchi, lungs, heart or blood vessels.

Symptoms of acute pneumonia in adults

Symptoms of acute pneumonia can vary. It depends on the cause and age of the person, the strength of his immunity and the percentage of lung damage. For most acute pneumonias, it is typical:

  • a sharp rise in temperature to significant numbers (38 – 40 ° C);
  • severe chills, sweating;
  • general weakness, severe malaise;
  • headache, aches in the statutes, muscle soreness (due to toxicosis);
  • heartbeat, shortness of breath;
  • pressure reduction;
  • excitation or oppression of consciousness;
  • sleep disorders;
  • nausea, abdominal pain, sometimes vomiting;
  • cough with sputum (purulent, mucous, blood-streaked, rusty);
  • chest pain when breathing.

Sometimes there may be signs of SARS if pneumonia occurs as a complication. With severe inflammation, manifestations of psychosis are possible, which is associated with a sharp oxygen deficiency in the brain.

Treatment of acute pneumonia in adults

Any acute pneumonia requires therapy. Some forms can be treated at home, taking all the drugs prescribed by the doctor, but some pneumonias are treated in a hospital, sometimes even in intensive care.

Diagnostics

The doctor makes the diagnosis by asking the patient in detail about all complaints, previous diseases and conditions after which pneumonia began. The doctor must listen to the chest with a phonendoscope – wheezing in the lungs, changes in breathing, heart function. Additionally, he says:

  • urine and blood tests to determine inflammation and its type (viral, bacterial);
  • chest X-ray or CT;
  • sputum culture or examination under a microscope.

If there are additional diseases, ultrasound, ECG and a number of tests are indicated to exclude the development of complications.

Modern treatments

Bacterial pneumonia is treated with antibiotics, the doctor selects them according to the type of pathogen. Modern powerful antibiotics can be used in mild to moderate cases in tablets or capsules. If pneumonia is severe, they are prescribed intravenously and intramuscularly.

Sometimes one antibiotic is not enough, the doctor uses two drugs or changes one medicine for another if the effect of the medicine is insufficient.
Alexey ZhitoCandidate of Medical Sciences, general practitioner, endocrinologist, cardiologist

In the treatment of viral pneumonia, individual antiviral drugs that have been studied and shown to be effective can be used. In the case of mild or moderate forms, symptomatic therapy is carried out.

Additionally, for most pneumonias, doctors may prescribe:

  • antipyretic drugs (Nurofen, Ibuprofen, Ibuklin, Paracetamol);
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  • anti-inflammatory drugs (from the group of non-steroidal, and in severe cases – hormonal);
  • antihistamines (Suprastin, Tavegil, Cetrin, Zirtek) can be used to reduce swelling and reactions of the immune system;
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  • in severe condition, intravenous injections of plasma, saline solutions, protein, glucose are carried out;
  • expectorants and sputum thinners (ACC, Fluimucil, Bromhexine, Ascoril, Lazolvan);
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  • for shortness of breath and hypoxia, oxygen therapy is used (in serious cases, transfer to mechanical ventilation).

As the condition improves, when inflammation subsides, physiotherapy, massage, exercise therapy, and breathing exercises are added.

Prevention of acute pneumonia in adults at home

For some types of pneumonia, vaccination is considered an effective preventive measure. These are pneumococcal, hemophilic infection, influenza, coronavirus. For other options, traditional protection measures are effective:

  • the patient should stop smoking and drinking alcohol;
  • spend more time outdoors;
  • observe the regime of the day, include regular physical activity in your schedule;
  • eat right, getting as many vitamins and minerals as possible;
  • treat all infections promptly.

Popular questions and answers

Acute pneumonias are serious diseases, they can threaten the health and life of the patient if they are not treated in a timely manner or if you try to cope with it yourself. What is dangerous acute pneumonia, he told us doctor-therapist Alexey Zhito.

What are the features of acute pneumonia, which can be considered acute?
All pneumonias are acute, the term “chronic pneumonia” is currently excluded from all medical classifiers. Long-lasting inflammation of the lung tissue, for example, of an autoimmune nature, is more correctly called by other terms, for example, “pneumonitis”.
What are the complications of acute pneumonia?
Among the complications are the following:

•‎ fever – a pronounced increase in body temperature;

•‎ respiratory failure – with a large lesion of the lungs, the residual functioning part of the lungs may not be able to cope with the work of saturating the blood with oxygen, and the patient begins to suffocate;

• Acute heart failure – with respiratory failure and high body temperature, one of the first organs that ceases to function normally is the heart;

•‎ intoxication – viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia lead to general intoxication of the body due to its own vital activity and decay of lung tissue, which can cause toxic shock in the worst case;

•‎ pleurisy – inflammation of the pleura, “the lining of the lungs”, can occur if the inflammation is transmitted from the lung tissue, which is accompanied by pain and the formation of fluid in the pleura, and this exacerbates respiratory failure;

The syndrome of general weakness can persist for a long time, up to six months after suffering pneumonia.

When to call a doctor at home for acute pneumonia?
A patient with suspected pneumonia should be examined by a doctor as soon as possible, because only a specialist can choose the best treatment tactics in a particular case and exclude other causes of the disease. The doctor prescribes therapy, which is often outpatient, that is, medications are prescribed that the patient takes at home.

But, unfortunately, there may be complications and situations that require calling an ambulance at home – for example, a pronounced increase in temperature above 39 ° C, impaired consciousness, persistence of a high temperature (above 38 ° C) for several days, an increase in respiratory failure, shortness of breath, the appearance and increase of edema (signs of heart failure), pulmonary bleeding.

Is it possible to treat acute pneumonia with folk remedies?
Pneumonia is treated only with the participation of a doctor who examines the patient and prescribes appropriate therapy. The patient must fully comply with the recommendations of the doctor.

It is acceptable to use traditional medicine, for example, taking lemon juice and some herbs with an expectorant effect, but this requires mandatory agreement with your doctor (including to avoid unwanted interactions with prescribed medications). Self-prescription of drugs and traditional medicine methods by the patient is unacceptable and is associated with poor outcomes of pneumonia.

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