Зміст
Bronchopneumonia can be diagnosed based on visual examination, medical history, and chest x-ray. Computed tomography can also be performed to accurately assess the boundaries of inflammatory infiltrates.
Bronchopneumonia is a multifocal inflammatory process that occurs in the bronchi and spreads to the lung tissue. Most often it is an infectious disease caused by a virus, bacteria, or fungus. As the name suggests, bronchopneumonia affects the bronchi and lung tissue. Its course varies greatly. It may be mild, but can also cause a serious clinical condition.
Causes of bronchopneumonia
Bronchopneumonia is caused by pathogens, that is, bacteria (for example, pneumococci, or viruses. Other strains cause so-called nosocomial pneumonia and others specific to community-acquired infections. The causes of the disease include contact with a sick person, advanced infection of the upper and lower respiratory tract, weakened immunity. Excessive use of antibiotics leads to the development of resistant strains, which complicates the treatment of infections and contributes to the spread of inflammation to the lung tissue.
Symptoms of bronchopneumonia in children and adults
Initially, the patient exhibits symptoms of bronchitis, and in the later stages of the disease, after damage to the lung tissue, changes during visual examination indicate bronchopneumonia. Initially, inflammation can cover small areas, and over time it also affects larger areas of the lungs. A symptom of bronchopneumonia is a cough combined with chest pain. The cough is most often productive, that is, it is accompanied by expectoration of thick secretions. Other symptoms of bronchopneumonia include:
- heat,
- feeling of lack of air,
- sweating,
- rapid breathing,
- acceleration of heart rate,
- chills,
- pale skin,
- headaches and muscle pain,
- weakness.
As a result of damage to the lung tissue, the patient develops symptoms of hypoxia. It is important for the doctor to listen to the lungs and detect changes. Wheezing, wheezing, increased or decreased breathing, and other changes may occur.
Diagnosis of bronchopneumonia
After a physical examination, your doctor may order a chest x-ray. If no significant changes are detected and the examination suggests inflammation of the lung tissue, a computed tomography (CT) scan may be useful. In addition, to determine the etiological factor of bronchopneumonia, sputum examination and bronchoscopy can be performed.
Treatment of bronchopneumonia
Depending on the severity of the symptoms of the disease and the expected etiology of pneumonia, appropriate treatment is carried out. Symptomatic treatment involves the prescription of antipyretic drugs that alleviate the symptoms of the disease. The patient is advised to drink enough and rest. It is necessary to monitor blood oxygenation and other vital signs, especially during periods of significant severity of symptoms. Determining the bacterial etiology obliges the doctor to recommend an antibiotic. The form of administration and type of antibiotic depend on the clinical condition and age of the patient, as well as the suspected etiology.
