One of the most important groups of lung infections is pneumonia. Pneumonia is, by definition, an infection of the lung tissue. The main cause of this infection is micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. However, apart from infection, foreign substances such as acid or food residues entering the lungs, inhalation, exposure to radiation can cause lung infection. Pneumonia ranks 5th among the causes of death in our country. It takes the first place in the ranking of deaths due to infection. As in the whole world, the frequency of pneumonia increases with age. In our country, the risk of death due to pneumonia varies between 1 percent and 60 percent depending on the severity of the disease. It is even higher in hospitalized patients.
Lung infection is a lower respiratory tract condition that occurs for various reasons. Bacteria or viruses that collect and multiply in the lungs cause this condition. The lung becomes inflamed and the individual starts to have breathing problems. After the individual experiences discomfort, due to infection, fever, chest pain and coughing occur.
If the virus is not severe, the symptoms will improve over time. But in some cases, the condition progresses and becomes severe. In this case, the person may even be hospitalized. People with chronic diseases can be examined by a specialist.
What Causes Lung Infection?
In people with lung infection, bacteria settle in the lung and continue to progress here. In the winter season, it is among the most common ailments. The rate of spread of the disease is also very high. It is passed to the people around by coughing. The fact that the microbe that causes this disease hangs in the air for a certain period of time increases the rate of transmission. In addition, the disease can be transmitted when there is close contact with germs that descend to the upper part.
What are the Symptoms of Lung Infection?
Pneumonia is a disease characterized by an acute cough. There are some symptoms that occur with lung infection. We can list these symptoms as follows;
- Fever
- Chills
- Tremor
- Phlegm
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath and bloody sputum
Non-typical symptoms are as follows;
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sore throat
- Muscle pain
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
Cough is a clinical finding that should not be neglected in the definition of lung infection. In addition, non-typical findings such as fever, chills, chills and gastrointestinal disorders should be warned in terms of lung infection and the person should consult a health institution.
What are the Risk Groups for Lung Infection?
Chronically ill people and infants have weak body resistance and are at higher risk. However, other risk groups are as follows;
- People who smoke
- Occupational factors (cotton workers, people engaged in printing, chemical dyeing)
- Other comorbidities (COPD, asthma, chronic bronchitis)
- People with impaired immune system
- Obstruction in the airways
- Tumor in the airways
- Foreign body
- Recurrent tonsil infections
- Nasal flesh
- Removal of the spleen
- Alcoholism
- Life in a care home
- People undergoing cancer treatment
- Swallowing disorders
- Viral infections
- Influenza infections
- Side effects of medicines directly
In the risk groups mentioned above; If factors such as sudden fever, diarrhea, shortness of breath, headache are observed, these patients should be evaluated for lung infection.
How Long Does Lung Infection Last?
Symptoms, examination findings and detection of images on chest radiography are sufficient for the diagnosis of lung infection. In patients over 65 years of age or with COPD, heart failure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, non-respiratory symptoms such as fever, weakness, loss of appetite, muscle pain, confusion should lead to examination for pulmonary infection. As a result, the main finding is clinical. These findings can be combined with lung examination findings. The appearance or decrease of different lung sounds in the lung may be an example of this. The most important diagnostic criterion is the radiologic recognition of lung fullness. In risk groups, lung infection should definitely be investigated even in the absence of typical findings such as cough. The duration of the infection varies depending on the underlying diseases. Mild cases show improvement between 3-5 days. If the lung infection is advanced, a 10-day period may be required. In so-called atypical cases, it can vary up to 15 days or even up to 3 weeks. If abscessation occurs, the recovery period can be up to 6 weeks.
How is lung infection treated?
Progression of lung infection means that the person cannot breathe. It is a situation where oxygen cannot enter the body. If the infection progresses, oxygen gas, which is the reason for the person's survival, cannot be taken into the body and passes into our blood through the lungs, it cannot pass in case of infection. In the absence of oxygen, energy production stops or slows down, which means that the person will suffocate and die in the long term. The hormones in the body that fight against the progressive infection itself also self-destruct if the case cannot be cured with antibiotic treatment.
The most important treatment of lung infection is antibiotherapy for the causative agent. For this, especially in places where risk factors are upper airway infections and polluted air, unhealthy nutrition should not be exposed to risk. It is important not to breathe polluted air. Attention should also be paid to hand hygiene, prevention of mouth and nose infections and vaccination. Early diagnosis and treatment saves lives. For best results, treatment of lung infection should be started within 4-8 hours. Antibiotic treatment is started as soon as the diagnosis is made, considering possible situations. Then, according to the sputum and blood samples taken, the appropriate antibiotic and the appropriate bacteria, virus or fungus are applied to the patient. The most important point here is to start antibiotic treatment early. In addition, expectorants, sprays that open the airway, drinking plenty of water and being in fresh air environments, proper nutrition, bed rest are among other factors that are beneficial in the treatment of lung infection.