How to identify pneumonia at home

Infectious inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia) is an acute inflammatory disease affecting the lung tissue. Clinically, pneumonia is the disease with fresh infiltrates on radiographs of the lung, in the presence of symptoms characteristic of infections of the lower respiratory tract. The infection occurs most often through inhalation of microbes from the nasopharynx. In the development of inflammation plays a role the immune system and the organism as a whole (fatigue, age...).

Kak opredelit vospalenie legkih v domashnih usloviyah

Predisposing factors are: Smoking, alcoholism, poor oral hygiene, cystic fibrosis, aspiration (inhalation of foreign matter, including liquid substances) outbreaks.

Onset of the disease usually occurs gradually over 2-3 days, often it is preceded by infection of the upper respiratory tract, which are generally not treated.

Treatment consists of antibiotics and supportive symptomatic therapy, introduced approx antipyretic drugs, mucolytics.

Symptoms can vary depending on what particular pathogen caused pulmonary disease (bacteria or virus). The diagnosis of pneumonia is aimed primarily to identify and recognize the culprit of the disease. Diagnosed the causative agent better than cure, since therapy can lead purposefully (for example, antibiotics are ineffective when a virus).

Signs and symptoms – how to identify pneumonia at home

How do you know that it is pneumonia and not the flu or even the common cold. This can be done by drawing attention to symptoms typical for this disease.

  1. Cough – initially dry, irritating, late – productive (with phlegm).
  2. The sputum is greenish or yellowish, there may be impurities in the blood.
  3. Dyspnea.
  4. Tachypnea – accelerated respiration.
  5. Tachycardia – fast heart rate.
  6. The rise in temperature above 38°C with sweating with chills.
  7. Pain in the chest.
  8. General weakness.
  9. "Aching" joints, muscles, head.
  10. Loss of appetite.
  11. Pneumonia often accompanies cold sores on the lips.
  12. Definition of infiltrate on the radiograph of the lungs.
  13. The laboratory tests show the multiplication of white blood cells (leukocytes) and signs of inflammation – increased C-reactive protein level.
  14. Viral inflammation fatigue is accompanied by headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea and vomiting.

How to recognize pneumonia?

To diagnose pneumonia a doctor it is important an accurate description of the symptoms and an examination of the lungs percussion, auscultation, and thoracic oscillations. It is important to investigate lymph nodes, heart, examine of the oral cavity. Not the last role played by chest x-ray. Of blood can be recognized the severity of the inflammation. With proper treatment, the inflammatory markers are completely destroyed. The causative agent of pneumonia can be determined by bacteriological examination of mucus otharcivatmi.

Diagnosis of pneumonia

How to identify the pneumonia – anamnesis and the clinical picture

In history determined by the following factors:

  • communication with health care,
  • previous treatment with antibiotics,
  • the frequency of infectious diseases in the environment,
  • contact with animals.

Is installed information about any of the following situations:

  • journeys,
  • stay in social institutions,
  • the use of psychoactive substances,
  • smoking,
  • the presence of immunodeficiency or immunosuppressive factors,
  • the presence of chronic diseases.
Kak opredelit vospalenie legkih v domashnih usloviyah

Is also determined by the presence of typical symptoms of infection of the lower respiratory tract –the rise in temperature with chills and fever, cough, dry or productive, with a different amount of sputum and its quality, deterioration of the General condition of human health, the pleural pain. In addition, the estimated state of consciousness, lung auscultation, blood pressure and heart rate, hemoglobin oxygen saturation using an oximeter that is defined by the presence of extrapulmonary symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, joint pain and muscle pain, symptoms of severe sepsis.

How to diagnose the disease – the primary survey

  1. A detailed medical history.
  2. A thorough physical examination.
  3. The saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen using pulse oximeter.
  4. Complete blood count.
  5. The study of acid-base balance of blood +, blood gases, lactate.
  6. Comprehensive biochemical studies, including power settings.
  7. Glycemia.
  8. Parameters of coagulation.
  9. Chest x-ray in two projections.

How to identify the pneumonia – additional inspection methods

  1. Measurement of urine output, Central venous pressure.
  2. ECG.
  3. CT of the lungs.
  4. Echocardiography.
  5. Humoral + cell-mediated immunity.
  6. Invasive monitoring (in certain cases).

How to identify the disease – microbiological testing

  1. Microscopic, cultivation, immunofluorescence tests.
  2. Endotracheal aspirate (incubation of patients).
  3. Serological test.
  4. Blood test.
  5. Definition of antigen in the urine.
  6. Molecular-genetic methods.
  7. Pleurisy.
  8. Lung biopsy (in certain cases).

How to recognize pneumonia – what you need to diagnose?

In the diagnosis of severe pneumonia in the first place is the examination of the sputum, which is done by two methods:

  • Microscopic.
  • Cultivation.

Microscopic examination usually uses the method of gram, in certain cases the method of Ziehl-Nelsen on acid-fast rods or staining gimsa, which is clearly displayed also Pneumocystis fungi, protozoa and viral inclusions.

Cultivation sputum may be mycological or bacteriological. The importance of proper selection of patients and a short period of time between sputum collection and her research in clinical Microbiology laboratories.

What, actually, happens with inflammation of the lungs?

Kak opredelit vospalenie legkih v domashnih usloviyah

During the occurrence of pneumonia is the weakening or disappearance of breath in various segments of the lung or in General lung wing. From the expansion of pneumonia depends on the severity of the human condition, the nature of the symptoms (subjective and objective), therapy, prognosis.

Complications of pneumonia can be represented:

  • pulmonary atelectasis (an airless lung tissue),
  • pleurisy,
  • pleural effusion,
  • an empyema (pus in the pleural cavity),
  • a lung abscess (encapsulated abscess).

How to treat pneumonia?

Significant role played in bed with a slightly raised head and trunk, facilitate breathing and coughing. Adequate fluid intake enhances immune system and facilitates expectoration. Given oral antibiotics. Appropriate breathing exercises.

In severe or adverse prognostic indicators need treatment in the hospital.

What to do after pneumonia?

After pneumonia, it is necessary to observe physical and mental calmness with a sufficient amount of sleep and good food. Rehabilitation mode takes about a month, after which you can carefully increase the load.

What is the prevention of pneumonia?

The General principles of prevention are the following factors:

  1. Satisfactory physical condition.
  2. Mental well-being.
  3. Sufficient sleep.
  4. Good nutrition.
Kak opredelit vospalenie legkih v domashnih usloviyah

It is important to avoid hypothermia or any banal infections. Against Haemophilus influenzae and pneumococcal infections of people rescued by vaccination.