What is chronic pneumonia?
Chronic pneumonia is a lung inflammation that persists for a long time, without sudden onset. On the other hand, acute pneumonia develops quickly and usually takes less than three weeks. Classically, pneumonia is caused by infection by bacteria, viruses or fungi that colonize the lungs and cause irritation. Treatment requires the provision of drugs to kill organisms and offering support therapy if the patient has difficulty breathing or develops other complications. Symptoms may be so slow that people do not have to realize that they have pneumonia for days or weeks. Symptoms of chronic pneumonia may include cough, wheezing, fatigue, difficult breathing, fever, night sweating and chest pain. People may not have a history of chest colds or known exposure to infectious organisms to develop pneumonia, as this can be obtained in any number of places.
In patients with chronic pneumonia, blood testing usually shows an unusually high level of white blood cells and other symptoms of chronic inflammation. Lungs with mOhou to discover on X -rays, and if they are displayed by endoscopic procedure, the airways can be seen in the airways and the interior of the lungs shows that chronic inflammation has led to redness, excessive mucus production and other changes in respiratory routes.
Some doctors immediately start a patient with chronic pneumonia on antibiotic drugs. Others may apply for a lung sample to cultivate organisms to find out what causes infection. The division of culture can help doctors identify the right medicines they should use and minimize unnecessary time with ineffective medicines. Cultures may be particularly important if there is a concern for infection with organisms resistant to drugs that do not respond to common drugs. Ventilation is sometimes needed for patients with pneumonia if they have extreme breathing problems and medicines can be administered to open the airways and help withto breathe the patients more freely.
Chronic pneumonia infection can cause long -term damage. The lung capacity can be permanently disturbed and patients can be left by scarring and other problems that cause breathing problems in the future. The recovery time from chronic pneumonia may be longer than patients could expect, as the lungs must be healed after killing infectious organisms. It is important to take courses of recommended medicines, follow the instructions on rest and follow other directions to protect the health of the lungs.