Pneumonia

Pneumonia Causes

Often the cause is bacterial flora, particularly Streptococcus pneumoniae. Bacterial pneumonia can develop after upper respiratory tract infections, such as colds or flu. Approximately 50% of cases of pneumonia pathogen is a virus. Viral pneumonia is more common in the winter and usually does not wear such as an acute bacterial pneumonia. In some cases, they are mycoplasma pathogens - bacteria with properties like amoxil-info.net viruses and bacteria.

Pneumonia Symptoms

Symptoms of pneumonia can be similar to the symptoms of a cold or flu. Depending on the etiology of pneumonia may have different symptoms.

Symptoms of bacterial pneumonia can appear as acute or gradual.These include: fever, shivering, severe chest pain, profuse sweating, cough with thick, reddish or greenish sputum, rapid pulse, and rapid breathing, cyanotic lips and nails. For viral pneumonia is characterized by fever, dry cough, headache, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue and severe shortness of breath.

Symptoms of pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma, are often similar to the symptoms of bacterial and viral pneumonia, but is usually expressed weaker.

What can your doctor

To confirm the diagnosis is performed chest X-rays. Pathogen determined using specific analysis of blood and sputum. In identifying a bacterial or fungal infection is prescribed antibiotics and antifungal drugs. In severe cases, the patient is sent to the hospital. In severe respiratory failure, oxygen therapy.

What tests need to take with suspected pneumonia

necessarily have to do a blood test clinic for suspected pneumonia, and the appearance of the relevant symptoms. The sharp increase in white blood cells, increasing the number of band neutrophils, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate - may indicate an acute bacterial inflammation. Thus, increase of leukocytes greater than 10 * 109 with high probability indicates the development of pneumonia. Reduced white blood cells less than 3 * 109 or an increase of more than 25 109 * are unfavorable prognostic factors, indicating the severity of the disease and a high risk of developing complications.

Indispensable for the accurate diagnosis of pneumonia is a chest X-ray. It is held in a straight line, if necessary, in side view and allows not only the diagnosis of acute pneumonia and identify possible complications, but also to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.

Biochemical analysis of blood does not help in the diagnosis of pneumonia, but reveals the accompanying violations of the internal organs. Usually determine the following parameters: glucose, AST, ALT, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, creatinine, urea, CRP.

The development of respiratory failure is a direct indication for the definition of blood oxygen saturation and carbon dioxide. More accessible is the pulse oximetry. To do this, the patient put his finger on a sensor, evaluating the blood oxygen saturation in the small capillaries.

It is mandatory sputum. Spend its microscopic and bacteriological examination.

In the presence of the patient's symptoms of TB should consult with a TB sputum binding, advanced radiological survey conducted intradermal tests.