LUNG INFECTIONS

Lung infections can cause these illnesses:

Lung Infections Affecting the Airways

The trachea (windpipe) branches into cylinders called bronchi, which branch to end up continuously as smaller cylinders all through the lungs. Illnesses that affect the airways include:

• Acute bronchitis-A sudden infection of the airways, more often by bacteria or viruses

Lung Infections Affecting the Air Sacs (Alveoli)

The airways inevitably branch into little cylinders (bronchioles) that expand into groups of air sacs called alveoli. These air sacs make up a large portion of the lung tissue.

Lung infections that affect the alveoli include:

• Pneumonia- Causedby microscopic organisms.
• Tuberculosis- A gradually dynamic pneumonia caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Lung Infections Affecting the Pleura

The pleura is a thin covering that surround the lung and lines the chest wall. A little layer of liquid permits the pleura on the lung’s surface to slide along the chest wall with every breath.

Lung infections of the pleura include:

Pleural effusion– Fluid gathers in the typically small pleura space between the lung and the chest wall. Pneumonia can give rise to this condition

Symptoms of lung infections include the following:

• Fever
• Increased shortness of breath
• Productive cough
• Changes in mucus
• Pleuritic chest pain

DIAGNOSIS

Your doctor will request the following:

• Blood tests
• Oximetry
• Arterial blood gases
• Bronchoscopy
• Transtracheal bodily fluid
• Lung biopsy
• Thoracentesis
• Computed tomography (CT)

TREATMENT

The objectives of lung infection treatment are to stop the disease whenever possible, treat infection and prevent their spread to other individuals, decrease inflammation, stop or moderate lung damage, soothe symptoms, ease breathing, limit the reactions from medicines, and ensure that the infected individual is getting adequate oxygen.

Antibiotics are given to treat lung infections.

New treatments for lung infections are being developed and individual treatment needs change after some time. People who have lung infections should consult with their doctor about the medicines that are appropriate for them.