Focal pneumonia

Focal pneumonia is a disease characterized by a symptomatic complex of inflammation of the lung tissue. Its feature is the diversity of etiological, pathogenetic, clinical signs. A characteristic feature of the disease is the limitation of inflammation within the limits of the lung, acinus or segment.

Focal pneumonia is often the result of complications of other diseases (for example, with blood congestion in a small circle of circulation , hypostatic pneumonia occurs ) or independent. The development of the process begins with the bronchi, therefore it is also called bronchopneumonia.

The disease is classified according to the magnitude of the inflammatory foci. According to this principle, pneumonia is divided into small-focal, large-focal and drainage. Often the process is localized in lobules of the lung within a certain segment. In this case, the areas of normal tissue alternate with pathological inflammatory foci.

Focal pneumonia occurs with the action of any infectious agents: staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci, proteus, legionellae, intestinal rods, anaerobic microbes, protozoa, mycoplasmas, chlamydia, viruses.

Pathogens penetrate into the lung tissue mainly by a bronchogenic pathway. Lymphogenous and hematogenous method is typical for secondary pneumonia, which complicates the course of the main pathological condition. Reproduction of microorganisms is carried out under the influence of unfavorable factors, which reduce the protective functions of the bronchial defense system. These include hypothermia, smoking, stress, inhalation of toxic substances.

The nature of inflammatory processes depends on the properties of the infectious agent, the degree of disturbance of blood circulation in the lesion, the state of the macroorganism.

Focal pneumonia has a variable clinical picture. The disease can develop gradually, acutely. In the latter case, there is a sharp increase in temperature, chills. Frequent complaints of patients are cough, which can be dry, wet with the release of significant amounts of sputum, pain in the chest, quickening of breathing, general weakness.

To diagnose the disease, the following instrumental methods are used: auscultation and percussion. The first way helps to listen to the nature of breathing and changes in it. In the presence of acute pneumonia, sonorous wet rales are determined. Breathing becomes more severe in this case. During percussion, areas of blunting are identified, which alternate with areas of healthy tissue. Addition of pleurisy causes the appearance of pathological noise of friction of the pleura.

In laboratory studies, an increase in neutrophilic leukocytes in the blood, an increase in ESR is determined.

Acute pneumonia requires immediate treatment, because in many cases complications are added to it, often leading to a significant deterioration in the functional state. The disease is of a complex nature. It includes the fight against toxicosis and infection, the elimination of inadequate breathing, the restoration of the function of organs, the increase of protective forces. The choice of drugs is based not only on the nature of the underlying disease, but also on the presence of associated pathological conditions.

The main principles of therapy with medications, among which the main role is played by antibiotics, are as follows: when the diagnosis is established, treatment begins which, before determining the type of pathogen, includes a wide spectrum of action. After clarifying the etiology and identifying a specific infectious agent, the relief of pneumonia acquires a slightly different form. Several antibacterial agents are prescribed, which have the same and narrow mechanisms of action. Treatment of bronchopneumonia with timely and rational selection of drugs ends in an average of seven days.