Inflammation of the lungs is a widespread disease that can be diagnosed and followed by therapy. The situation is more complicated if the patient has SARS - it is much more difficult to determine the presence of this pathology, and it can bring much more harm to health. How to track uncharacteristic symptoms and what is the treatment tactic for symptom management?

What is SARS

Atypical pneumonia is a specific form of pneumonia. Its development is due to the impact on the human body of bacteria and viruses that are uncharacteristic of common pneumonia.

Doctors distinguish 4 forms of the disease:

  • mycoplasmal;
  • viral;
  • chlamydial;
  • legionella character.

Routes of infection and risk group

Like many other infections, SARS spreads by airborne droplets and through close contact with an infected person or his things.

The main groups of people at risk of infection:

  1. Small children (toddlers often have weak immunity) and newborns with heart defects due to birth defects, hypovitaminosis or immunodeficiency.
  2. Adults who abuse nicotine products, use drugs, lead an unhealthy lifestyle, suffer from pathologies of the endocrine or cardiovascular system.
  3. People who underwent surgery on the lungs, heart, chest.

SARS is often monitored in preschool children and adolescents suffering from chronic bronchitis, weakened immunity, as well as in young smokers.

Causative agents of the disease

Different forms of pulmonary pathology can be caused by such types of pathogens of SARS:

  • chlamydial and mycoplasma infection;
  • coxiella;
  • hantaviruses;
  • parainfluenza viruses 1, 2 and 3;
  • legionella coronavirus SARS, etc.

Despite a number of differences, these organisms combine resistance to the effects of many types of antibiotics.

Etiology of SARS

The duration of the incubation period of the disease is largely due to the form of pneumonia:

  • mycoplasmal - 3-11 days;
  • chlamydial - 6-17 days;
  • Legionella - 2-10 days;
  • severe respiratory form - 2-10 days.

There are differences in the nature of distribution.

  1. Mycoplasma pneumonia. Distributed by airborne droplets, often in places of abundant crowding: school, work, etc.
  2. Chlamydial pneumonia. It spreads from the patient by airborne droplets.
  3. Legionella pneumonia. Pathogens find refuge in water supply or conditioning systems, making their way into the body after taking a shower, as well as under the influence of humidifiers, fountains, water sprays, etc. This type of pathology is not transmitted from a sick person to a healthy one.

Is the disease contagious to those around you?

Atypical pneumonia is a disease that is considered contagious to surrounding healthy people. An airborne or household way of spreading the disease leads to an increase in the number of patients under the age of 40, while having good health. In some cases, SARS is provoked by contact with some species of birds: ducks, turkeys, pigeons, parrots.

Symptoms in adults and children

Manifestations of SARS are observed in the period from 2 to 11 days. Symptoms can very strongly resemble ordinary pneumonia and include sweating, malaise, headaches, dry cough, hyperthermia. Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting are much less common.

 

The indicated symptoms may persist for several days. In this case, lowering the temperature and improving well-being is acceptable. Progressive disease causes a repeated increase in temperature, weakness. Patients may note chest tightness, shortness of breath, restless behavior. The increase in cardiopulmonary failure can provoke the death of the patient.

Symptoms of SARS in adults and children differ in the form of pathology:

  1. Mycoplasmal:
  • dryness and sore throat;
  • paroxysmal cough (dry or with a small amount of discharge);
  • hyperthermia;
  • weakness;
  • headache;
  • possible manifestation of nosebleeds;
  • lacrimation, redness of the eyes;
  • pain in the abdomen;
  • joint aches;
  • enlarged lymph nodes.
  1. Chlamydial:
  • hyperthermia;
  • severe headaches;
  • dyspnea;
  • enlarged lymph nodes.
  1. Legionella:
  • signs of intoxication (hyperthermia, fever);
  • cough accompanied by bloody sputum;
  • dyspnea;
  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
  • joint and muscle pain, chest discomfort;
  • speech disorders, hallucinations, fainting.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). It has three flow phases:

I. (duration 1-3 days):

  • chills;
  • muscle, headache;
  • mild cough without discharge;
  • weakness.

II. (from 3-7 days):

  • increased cough;
  • shortness of breath, shortness of breath;
  • hyperthermia.

III. (7-8 days):

  • fairly high temperature (39 ℃ and above);
  • increase in shortness of breath;
  • diarrhea;
  • pulmonary edema;
  • respiratory failure.

Diagnostic measures

Typical diagnostic methods may be ineffective in determining the presence of SARS.In this disease, the indicators of tests (C-reactive protein, white blood cells) are often normal. In addition, pathology sometimes occurs without temperature. Even a successful X-ray in other cases may not be able to cope with the diagnosis - pathogens do not leave characteristic traces on the lungs.

The diagnosis, therefore, is based on the symptoms of the disease and the treatment. A person infected with SARS can be sick for weeks, using various means of therapy, while his condition does not always improve. If the methods of instrumental and laboratory diagnostics do not help to clarify the picture, as well as the examination of the doctor, the patient is sent to the MRI procedure, which is recognized as one of the most effective ways of assessing the state of human health.

Treatment of pneumonia

SARS treatment is possible in a hospital or home setting. A more accurate recommendation can be obtained from your doctor. Often, patients are hospitalized, since even mild forms of pathology become complicated quite quickly. Approximately 20% of patients recommended mechanical ventilation.

Patients with SARS are prescribed:

  • Levofloxacin;
  • Azithromycin;
  • Erythromycin;
  • Doxycycline;
  • Tetracycline;
  • Ribavirin

The course of treatment is 10-14 days.

If necessary, the patient is also prescribed antipyretic drugs: Ibuprofen, etc.

Tip. If treatment takes place at home, the patient should certainly adhere to bed rest and drink a sufficient amount of fluid per day.

Additional methods of therapy, not excluding conservative treatment, are the use of traditional medicine recipes. It is useful to combat the manifestations of atypical pneumonia with the help of immuno-strengthening products: raspberries, currants, propolis and honey, garlic and onions, linden, etc. Such funds can be eaten or taken in the form of decoctions and tinctures.

Note. If typical pneumonia is diagnosed in pregnant women, expectant mothers should be constantly monitored by the attending physician.

The specialist will choose the method of therapy appropriate for the particular case, taking into account the patient's condition. The prescribed drugs should be selected taking into account the possibility of harming the fetus, and therefore should have the most gentle effect.

Read also:antipyretic drugs at high temperature in adults

Possible complications

The lack of timely therapy and the advanced stage of SARS can create a number of complications, for example:

  • pulmonary abscess;
  • empyema of pleura and pleurisy;
  • acute respiratory failure;
  • anemia.

To prevent the occurrence of such complications, you should systematically monitor the state of the respiratory system, observe preventive measures and, at the slightest suspicion of pneumonia, consult a specialist.

Tip. First of all, a patient who suspects he has SARS should pay a visit to the therapist. If the treatment prescribed by him does not bring results and the patient's health is deteriorating, you need to make an appointment with a pulmonologist. The latter, having tracked the patient’s condition using instrumental diagnostics, will continue treatment or refer the patient to one of the narrow specialists.

Preventive measures

The main measures for the prevention of pneumonia (ordinary or atypical) include:

  1. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The harmful effects of alcohol and smoking drugs should be eliminated.
  2. Regular hand washing with soap and additional treatment with antiseptics.
  3. As rare a visit to places with a large population of people, especially during exacerbation of seasonal diseases.
  4. The use of a protective mask in cases of suspected presence of atypical or common pneumonia in one or more people around.
  5. Frequent airing of rooms.
  6. Regular wet cleaning.

Atypical pneumonia, as the name implies, is not a common pneumonia.And although its symptoms may be similar to common pneumonia, diagnosing an atypical disease is much more difficult. It is for this reason that you should consult a doctor at the first alarming symptoms and regularly assess the condition of the respiratory organs.

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