Symptoms of pneumonia in an adult are usually quite noticeable. However, the situation changes with the atypical course of the disease, one of the variants of which is the absence of its main symptom - hyperthermia. This form of pneumonia is more dangerous than classic, and often indicates the presence of serious pathological changes in the body. So why does pneumonia occur without fever? What are the signs of the presence of the disease in the situation in question? What treatment is needed for the patient?

Causes of pneumonia without fever in adults

The main cause of pneumonia in adult patients is the entry of pathogenic microflora into the lungs. The disease can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa. One of the common pathogens is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Once in the lungs, the microflora settles in the alveoli, multiplies, and releases toxins.

The immune system of a healthy person resists an increase in the bacterial population. The processes of phagocytosis are activated, the formation of antibodies to toxins of microorganisms occurs. All these processes fully occur only at a body temperature that is above normal values.

Note: the normal increase necessary for the work of protective mechanisms is hyperthermia in the range of 37-38 ° C. Higher numbers are life-threatening and require medical correction.

Without fever, the disease can occur in patients with reduced levels of immune defense.In this case, there is a danger to the patient’s life, since, firstly, the immunity does not work to the full, and secondly, a person may not notice other signs of the disease. In both cases, there is a risk of rapid progression of pneumonia and the development of complications.

Another reason for the lack of hyperthermia is the focal course of the process. A small focus of inflammation in the lungs does not always cause a violent reaction of defense systems. In this case, the temperature may well not rise. In such situations, the patient does not have a cough, if the pathological focus is not located in close proximity to the large bronchi.

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Symptoms of pneumonia

The classic picture of croupous pneumonia includes symptoms such as:

  • temperature increase up to 38-40 ° C;
  • hyperemia of the face;
  • dyspnea;
  • tachycardia;
  • wheezing in the lungs;
  • chest pain;
  • signs of toxic effects (muscle pain, weakness, tearfulness);
  • productive cough with rusty sputum.

In the absence of an elevated temperature, the signs of pneumonia in adults become somewhat smoothed out. Unhealthy redness of the face on the side of inflammation, fatigue and weakness, tearfulness, lack of appetite, headaches are noted. A cough may be present, but be weakened and not correspond to the idea of ​​coughing with pneumonia. Acrocyanosis (cyanosis of the lips, earlobes, nail beds) is often detected in patients. This is a sign of respiratory failure and requires urgent hospitalization of the patient.

Diagnostic methods for pneumonia without fever

The main diagnostic method for any type of pneumonia is radiography. In the pictures, areas of inflammation are visible as blackouts. The darker the area, the more intense the inflammatory process proceeds there. This diagnostic symptom is due to the infiltration of the affected lung tissue and a decrease in its airiness.

An auxiliary diagnostic method necessary to confirm the diagnosis and assess the degree of the body's immune response is a clinical blood test. Nonspecific signs of inflammation are revealed here: accelerated ESR, increased white blood cell concentration, shift of the formula to the left. Interestingly, laboratory signs of pneumonia in the absence of temperature are mild.

In the absence of a laboratory and radiological equipment (FAP, village hospitals, first-aid posts), the diagnosis is made on the basis of visual examination, auscultation and percussion. The doctor reveals deafness of percussion sound over the affected area, wheezing or areas of weak sound conductivity, the presence of sputum, cough, signs of intoxication. Doubts are interpreted in favor of the worst diagnosis (if it is not possible to establish precisely whether the patient has bronchitis or pneumonia, the diagnosis is “pneumonia”).

Treatment

Treatment of pneumonia in adult patients can be carried out using traditional or alternative methods of therapy. It should be remembered that the disease in question is life-threatening. Therefore, preference should be given to classic treatment regimens. Alternative treatment can be carried out only in situations where access to medical care is not available for one reason or another.

Traditional treatment

The basis for the treatment of pneumonia is antibiotics. The course of these drugs is prescribed to the patient immediately after diagnosis.

As a rule, the following names of medicines are used:

  • Imipenem and cilastatin sodium;
  • Ofloxacin;
  • Ampioks;
  • Amoxiclav;
  • Ceftriaxone;
  • Cefazolin.

The choice of medication is carried out empirically, however, if the effect of its use does not become noticeable 3-5 days after the start of the course, the antibiotic is changed.In this case, sputum is taken from the patient, which is sent to the microbiological laboratory to determine the pathogen and its sensitivity to antibacterial chemotherapy.

In addition to antibiotics, a patient with pneumonia receives bronchodilators (Eufillin), vitamins (Complivit), and sputum thinning and facilitating its excretion (ACC). If necessary, inhalations of a mixture with a high oxygen content are prescribed. Obvious signs of respiratory failure require the transfer of the patient to mechanical ventilation (artificial air circulation in the lungs).

Patients with pneumonia receive infusion therapy, the purpose of which is to relieve intoxication. Contraindication to this method of treatment is pulmonary edema, exudative pleurisy, too high a CVP. A person undergoing inpatient treatment attends physiotherapeutic procedures: UHF, heating, inhalation of hormones and antibacterial drugs.

Folk remedies for pneumonia

Alternative methods of treatment are used exclusively in extreme cases, or as an addition to the main therapy (after the approval of the attending physician).

There are several recipes, according to herbalists, that contribute to the cure of pneumonia:

  1. Honey and birch buds: 700 grams of bee honey must be boiled, and then add there 100 grams of birch buds. Boil the mixture for 7 minutes. After this, the medicine should be cooled and filtered through a sieve. Honey-kidney broth is taken 1 time per day, a teaspoon, washed down with water. The course of treatment is 7-10 days.
  2. Tar water: 2.5 liters of drinking water and 0.5 liters of medical tar are poured into a three-liter jar. The mixture is tightly closed with a lid and insisted in a warm place for 9 days. After this, the product is considered ready. Take 1 tablespoon 1 time per day, before bedtime. The course of therapy is 10 days.
  3. Garlic Inhaler: in a small lockable container (a jar of "kinder surprise" is ideal) make several small holes and thread one into one so that the product can be hung around the neck. After that, a 2/3 jar is filled with grated garlic and put on. Vapors of garlic leaving the holes and containing a large number of natural antibiotics will enter the lungs with inhaled air and have a therapeutic effect. You need to wear an inhaler around the clock, throughout the entire duration of the disease. Garlic is changed daily.

The described drugs have not been clinically tested and have not been studied. When using them, one should be prepared for the manifestation of one or another negative action, which was previously unknown.

Consequences and complications of the disease

Possible complications of pneumonia can be divided into 2 large groups: pulmonary and extrapulmonary.

Pulmonary complications include:

  • Abscess of the lung;
  • Empyema
  • Pleurisy;
  • Asthmatic events;
  • ONE (acute respiratory failure);
  • Pulmonary edema.

Extrapulmonary complications are presented:

  • Infectious toxic shock;
  • Myocarditis;
  • Endocarditis;
  • DIC;
  • Meningoencephalitis;
  • Glomerulonephritis.

The severe consequences of pneumonia develop only with prolonged attempts of its incorrect treatment or complete absence of therapy. Timely initiated administration of antibiotics allows you to save the patient in the vast majority of cases.

Preventative measures

Prevention of pneumonia is primarily in the hardening and strengthening of immune responses. It should gradually, in accordance with the hardening technology, accustom yourself to low temperatures. It is possible to strengthen immunity by regular consumption of natural immunostimulants - garlic, red pepper, onion.

To prevent disease, a sedentary lifestyle should be avoided. It requires sports, running, aerobic exercise. This allows for high-quality and complete ventilation of all departments of the lungs.It is recommended to treat all chronic foci of inflammation that can become a source of infection, wear clothing according to the weather, and consult a doctor in time if symptoms of a cold appear.

Note: the risk of developing pneumonia is significantly increased in smokers. Tobacco smoke weakens the protective mechanisms of the respiratory tract, thereby creating the entrance gate of infection.

Pneumonia is a serious illness that poses a threat to the patient’s life. This pathology becomes even more severe in the absence of obvious diagnostic signs - fever, cough, sputum. Therefore, even dubious and indirect evidence of pneumonia requires a mandatory examination. Self-medication is unacceptable here.

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