Do you know that over 34 million people worldwide suffer from chronic lung disease? Your lungs are fully developed when you are 20 to 25 years old. As you age, this may make respiring a little harder. A lung infection’s severity can range from minor to life-threatening. Although lung infection antibiotics can treat the majority of lung infection types, this infection is risky. Mainly at risk are young children, the elderly, persons with lung conditions, and those with compromised immune systems. Recognizing a person’s lung infection is paramount to treating it effectively. To help you out, some common types of lung infection are listed below:
Bronchitis:
The illness that causes bronchitis can be either viral or bacterial, similar to pneumonia. Bronchitis can occasionally occur due to another infection, such as the flu or a cold. Wheezing or coughing, chest pain, fever, and exhaustion are a few bronchitis symptoms. Yet, chronic bronchitis is not an infection. The type of bronchitis a person has and how severe their symptoms are will determine how they should be treated. Only bacterial bronchitis can be treated with antibiotics. Therefore, healthy adults might not require antibiotics even if the infection is bacterial. Virus-induced bronchitis typically resolves on its own. An individual might require cough medicines or steroids in more extreme circumstances. Rarely, a patient may require hospital-based supportive care.
Tuberculosis:
TB diseases can exist in the body of certain persons without resulting in disease. Even so, TB frequently affects the lungs and possibly affects other body parts. A cough that lasts longer than three weeks, coughing up blood, chest pain, weakness, a fever, or chills is some signs of TB. The symptoms of TB could worsen if it spreads to other parts of the body. The earlier TB treatment is sought, the lower the risk of TB-related significant consequences or spreading the disease to others. The infection can be cured with lung infection medicine. However, if there are substantial side effects, different therapies like oxygen or intravenous fluids can be required.
Influenza:
Influenza is a respiratory tract virus that impacts or affects the lungs and the upper airways, including the nose and throat. Inflammation and damage to the lungs’ air sacs caused by severe influenza can result in pneumonia and make breathing difficult. Infants, young children, elderly individuals, and those with weakened immune systems are more prone to severe respiratory problems, even though the flu often disappears.
The flu can swiftly result in a medical emergency in a newborn. Severe cold, high fever, extreme exhaustion, headache, muscle aching, vomiting, and diarrhea are a few flu symptoms. Most people don’t need to get flu treatment. But, a doctor can prescribe anti-flu drugs during the first few days of symptoms.
Final thoughts:
Lung infections can impact the respiratory system as a whole. Rest, water, over-the-counter medicines, and home treatments can help you manage a lung infection at home. Your doctor can write a give you a lung infection medicine to treat pulmonary diseases if you need it.
