Pneumonia is one of the many lung disorders. It happens when a fungi, virus or bacteria causes an infection and inflammation to the alveoli; tiny sacs of air in the lungs. Lobular pneumonia or bronchopneumonia is a kind of pneumonia that leads to bronchi inflammation. Bronchi are the air passages which feed the lungs with fresh air.
Individuals suffering from bronchopneumonia can have breathing problems since their airways will be constricted. Because of inflammation, the lungs can lack sufficient air. The symptoms of this condition can either be severe or mild.
Symptoms of bronchopneumonia in children and adults
The signs experienced in bronchopneumonia can be identical to the ones in other kinds of pneumonia. This disorder can start with symptoms of flu which can become severer as the days progress. Some of the symptoms are:
- Chest pains
- Sweating
- Fever
- Cough with mucus
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle aches
- Pleurisy: Chests pains leading to inflammation because of too much coughing
- Fatigue
- Delirium or confusion, mostly in the old individuals
The above symptoms can be severe particularly for the individuals with another illness or those with a very weak immune system. Infants and children may portray symptoms in different ways. Whereas coughing can be the most common sign in children, other signs may include:
- Low level of blood oxygen
- Chest muscles retractions
- Rapid heart rate
- Sleeping difficulties
- Congestion
- Fever
- Irritability
- Reduced interest in drinking, feeding and eating
If you note any of the above symptoms of pneumonia, ensure that you visit a doctor immediately. It is not possible to know the kind of pneumonia you are suffering without the doctor carrying out thorough examinations and tests.
Risk factors of bronchopneumonia
Age: Those individuals aged 65 years and above, as well as the kids who are 2 years old and below, have a greater risk of suffering from bronchopneumonia and other related complications.
Environmental: The individuals who mostly visit or work in nursing homes or hospital facilities have a very high risk of contracting bronchopneumonia.
Lifestyle: Poor nutrition, smoking and a past of much alcohol abuse can increase the risk of bronchopneumonia.
Medical conditions: There are particular medical disorders that can raise the risk of suffering this kind of pneumonia. They include:
- Having HIV/AIDS
- Getting ventilator support
- Having difficulties swallowing
- Having a severe disease like diabetes and heart disease
- Having a very weak immune system like lupus and rheumatoid
- Having a weak immunity because of using immunosuppressive medicines or because of chemotherapy
- A prolonged cough
- Having chronic lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma
All of the above risk groups must talk to their medical practitioners on management and prevention tips.
Diagnosing Bronchopneumonia
Doctors normally diagnose this disorder through listening to breathing sounds of the patients using a stethoscope. In some instances, the below examinations are additionally used in detecting this condition:
- Chest x-ray
- Sputum culture test
- Complete blood count
In some cases, a CT scan can be done. A culture of the pleural fluid can also be taken round the lungs. Lung x-rays have to be done in the event that diagnosis is uncertain. For the bronchopneumonia patients, the chest x-ray exams mostly aid in showing the scattering of the heterogeneous opacities, as compared to homogenous opacities characterizing lobar pneumonia.
The variance or differential bronchopneumonia diagnosis is geared towards differentiating the symptoms from other identical disorders like:
- Pulmonary emboli
- Lung cancer
- Pulmonary edema
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
- Bronchiectasis
The physicians must ensure that the signs experienced by patients are of bronchopneumonia and not any other disorders listed above. When a misdiagnosis is done, the health of the patients will be jeopardized and will complicate the disorder to a very severe extent. Because of this, the patients must always be diagnosed by expert health providers.
Treatment of bronchopneumonia
Treatment alternatives for bronchopneumonia involve both prescription medical treatment and at home treatment procedures.
Home care
The viral bronchopneumonia usually does not need medical treatment lest they are severe. It normally improves alone after about two weeks. Fungal or bacterial causes of bronchopneumonia may need medication.
Medical treatment
A physician will issue antibiotics when the bacterium is the cause of pneumonia. Most individuals will start feeling better after two or five days after commencing the intake of antibiotics. It is vital that you complete the antibiotics to hinder the infection from recurring. In some instances, the doctor can prescribe antivirals to aid in reducing the illness length and the symptoms severity.
In case the infection is very severe, you will have to visit the hospital. Hospital treatment may entail intravenous antibiotics (IV). In case the oxygen blood levels are very low, one may get oxygen therapy to aid in returning it to normal.
The physician will recommend antibiotics when the child suffers from a bacterial infection. Home care is a very vital step in managing this disorder since it eases the symptoms. Ensure that the kid gets sufficient rest and fluids. The doctor can prescribe Tylenol to bring down the fevers. A nebulizer or inhaler can be prescribed too to aid in keeping the airwaves open.
In extreme cases, the kid will be hospitalized to get respiratory therapy, IV fluids, oxygen and medication. The cough medicines for children below 6 years must always be issued by a doctor.
