Lung abscess, although rare nowadays, is still a very serious disease that may result in the removal of part of the lung. The most common cause of a lung abscess is the presence of a foreign body in the lungs or lung cancer. What are the symptoms of a lung abscess and how is it treated?
Lung abscessis a dangerous disease, as it poses a risk of metastasis to the brain, for example, or complications such as pulmonary gangrene or secondary amyloidosis.
Lung abscess - symptoms
Characteristic symptoms that occur withlung abscessare:
- cough
- yellow - green sputum, sometimes with some blood
- high fever and chills
- eardrum in percussion test
- fine bubble neigh
- bronchial murmur.
Lung abscess - diagnosis
The diagnosis oflung abscessis based on a thorough history followed by radiographs showing an image of the cavity with fluid levels. Additionally, bronchoscopy is recommended. The material is collected for histopathological, cytological and bacteriological examination, as well as for fungi and mycobacteria of tuberculosis.
Lung abscess - treatment
As of today, postural drainage, antibiotic therapy (penicillin, streptomycin) and sulfonamides are used in the treatment oflung abscess . Penicillin is used in general and bronchopulmonary by infusion or spray. In the initial stage of the disease, conservative treatment combined with bronchoscopy (bronchoscopy) is used. If treatment is unsuccessful after 10 weeks, surgery is required, as a chronic abscess causes changes in the thick wall through which antibiotics hardly penetrate.
- Removal of the lung. When is the lung removed?
- Removal of the lung. Lung abscess as a reason to remove part of the lung
- Pneumothorax: causes, symptoms, treatment