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Pneumofibrosis
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Pneumofibrosis is characterized by proliferation of connective tissue, which begins as a result of various inflammations or dystrophic processes.
Usually pneumofibrosis is a complication after some diseases, for example, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, syphilis, and also can be the result of chronic obstructive diseases, occupational diseases that have developed due to exposure to the lungs over a long period of industrial gases or aggressive dust, hereditary diseases and after inhalation of toxic substances of military purpose.
Pathology can develop due to ionizing radiation on the lungs area, taking some medications that refuse the poisoning effect on the body.
ICD-10 code
Pneumofibrosis in ICD-10 is in section J80-J84 (lung diseases that affect interstitial tissue).
The disease belongs to the group of pneumosclerotic diseases, in which there are also such diseases as pneumosclerosis and cirrhosis of the lung (each of pathologies differs in strength of growth of connective tissue).
Causes of pneumofibrosis
Pneumofibrosis develops for various reasons. As already mentioned, this pathology does not develop as an independent disease, but is a consequence of the primary focus of inflammation. The most common causes are infections, pneumonia, the effects of poisonous substances and other contaminants, chest damage (especially if the lung is hurt), the consequence of tuberculosis, fungal and parasitic diseases, congestion in the lungs.
With pneumofibrosis, a gradual replacement with the connective tissue of lung cells begins, and pathology can be caused both by inflammation in the respiratory organs and by the action of toxic substances penetrating into the lungs during inspiration.
Often pneumofibrosis occurs as a result of hypoxia of the lung tissue, which leads to the activation of fibroblasts, which produce collagen, which becomes the initial stage of the development of connective tissue.
It is also possible to identify the main causes that cause pathological processes in the lungs: a violation of the ventilation of the lungs, outflow of secretion from the bronchi and blood and lymph flow.
Normally, the lung tissue is elastic, which ensures normal functioning of the body's breathing system. The greater the elasticity, the more the organism exerts an effort to stretch the tissue, which leads to a high intrapulmonary pressure. The pressure inside the lungs acts on the inner wall of the alveoli and opens it up by inhaling air. With the onset of pneumofibrosis, most of the alveoli are affected, as a result, the elasticity in the lungs decreases, and the body needs less force to stretch. In this case, low intrapulmonary pressure does not open all the alveoli and some of them drop out of the general breathing system, which causes the body to get less oxygen, and the process of ventilation of the lungs is disrupted.
Inflammatory processes in the bronchi disrupt the outflow of secret, which accumulates in them, which becomes a favorable environment for the reproduction of pathogenic microflora.
Violation of blood and lymph flow occurs due to the movement of blood vessels in the lungs, stagnant processes in the adjacent to the light vessels. Stagnation of blood usually occurs due to inflammatory processes, spasms. In the place of stagnation, a connective tissue begins to form, which eventually replaces the nearby alveoli.
In other words, the primary disease in the lungs (the focus of inflammation) affects the development of pneumofibrosis, which provokes the replacement of lung tissue with a connective one.
In each case, depending on the factor that triggered the pathological process, the connective tissue develops differently: if the ventilation of the lungs is disturbed, the appearance of connective tissue in the lungs becomes the root cause of pneumofibrosis, with stagnant processes - are a consequence.
When the disease progresses, the lung tissue falls out their respiratory system, which leads to the development of respiratory failure and disruption of gas exchange processes between blood vessels, tissues, and alveoli.
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Symptoms of pneumofibrosis
Pneumofibrosis manifests itself locally or diffusely. Most often, a diffuse form of the disease is detected, since local lesions of the lung tissue usually do not have pronounced symptoms.
The main symptom that indicates a pathological process is shortness of breath, which in the initial stages arises from physical overwork. And then starts to disturb and in a quiet state.
Often a person begins to be disturbed by a severe cough, in which viscous sputum is released from the bronchi, sometimes with purulent impurities. At visual inspection it is possible to define signs of a cyanosis which develops because of a hypoxia of lungs.
Often there are aching pains in the chest, weakness, a person can lose weight without a reason.
With severe lesions with a cough, there is pain in the chest.
In the advanced stages in the lungs, wheezing or "cork rubbing sound" is heard.
If complications occur, coughing with sputum can produce blood.
In addition to the symptoms of pneumofibrosis, there are signs of a primary disease that provoked pathology.
Pneumofibrosis of the lungs
Pneumofibrosis of lungs provokes the growth of connective tissue. The disease, as mentioned, develops due to inflammation or other dystrophic processes, leads to a violation of the elasticity of lung tissue and other pathologies.
Basal pneumofibrosis
Basal pneumofibrosis is characterized by the appearance on the lung tissue of compacted areas. The pathological process can begin because of the transferred diseases (bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.), and the disease can develop in a few years, after the underlying disease.
Diffuse pulmonary pneumofibrosis
Diffuse pneumofibrosis is diagnosed if multiple lesions are detected on the lung tissue, this disease is characterized by the defeat of the entire lung tissue.
Local pneumofibrosis
Local pneumofibrosis is characterized by a focal lesion of the lung, when the replacement process takes place in a certain place.
Focal pneumofibrosis
Focal pneumofibrosis affects the bleaching sites of lung tissue, i.e. On the lung tissue, separate lesions are noted.
Basal pneumofibrosis
The diagnosis of basal pneumofibrosis is made after x-rays. With this form of the disease, drug therapy is prescribed when there are any inflammatory processes in the lungs and bronchial tubes, otherwise the doctor can recommend breathing exercises and herbal therapy. Basal pneumofibrosis affects the basal (at the base of the lungs) departments.
Restricted pneumofibrosis
Limited pneumofibrosis (local) does not greatly affect lung function and does not violate gas exchange processes in them.
Linear pneumofibrosis
Linear pneumofibrosis is a consequence of inflammatory diseases such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and the like. Also, pathology can occur against tuberculosis.
Interstitial pneumofibrosis
Interstitial pneumofibrosis develops as a result of inflammation of blood vessels, capillaries. Usually, with this form of the disease, a person begins to suffer shortness of breath.
Post pneumonic fibrosis
Post pneumonic fibrosis develops after pneumonia, infections, etc. The development of pathology begins after the formation of fibrous tissue in large quantities against the background of the inflammatory process in the lungs.
Severe pneumofibrosis
Heavy pneumofibrosis develops against a background of chronic inflammatory processes in the lungs that provoke the proliferation of connective tissue. At a young age, severe pneumofibrosis may occur due to smoking, since cigarette smoke disrupts the function of the bronchi and causes stagnant processes (sputum is delayed in the bronchi) especially against the background of inflammation.
Post-inflammatory pneumofibrosis
Post-inflammatory pneumofibrosis is a consequence of inflammatory processes in the lungs.
Moderate pneumofibrosis
Moderate pneumofibrosis is characterized by small lesions of the lung tissue.
Pneumofibrosis in children
Pneumofibrosis in children develops for the same reasons as in adults. In childhood, it is important to pay attention to lung diseases (bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.), not to start diseases and to conduct complete and timely treatment. It is also necessary to limit the child's contact with poisonous substances, cigarette smoke, and the like.
Diagnosis of pneumofibrosis
Pneumofibrosis is diagnosed on the basis of symptoms and a thorough medical examination.
If you suspect a pneumofibrosis, the patient is referred for consultation to a pulmonologist.
The main diagnostic tool for this pathology is X-ray, which will help establish the sclerotic nature of changes in lung tissue and distinguish pneumofibrosis from a tumor in the lungs.
If necessary, the doctor can prescribe a computer tomography, tomography, radiography.
What do need to examine?
How to examine?
Who to contact?
Treatment of pneumofibrosis
Pneumofibrosis currently does not have effective methods of treatment. If the disease is detected accidentally during a preventive examination, it is asymptomatic, then treatment, as a rule, is not prescribed.
If local lesions in the lungs are revealed after inflammatory or destructive processes, pneumofibrosis develops against the background of regularly occurring infectious processes, the specialist prescribes antibacterial therapy, anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as physiotherapy procedures that improve sputum discharge.
With pneumofibrosis, diagnosis plays an important role, as it helps the doctor determine the need for surgical treatment.
In case the disease develops against the background of ingress of aggressive particles (dust, poisonous substances, etc.) into the lungs, the treatment is primarily aimed at eliminating the disease-provoking factor (ie, to exclude contact with poisonous substances, dust and other pollutants).
If necessary, the specialist can prescribe a treatment for respiratory failure, which will ease the patient's condition with pneumofibrosis.
Treatment of pneumofibrosis with alternative means
Pneumofibrosis leads to the formation of scar tissue on the lung tissue (due to the growth of connective tissue). Alternative medicine in this pathology will help to remove symptoms and improve the condition.
First of all, you should stop smoking, do light physical exercises and breathing exercises.
When the disease can not be worried, you should avoid any stressful situations.
With pulmonary diseases, tincture of the plant (aloe) effectively helps.
Several large sheets of the plant are well washed, finely chopped (or grated), mixed with two tablespoons of honey (preferably not taken candied) and 400-500 ml of red wine (preferably homemade) and mixed well until a homogeneous mass is obtained. You need to consume this drug immediately (shelf life in the refrigerator - 2 weeks). Take the drug you need 1 tbsp. 3-4 times a day before meals (15-20 minutes).
Also, when a disease is recommended, make honey massage (if there is no allergy). The back of the patient every other day needs to be grinded 1-2 hours. Honey (it is better to take fresh, not candied) and rub a few minutes until the skin begins to stick to the hand.
Treatment of pulmonary pneumofibrosis with pine kidneys
Treatment of the kidneys of pine has long been known method of folk medicine, helping to cope with many pulmonary diseases. In the kidneys there is a large number of resinous substances and essential oils, which are beneficial for respiratory organs.
Pine kidneys have anti-inflammatory and expectorant effect, destroy pathogenic bacteria. Decoction or tinctures of pine buds strengthens the secretory function of the epithelium in the respiratory organs, dilutes sputum and facilitates its excretion.
Alternative healers recommend treating pneumofibrosis with a decoction of pine buds:
10g of kidneys pour 250 ml of water, boil in a water bath for about half an hour, then insist for 10-15 minutes. Filtered broth to take 1 tbsp. 3-4 times a day after meals.
Prevention of pneumofibrosis
Pneumofibrosis often develops against the background of infectious and inflammatory diseases in the lungs, by inhalation of poisonous substances and contaminated air (dust).
To prevent the disease should completely give up smoking, lead an active lifestyle, promptly identify and treat the disease.
If the kind of activity you have to work with poisonous substances, dust and other pollutants, you need to adhere to safety techniques, use respirators.
Prognosis of pneumofibrosis
Pneumofibrosis is always a consequence of the underlying disease and the prognosis in this case depends on the severity and complexity of the initial illness. With significant lesions of lung tissue, the volume of the lung decreases, which leads to respiratory failure, an increase in the pressure in the pulmonary artery. Lethal outcome, as a rule, comes as a result of a new infection or the beginning of the tuberculosis process.
Pneumofibrosis disrupts the structure and function of the lungs. Over time, pathology leads to deformation of the bronchi, a decrease in volume and wrinkling of the lungs. The disease is susceptible to all age categories, most often pneumofibrosis is diagnosed in men.