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Treatment of chronic pneumonia

Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025

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Treatment of chronic pneumonia should be long-term, staged, individual, depending on the period of the disease, the frequency of exacerbations, and the presence of concomitant diseases.

During periods of exacerbation, according to indications, sanitation bronchoscopies are performed with local administration of antibiotics and antiseptics.
Of great importance is mucolytic therapy with vibration massage and postural drainage, taking into account the localization of the inflammatory process. Physical therapy is mandatory.
Treatment of ENT diseases and oral cavity sanitation are necessary.
The question of surgical treatment is decided strictly individually depending on the severity of the disease, the effectiveness of conservative therapy, the age of the child and the presence of complications.
Bronchiectasis that develops during the course of cystic fibrosis, primary immunodeficiency, and Kartagener syndrome, as a rule, cannot be treated surgically.
All children with chronic pneumonia must undergo sanatorium treatment.

General strengthening therapy:

Vitamins: A, B, C, PP, P, antioxidants A, E, C, B15.

Immunomodulators: reaferon, leukocyte interferon, gamma-interferon, sodium nucleinate, prodigiosan, pentoxyl.

Bacterial lysates: ribomunil, bronchomunal, IRS-19.

Herbal adaptogens: ginseng, eleutherococcus, golden root, Chinese magnolia vine.

Apilak - royal jelly of bees.

Sanitation of chronic foci of infection (ENT organs, teeth).

Sanatorium and resort treatment during the period of remission.

Outpatient observation during the period of remission.District pediatrician and pulmonologist. Treatment stages - specialized hospital - local sanatorium - pulmonology room. Examinations 2-3 times a year. In the presence of bronchiectasis - every 2-3 months. Physical therapy, if necessary - postural drainage, sanitation of chronic foci of infection, general tonics. In case of persistent remission - sanatorium and resort treatment.

Prevention of chronic pneumonia:

Adequate therapy of acute pneumonia, prevention of transition to protracted pneumonia.
Timely diagnosis of protracted segmental pneumonia and its treatment.
Timely diagnosis of foreign bodies and their removal.
Recognition and persistent treatment of atelectasis of various origins.

Prognosis. With age, exacerbations occur less frequently. FVD improves. In 85% of children with damage to one lobe, normal ventilation function of the lungs is observed after 6-12 years, in 15% - minimal ventilation disorders. Physical development is not impaired in most patients.

The basis of chronic lung disease is often formed by malformations of the bronchopulmonary system. Malformations of the lungs are detected in 8-10% of patients with chronic bronchopulmonary lesions.

Clinically, congenital malformations of the lungs usually appear after the onset of infection.