Viral pneumonia

Viral pneumonia is caused by various viruses. In adults, the most common cause is influenza A and B, parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus. It should be noted again that primarily viral pneumonia caused directly by viruses, usually occurs in the first 1-3 days, and from 3-5 days of pneumonia becomes viral-bacterial.

Influenza pneumonia

This viral pneumonia begins acutely: body temperature rises rapidly, chills often occur, severe intoxication effects are observed (intense headache, sensation of aching in the bones, muscle pain, lack of appetite, nausea and even vomiting). Symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection (nasal congestion, difficulty in nasal breathing), dry coughing attacks, and mucous sputum (sometimes with a trace of blood) begin to appear quickly.

With percussion of the lungs, there is practically no change in percussion sound. A distinct shortening (dullness) of percussion sound is noted with the development of viral-bacterial pneumonia and the appearance of foci of pulmonary tissue infiltration. However, it is often possible to detect muffling of percussion sound over the region of the lung root. With auscultation of the lungs, hard breathing is most often observed, with the development of viral-bacterial pneumonia - small bubbling rales and crepitation in various parts of the lungs. Characteristic is also a rapid (within 1-2 days) alternation of foci of hard or weak breathing, dry wheezing with foci of feces, wet wheezing. Such a dynamic auscultatory pattern is due to abundant exudate closing the lumen of the bronchi, and the development of dynamic atelectasis.

In connection with the common bronchitis and bronchospasm, pronounced dyspnea is possible.

Radiographic examination of the lungs reveals predominantly interstitial lesion with increased vascular pattern, peribronchial infiltration. With the development of viral-bacterial pneumonia, signs of pulmonary parenchyma lesions appear in the form of focal (more rarely - share) dimming.

In the general analysis of blood, leukopenia and lymphocytopenia are determined.

There is a special form of influenza pneumonia - hemorrhagic pneumonia. It is characterized by a severe course and pronounced symptoms of intoxication. From the first day of the disease appears a cough with the separation of serous-bloody sputum, the amount of which then increases sharply. Characterized by high body temperature, dyspnea, cyanosis.

In the following days, against a background of high body temperature and pronounced dyspnea, respiratory insufficiency develops, pulmonary edema and hypoxemic coma develop. Hemorrhagic influenza pneumonia often results in death.

Pneumonia caused by other viruses

The clinical picture of pneumonias caused by other viruses (parainfluenza, adenoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus ) is mainly manifested by symptoms similar to influenza pneumonia. However, with pneumonia due to the parainfluenza virus, fever is less pronounced, tracheitis is more common, a slow resolution of the inflammatory process in the lungs is characteristic.

Adenovirus pneumonia is accompanied by catarrhal tracheobronchitis with a prolonged cough, often hemoptysis, rhinopharyngitis, persistent fever, increased and painful lymph nodes at the neck, radiologically small foci of darkening and sometimes enlarged lymph nodes in the root of the lung. Adenovirus infection is also characterized by eye damage in the form of conjunctivitis. As a rule, pneumonia with adenovirus infection is viral-bacterial.

Pneumonia caused by a respiratory syncytial virus is characterized by high body temperature for 7-10 days, pain in the chest, wet and dry wheezing in various parts of the lung, accompanied by symptoms of rhinopharyngitis. Radiographic examination of the lungs determines the intensification of the pulmonary pattern, it is possible to identify the foci of compaction of the lung tissue.

Diagnostic criteria for viral pneumonia

When stating the diagnosis of viral pneumonia, the following provisions should be considered:

• the presence of an epidemiological situation for influenza and other acute respiratory diseases;
• characteristic clinical manifestations of influenza or other acute respiratory diseases;
• predominantly interstitial lung changes during X-ray examination;
• detection of the virus in mucus throat, nose, nasopharyngeal washings using immunofluorescence method using monoclonal antibodies;
• the growth of antibody titres in the blood of patients to the corresponding viruses is 4 times or more 10-14 days after the onset of the disease (retrospective diagnosis of a viral infection).

• Pneumonia - Treatment regimen and nutrition
• Antibacterial drugs for the treatment of pneumonia
• Pathogenetic treatment of pneumonia
• Symptomatic treatment of pneumonia
• Fighting complications of acute pneumonia
• Physiotherapy, exercise therapy, respiratory gymnastics with pneumonia
• Sanatorium treatment and rehabilitation for pneumonia

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7],