What to do when you have pneumonia?

Pneumonia treatment can be carried out both in hospital and at home, depending on the severity of the disease. What to do with pneumonia to ensure recovery as soon as possible?

It is necessary, first of all, to stay in bed, eat a balanced salt-free diet, and take enough vitamins. The room where the patient is should be regularly ventilated. Massage, breathing exercises, and physiotherapy are recommended. The doctor selects antibiotic treatment on an individual basis: it depends on the type of pathogen.

How to do inhalations for pneumonia?

The term "inhalation" means "breathing in". Inhalation procedures are recommended for inflammation of the lungs, trachea, and bronchi.

Inhalation procedures can be of the following types:

• steam inhalation (aroma inhalation) – used for the treatment of ENT pathologies, viral infections and chronic bronchitis;
• wet inhalation – inhalation of steam to prevent drying of the mucous membranes;
• oil inhalation – used to prevent acute inflammatory processes in the respiratory system;
• air inhalation – most often used for inflammation in the bronchi or trachea;
• Ultrasonic inhalation – used to thin mucus in cases of pneumonia or lung abscess;
• Powder inhalation (insufflation) – prescribed for the treatment of chronic rhinitis, viral infection, and pulmonary tuberculosis.

Inhalation procedures for inflammatory processes in the lungs are necessary to improve the drainage capacity of the respiratory tract and the ventilation function of the lungs. Inhalation treatment is recommended after the acute period of the disease.

Doctors recommend such a remedy for pneumonia as Bioparox (fusafungin), a ready-made aerosol in a can, an antimicrobial agent of local action. When sprayed, the particles of the drug get even into the most inaccessible places of the respiratory system, which significantly speeds up recovery. Bioparox is used every four hours, the duration of the course of therapy is 7-10 days, no more.

In case of inflammation in the lungs, an improvement in the condition is observed from inhaling the aromas of coniferous trees. However, not all patients have the opportunity to go to the forest and enjoy the healing air. Fortunately, there is an alternative - coniferous inhalations. It is enough to boil a saucepan of water, put a few branches of pine, spruce, juniper in it, and breathe in the resulting steam. To enhance the effect, you can add a little baking soda to the water. You can also spread pine branches around the room, or light an aroma lamp with essential oil of coniferous trees or coriander. Thanks to such simple actions, the air in the room will become fresher and cleaner.

An infusion for inhalation procedures can be prepared by adding chamomile, sage, and eucalyptus flowers. Inhalation of vapors should be done with full chest, trying not to burn yourself, but so that the steam can penetrate into the most distant parts of the bronchi.

The most common folk remedy for inhalation is inhaling the steam of freshly boiled potatoes. This is also an effective method, after which it is recommended, to consolidate the effect, to drink a glass of hot infusion of medicinal herbs: mint, lemon balm, St. John's wort, calendula.

How to do massage for pneumonia?

Even in Soviet times, medical specialists noted a significant improvement in external respiration in patients with chronic pneumonia as a result of massage. The massage procedure is carried out starting from the nasal area and nasolabial zone to stimulate nasolabial reflexes, which help to expand the lumen of the bronchi and make breathing deeper.

Massage the chest area - first the front part, then the back. During the massage, the basic techniques of the classical procedure are used: stroking, rubbing, kneading, vibration.

Chest massage starts from the bottom up. The procedure lasts on average from 10 to 15 minutes. The massage course should be from 10 to 12 procedures, every other day or daily.

As a rule, massage is prescribed on the 4th-5th day from the start of treatment, from the moment the acute period of inflammation subsides.

Classic massage for inflammatory processes in the lungs involves the paravertebral zones, the latissimus dorsi and trapezius muscles, and the sternocleidomastoid muscles. One should not forget about the interscapular space and suprascapular zones, the supraclavicular and subclavian areas, the acromioclavicular and sternoclavicular joints, the pectoralis major and serratus anterior muscles. Particular attention is paid to massaging the intercostal spaces and the diaphragmatic region (along the 10th – 12th ribs from the sternum to the spinal axis).

As a result of such effects, especially in combination with drug therapy, the ventilation capacity of the lungs is significantly improved, sputum secretion is enhanced. The reserves of the respiratory system are increased, and the elasticity of the chest is facilitated.

Contraindications to the use of massage procedures are the acute period of pneumonia, as well as the period of exacerbation of a chronic disease.

What injections are given for pneumonia?

Antibacterial treatment plays a major role in the inflammatory process in the lungs. Such therapy should be appropriate:

• the earlier treatment is started, the better the prognosis for the disease;
• the course of treatment must be monitored bacteriologically;
• Antibiotics must be used in sufficient dosage and at such intervals of administration to ensure an acceptable concentration of the drug in the bloodstream and lungs.

Injection of drugs is more preferable than oral administration. The effect of antibiotics is manifested by the rapid disappearance of intoxication, stabilization of temperature indicators, improvement of the general condition of the patient. With positive dynamics within a week, antibiotics can be discontinued. If the expected effect, on the contrary, is absent, after 2-3 days of treatment the drug can be replaced with another, usually stronger one.

The doctor selects an antibiotic for the treatment of pneumonia strictly individually: it depends on the severity of the disease and the general condition of the patient. The drugs are used according to the etiological signs of the disease:

• for pneumococcal infection - benzylpenicillin, sulfonamides, erythromycin, tetracycline series, cephalosporin antibiotics, lincomycin;
• for Klebsiella pneumonia - biseptol, streptomycin in combination with chloramphenicol, gentamicin, zeporin, ampicillin;
• for staphylococcal infection – tetracycline series, erythromycin, streptomycin;
• for penicillin-resistant infections – nitrofuran series, gentamicin, oxacillin, lincomycin;
• for hemolytic streptococcus - cephalosporin and penicillin series, erythromycin, nitrofuran and tetracycline antibiotics;
• for pneumonia caused by Pfeiffer's bacillus - ampicillin, ceftriaxone, tetracycline, chloramphenicol;
• for Pseudomonas aeruginosa - sulfonamide drugs, gentamicin, tetracycline;
• for Escherichia coli - ampicillin, nitrofuran series, streptomycin in combination with sulfonamides;
• for mycoplasma pneumonia - tetracycline series, erythromycin;
• for actinomycetes – tetracycline antibiotics;
• for candidal pneumonia - antifungal drugs.

To activate immunobiological processes in the body, biogenic stimulants can be prescribed, for example, aloe extract (1 ml every day for two weeks, or every other day for a month).

To maintain vascular tone, caffeine and cordiamine preparations can be used. In case of weak cardiac activity (especially in elderly patients), cardiac glycosides are prescribed: strophanthin (1 ml of 0.025% solution), corglycon (1 ml of 0.06% solution).

What should not be done if you have pneumonia?

We have already figured out what treatments are used for pneumonia. Now let's determine what is not recommended for pneumonia:

• smoke;
• drink alcoholic beverages (antibiotic therapy);
• to endure the illness on one's feet, to run and jump during the illness;
• if you have a fever, take a bath, shower, or go for a walk;
• go to the bathhouse and sauna;
• there are sweets, sugar;
• drink cold drinks;
• consume animal fats, smoked foods, fried and spicy foods, pickled foods, carcinogens.

Bed rest is mandatory during the period of fever and signs of intoxication.

Considerable attention should be paid to the patient's diet, especially during fever. The food chosen should be varied and easily digestible, with sufficient vitamin content. The following daily vitamin intake is required for acute pneumonia:

• vitamin _B¹ - 12 mg;
• vitamin _B² - 12 mg;
• pyridoxine – 18 mg;
• vitamin C – 400 mg;
• vitamin PP – 120 mg.

Complex multivitamin preparations normalize most of the body's functional indicators. In addition, it is necessary to maintain water-electrolyte balance by drinking enough liquid (ideally - freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices, milk with honey).

What to do after pneumonia?

With adequate qualified treatment, pneumonia always ends with the patient's recovery. In 70% of patients, lung tissue is completely restored, in 20% a small pneumosclerotic area is formed, and in 7% a zone of local carnification is detected. To improve recovery rates, patients who have had pneumonia are recommended the following:

• no smoking;
• avoid any kind of hypothermia or overheating, dress according to the weather;
• Sanatorium and resort treatment is acceptable, preferably in mountainous or forested regions;
• reduce the amount of fatty and heavy foods consumed;
• visits to beaches, swimming pools and baths are temporarily restricted;
• avoid crowded places, do not contact with sick people;
• If you have to come into contact with a sick person, you should wear a gauze bandage;
• ventilate the room, avoid excessive accumulation of dust, and regularly carry out wet cleaning.

The first 6-12 months after pneumonia, the body's immune system will be weakened. This occurs as a result of severe intoxication and antibiotic treatment. Therefore, it is during this period that you should take special care of your health.

At a later stage, it is recommended to carry out body hardening procedures, lead an active and mobile lifestyle. Particular attention should be paid to proper balanced nutrition - this will be the best prevention of a decrease in the body's immunity.

We have told you about the main recommendations, the rest you can check with your doctor. Be healthy!