Bronchopneumonia Symptoms, Risk Factors & Treatment | Diseases List A-Z

What is Bronchopneumonia? Bronchopneumonia is a form of pneumonia that affects the alveoli and bronchi in the lungs.

Meanwhile, wet lungs are a condition that causes inflammation in the lungs so that the alveoli fill with fluid.

The fluid interferes with the normal functioning of the lungs, resulting in a variety of respiratory problems.

Bronchopneumonia can cause inflammation of the lungs with symptoms that can range from mild to severe and may include cough, difficulty breathing, and fever.

Symptoms of Bronchopneumonia Symptoms of bronchopneumonia vary, depending on the severity of the condition.

Typically, symptoms are more likely to be severe in people who have weaker immune systems, such as young children, older adults, or people who have certain conditions or are taking certain medications.

Symptoms of bronchopneumonia are as follows: Difficulty breathing, such as shortness of breath.

Chest pain that may worsen with coughing or deep breathing.

Mucous cough.

Muscle pain.

Get tired quickly.

Loss of appetite.

Confusion or disorientation, especially in older adults.

Nausea and vomiting.

Coughing up blood.

Causes of Bronchopneumonia The most common cause of bronchopneumonia is a bacterial lung infection, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib).

Viral and fungal lung infections can also cause pneumonia.

Harmful germs can enter the bronchi and alveoli and begin to multiply, triggering bronchopneumonia.

Bacteria or germs are transmitted by spreading between people who are close together, especially when sneezing and coughing.

A person will become infected when they inhale the bacteria.

Bacteria that are common causes of bronchopneumonia include: Staphylococcus aureus.

Haemophilus influenzae.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Escherichia coli.

Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Species of proteus.

You also need to be aware that you can also contract this condition while in a hospital environment.

People who come to the hospital for treatment of other illnesses often have weakened immune systems, making them susceptible to bacterial attack.

In such conditions, the body will have difficulty in dealing with new infections.

Wet lungs that occur in hospitals may also be caused by bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

Additionally, in rare cases, viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and fungi, such as Aspergillus fumigatus, can also cause bronchopneumonia.

Risk Factors for Bronchopneumonia There are several risk factors that can develop bronchopneumonia, namely: Under 2 years of age.

Aged over 65 years.

Smoking or excessive alcohol consumption.

Experiencing respiratory infections such as colds and flu.

Having long-term lung diseases, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( COPD ), cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and asthma.

Having other health problems, such as diabetes, heart failure, or liver disease.

Conditions that weaken the immune system, such as HIV or certain autoimmune disorders.

Taking medications to suppress the immune system, such as for chemotherapy, organ transplant, or long-term steroid use.

Have had recent surgery or trauma.

Diagnosis of Bronchopneumonia To diagnose bronchopneumonia, a doctor will perform a physical examination and look at a person’s medical history.

Breathing problems, such as wheezing, are a typical symptom of bronchopneumonia.

However, you also need to know that bronchopneumonia can cause symptoms similar to a cold or flu, which can sometimes make diagnosis difficult.

If a doctor suspects that someone has bronchopneumonia, the doctor will need to perform several tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity.

Here are some types of tests that need to be done: Chest X-ray or CT scan.

These imaging tests allow your doctor to look inside your lungs and check for signs of infection.

Blood tests.

These can help detect signs of infection, such as an abnormal white blood cell count.

Bronchoscopy.

Involves passing a thin tube with a light and camera through a person’s mouth, down the throat, and into the lungs.

This procedure allows the doctor to see inside the lungs.

Sputum culture examination.

This is a laboratory test that can detect infection from mucus that comes out through coughing.

Pulse oximetry.

A test that doctors use to measure the amount of oxygen flowing through the bloodstream.

Blood gas analysis test.

Doctors use this test to determine the level of oxygen in a person’s blood.

Bronchopneumonia Treatment Treatment for bronchopneumonia depends on the type of infection and the severity of the disease.

People without other health problems usually recover from bronchopneumonia within 1 to 3 weeks.

You can treat mild bronchopneumonia at home using a combination of rest and medication.

However, more severe cases of bronchopneumonia may require hospitalization.

Bronchopneumonia caused by bacterial infection can be treated with antibiotics.

These drugs work by killing harmful bacteria in the lungs.

When taking antibiotics, it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully and complete the full course of treatment.

Antibiotics do not work for viral infections.

For viral bronchopneumonia, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medications or may direct therapy to treat symptoms.

Viral bronchopneumonia usually goes away within 1 to 3 weeks.

For people with fungal bronchopneumonia, your doctor may prescribe antifungal medications.

During the recovery process, it is important to do the following: Get plenty of rest.

Drink plenty of fluids to help thin mucus and reduce discomfort when coughing.

Take all medications, as directed by your doctor.

Treatment of Bronchopneumonia in Infants and Children The doctor will prescribe antibiotics if the child has a bacterial infection.

Home care is also an important step in managing this condition, as it can relieve symptoms.

Make sure your little one gets plenty of fluids and rest.

Your doctor may prescribe Tylenol to reduce fever.

Additionally, your doctor may prescribe an inhaler or nebulizer to help keep your airways open.

In severe cases, a child may need to be hospitalized to receive the following treatments: Intravenous (IV) fluids.

Breathing therapy.

Parents need to remember, always ask a pediatrician before giving cough medicine.

This is because doctors rarely recommend cough medicine for children under 6 years of age.

Prevention of Bronchopneumonia Vaccination can prevent some forms of bronchopneumonia.

Children under five and adults over 65 should see their doctor to get vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia, which is caused by bacteria.

In addition, other types of vaccinations that are recommended are the flu, measles, chickenpox, and Hib vaccines.

For people with cancer or HIV, talk to your doctor about ways to prevent pneumonia and other infections.

Wash your hands frequently to avoid germs, do not smoke because tobacco damages the lungs’ capacity to fight infection, and educate yourself about the symptoms of pneumonia.

Complications of Bronchopneumonia Affecting a person’s breathing, bronchopneumonia can be very serious and can sometimes lead to death.

Complications of bronchopneumonia can include: Respiratory failure.

Occurs when the essential exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs begins to fail.

People with respiratory failure may need a ventilator, or breathing machine, to help them breathe.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome.

A more severe and life-threatening form of respiratory failure.

Sepsis.

Also known as blood poisoning or septicemia, this infection causes an excessive immune response that damages the body’s organs and tissues.

Sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and is life-threatening.

Lung abscess.

A pus-filled sac that can form in the lungs.

If you have complications of a lung abscess.

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