This article, titled "Understanding Lung Infections: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment," provides an overview of lung infections, also known as lower respiratory tract infections. The article explains that these infections can affect people of all ages and can range from mi...
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can range from mild to so serious that you have to go to the hospital. It happens when an infection causes air sacs in your lungs (the alveoli) and tubes in your airways that connect to them (bronchioles) to fill with fluid or pus. That can make it...
Asthma.Your airways are constantly inflamed and may spasm, causingwheezingand shortness of breath.Allergies, infections, or pollution can trigger asthma symptoms. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).With this lung condition, you can’t exhale the way you usually would, which causes trouble br...
For example, you can prevent catching an infectious respiratory infection if you stay away from people who are showing symptoms of the cold or flu like coughing and sneezing. Another way to prevent catching pneumonia is to wash your hands often. This helps to stop the bacteria and viruses that...
To diagnose pneumonia, health care providers evaluate your symptoms, listen to your lungs with a stethoscope and possibly order a chest X-ray or other imaging tests. The extent of testing varies depending on whether your infection is likely community-acquired or hospital-based, your age and medic...
Lung Inflammation Symptoms Symptoms of lung inflammation can develop very suddenly or gradually over time. The symptoms vary based on the underlying cause, the extent of the inflammation, and your general health. Symptoms of lung inflammation may include: ...
Infection (meningitis or encephalitis) Tumors (benign or malignant) Abnormal electrolyte concentrations in the bloodstream and associated water imbalance Concussion (patients with head injuries do not have to have detectable bleeding in the brain or brain swelling to have symptoms of brain irritation, wh...
Furthermore, different organisms require varying times of onset — from when they enter the body to when symptoms occur (incubation time). Some of the common pathogens for upper respiratory infection and their respective incubation times are as follows: ...
A chest X-ray to find the infection in your lungs and how far it’s spread Pulse oximetry to measure the level of oxygen in your blood A sputum test to check the fluid in your lungs for the cause of an infection If your symptoms started in the hospital or you have other health probl...
Symptoms Prevention Diagnosis Treatment 3 min read Bacterial pneumonia is an infection of your lungs caused by certain bacteria. The most common one is Streptococcus (pneumococcus), but other bacteria can cause it too. If you’re young and basically healthy, these bacteria can live in your thro...