- When to start treatment
- How to speed up recovery
- Possible complications
- Signs of improvement
- Signs of worsening
Treatment for a lung infection varies depending on the microorganism that is causing the infection. So, if it is being caused by a virus, the infection is treated with an antiviral, if it is caused by bacteria, an antibiotic is used.
Usually, treatment is quicker in the case of bacteria, as there are many antibiotics for different types of bacteria, while there are only antivirals for some types of viruses and, therefore, the virus needs to be eliminated by the body.
The antibiotics most often prescribed by the pulmonologist include:
- Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid; Clarithromycin; Azithromycin; Cefuroxime; Ciprofloxacin.
In addition, there may still be lung infections caused by fungi and, in these cases, the doctor may advise the use of an anti-fungal tablet, such as Itraconazole or Fluconazole, for example. Yeast infections of the lung are usually more common in people with weakened immune systems and therefore may take longer to heal.
Hospitalization is usually only necessary in the case of a very advanced infection in which drugs need to be administered directly into the vein to obtain a faster effect. These cases are more frequent in the elderly or children, as they have a more fragile immune system.
See the symptoms of pneumonia caused by viruses and pneumonia caused by bacteria.
When to start treatment
Treatment is most effective when the pulmonologist identifies the cause of the infection and, therefore, several tests such as blood count, X-ray or sputum test may be ordered before starting treatment. However, some doctors may also recommend the use of an antibiotic even before the test results, as infection with bacteria is the most common.
After the results, if it is discovered that the infection in the lung is caused by a virus or a fungus, the antibiotic can be stopped and a new treatment is started, with a more suitable remedy to eliminate the responsible microorganism.
How to speed up recovery
The remedies for lung infection are very important to help in the cure, however, there are some precautions that help to strengthen the body and accelerate recovery, such as:
- Drink 2 liters of water a day, to keep your body well hydrated and help eliminate lung secretions; Avoid leaving home during treatment, to avoid sudden changes in temperature; Do not use cough medicine, without the doctor's recommendation, as they prevent the discharge of secretions; Dripping drops of saline into the nostrils to help eliminate secretions and facilitate breathing; Sleep with a high pillow to facilitate sleep and prevent your nose from becoming clogged.
It is also advisable to wear a mask and not cough or sneeze around other people, especially in the case of an infection caused by a virus, to prevent the transmission of the disease.
Food can also help a lot in recovery, so see the tips from our nutritionist to know what to eat during treatment:
These precautions are even more important in cases of pulmonary virus infection, as there are no antivirals for all these types of microorganisms, it is necessary to help strengthen the immune system so that it is able to eliminate them faster. See more natural options to strengthen your immune system.
Possible complications
When pulmonary infection is not properly treated it can develop into a pneumothorax, abscess, respiratory failure and even sepsis, with a risk of death.
Signs of improvement
Signs of improvement usually appear within 3 days of starting treatment and include reduced fever, decreased cough and reduced amount of secretions.
Signs of worsening
The signs of worsening usually appear when the treatment is not being effective or when it does not start quickly, and include increased fever, difficulty breathing and coughing up phlegm with blood, for example.
