Pneumonia, bronchitis, Legionnaires’ disease
Sore throat, Legionnaires’ disease, bronchitis, pneumonia: respiratory infections come in many shapes and sizes. Five frequently asked questions about these infections.
1. What is a respiratory infection?
A respiratory infection is an infection of the respiratory tract. The airways are divided into ‘upper’ and ‘lower’ airways. The upper respiratory tract consists of the nose, throat, sinuses, middle ear, vocal cords and trachea. The lower airways consist of the trachea branches (bronchi), the alveoli (alveoli) and the lung tissue. In the alveoli, oxygen is absorbed into the blood and carbon dioxide released as waste for exhalation.
2. Are respiratory infections common?
Respiratory infections are very common, especially infections of the upper respiratory tract: colds, a sore throat, cough, middle ear and sinus infections. These are usually caused by viruses and usually do not need to be treated by a specialist. Lower respiratory infections are often more serious. These are, for example, acute bronchitis and pneumonia.
3. What is Acute Bronchitis?
In acute bronchitis, the wall of the bronchi is inflamed. After cold or flu a dry cough often remains, after a few days mucus is coughed up. One may be short of breath and have wheezing. Acute bronchitis usually resolves within two weeks. In smokers, the symptoms last longer.
4. What can I do about acute bronchitis myself?
There is no need to stay in bed. It is good to take it easy and drink plenty of water, especially when you have a fever. Smoking makes people more susceptible to infections and takes longer to recover. Quit smoking is therefore sensible. If the complaints do not disappear after two weeks, or if you start to feel very ill with a fever, contact your doctor. Then there may be pneumonia.
5. What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia (pneumonia) is an inflammation of the small airways and alveoli. The trachea branches in the chest into two main airways: one to the left lung and one to the right lung. These main airways branch, like a tree, into smaller and smaller airways.
The airways are also called bronchi. At the end of the smallest branches (the bronchioles) are the alveoli (alveoli). Here, exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place with the surrounding blood vessels: oxygen from the inhaled air enters the blood, and carbon dioxide leaves the blood and is then exhaled. The alveoli are surrounded by supporting tissue, the lung parenchyma.
When the small airways, the alveoli and possibly the surrounding supporting tissue become inflamed, swelling occurs due to the accumulation of fluid and inflammatory cells. This makes it difficult to absorb oxygen from the alveoli
Treatment of pneumonia
Pneumonia is usually treated with a antibiotic treatment from five to seven days. Most patients, in whom the general practitioner diagnoses pneumonia, can be treated at home. Patients who are seriously ill, who get sicker or who do not improve after a few days of antibiotics are often referred to the hospital. In the hospital, antibiotics may be given through an IV. In addition, if necessary, extra oxygen can be given and patients who are too ill to drink and eat enough are given fluids and salts via the drip.
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