How long does the temperature last for pneumonia in children and adults
The content of the article:
- Symptoms of pneumonia
- What temperature is considered normal for pneumonia
-
How long does the temperature last with pneumonia
- Increased temperature as a protective reaction of the body
- High temperature on the background of antibiotic therapy
- Pneumonia without fever
- In what cases and how to bring down the temperature with pneumonia
-
Diagnosis of pneumonia
Determination of the severity of the pathology
- Treatment
- Video
Temperature with pneumonia is one of the symptoms indicating the development of an inflammatory process in the body. The emergence of pathology is associated with the impact of microorganisms - bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and other pathogens that enter the lungs from the outside mainly by airborne droplets.
Increased body temperature is one of the main symptoms of pneumonia.
Inflammation can develop as a complication of other illnesses, including the common cold. The disease is most often diagnosed in patients living in areas with a cold and damp climate, in the autumn-winter period, as well as against the background of a reduced immune system response.
Symptoms of pneumonia
In most cases, pneumonia is accompanied by symptoms such as:
- weakness, deterioration in health;
- temperature rise to 39-40 degrees;
- headache;
- shortness of breath when walking;
- dry cough, eventually flowing into a wet cough, sometimes with the release of bloody sputum;
- chest pain.
At the beginning of inflammation, the temperature does not exceed subfebrile values (38 ° C) in the evening, and by morning it is restored to normal. Such changes in patients with a strong immune defense can be observed within 14 days, while signs of pathology will manifest themselves only in the form of dry cough and sore throat.
What temperature is considered normal for pneumonia
Typical for pneumonia are the values on the thermometer, ranging from 37 to 38 ° C. An increase in these indicators up to 39–40 ° C indicates an increase in the inflammatory process and the ineffectiveness of the therapy used.
It should be borne in mind that if the temperature rises to 41 ° C, especially in a child, an ambulance should be called without fail. This condition is considered critical and requires urgent medical attention.
High body temperature aggravates the course of pneumonia. In this regard, patients are advised to monitor the course of fever and report its changes to the pulmonologist.
In general, it is impossible to determine with accuracy the number of days during which the fever will persist in pathology. It is known that this process is influenced by the causative agent of the infection.
With a mixed etiology of pneumonia, for example, when a bacterial infection is attached to a viral infection, the fever lasts longer
However, there are cases when inflammation develops against the background of simultaneous ingress of pathogens of different origins into the lungs, then the fever will persist even when using effective drugs.
How long does the temperature last with pneumonia
The duration of fever in pneumonia depends both on the form of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient's immune system, and on the effectiveness of the selected therapy.
| Form of pneumonia | Features of the flow |
| Focal | The inflammatory process occurs in a separate lobe of the lung and does not affect the entire organ, in this case, subfebrile body temperature can be monitored within the range of up to 38 degrees for 5 days |
| Bilateral |
The infection affects both lungs at the same time, while a slight increase in the indicators on the thermometer can be recorded for several weeks (in the range from 37 to 38 ° C). In such cases, a thorough and detailed diagnosis is required, since the inflammatory process can spread to nearby organs. |
Increased temperature as a protective reaction of the body
Considering that the protective function of the immune system on the site of infection manifests itself through heat, in case of unexpressed fever, expectant tactics may be recommended instead of urgent intake of antipyretic drugs.
The development of pathogenic microorganisms leads to the production of endogenous and exogenous substances in the respiratory tract - pyrogens. They are also a product of the immune system, and it is their appearance that causes the development of fever.
In cases where the body temperature is kept within the subfebrile range, the metabolism is accelerated, and the body manages to suppress the bacteria, viruses or fungi that caused the infection. A temperature above 39 ° C indicates that the body cannot cope with neutralizing the pathological process on its own, and it is then that it becomes necessary to take antipyretic drugs.
High temperature on the background of antibiotic therapy
If a high temperature in pneumonia is maintained during antibiotic treatment, this indicates that the therapeutic effect of the drugs used has not yet come. After starting antibiotic therapy, fever can last for up to 3 days.
After the end of the course of taking antibiotics, repeated symptoms of fever should not occur
If a fever appears immediately after the end of the course of antibiotic therapy, this indicates an early end of treatment or the development of a focus of chronic inflammation in the lung tissue. Normally, after complete recovery, repeated fever should not occur.
A sharp rise in temperature some time after the end of treatment may indicate a resumption of inflammation in the lungs. In this case, it is of great importance to timely consult a doctor for advice and early start of treatment aimed at the complete elimination of the focus of pathogenic microorganisms.
Pneumonia without fever
Pneumonia without fever is considered especially dangerous, because in the absence of this symptom, the patient may delay seeking medical attention and continue to lead a normal life. It is during this period that the inflammation, unnoticed by the patient, will actively develop, which will lead either to the transition of the disease to a chronic form, or to the appearance of complications.
In what cases and how to bring down the temperature with pneumonia
Treatment of pneumonia can be carried out at home only with a mild course of the disease, when it is enough to use drugs according to the scheme drawn up by the doctor.
You can bring down the fever only after consulting a pulmonologist, the drugs prescribed by him. In addition to medicines, traditional medicine can be used to combat fever on the recommendation of a doctor.
The most effective of them are wiping the torso with a towel soaked in a solution of vinegar and water, oral intake of rosehip broth, berry fruit drinks from cranberries or raspberries, thyme or linden tea, lemon and honey drinks, currant juice.
In case of fever, it is recommended to drink a lemon-honey drink
With pneumonia, the causative agents of which are several pathogens at once, for example, bacteria and viruses, a combined intake of antibacterial and antiviral agents is necessary to eliminate them.
Many patients are afraid of side effects from taking too many drugs, especially when they are prescribed to children. It should be borne in mind that the overflow of the inflammatory process into a chronic form against the background of the lack of adequate therapy is considered more dangerous than the possible side effects of drugs.
Diagnosis of pneumonia
The first manifestations of pneumonia are similar to those in acute respiratory diseases, therefore, only a pulmonologist in the course of differential diagnosis can accurately determine which pathology in the patient and select an effective treatment.
To make a diagnosis, you need to see a doctor
In addition to external examination, collection of anamnesis, including patient complaints, X-ray examination of the lungs, general and clinical blood tests, studies related to the determination of the causative agent of the disease are of particular importance for the selection of effective therapy.
For this purpose, an analysis of the separated sputum is carried out, and if, according to its results, it is not possible to accurately establish the nature of the microorganism, a biopsy of the lung tissue is shown. In cases where bacteria are the cause of the disease, an additional analysis is carried out for the body's resistance to various groups of antibiotics.
Determination of the severity of the pathology
Body temperature is one of the important criteria for determining the severity of pneumonia. The disease is classified as follows:
- mild degree: up to 38 ° С;
- medium degree: 38–39 ° С;
- severe: above 39 ° C.
Treatment
Treatment of the disease should be comprehensive and aimed not so much at eliminating the fever, as at eliminating the pathogens that caused it. The first-line drugs for pneumonia, depending on the etiology of the pathogens, are antibiotics, antiviral or antifungal agents.
As a symptomatic or auxiliary treatment, the doctor may prescribe antipyretic, analgesic and antitussive medications, vitamin complexes, as well as traditional medicine.
Video
We offer for viewing a video on the topic of the article.
Anna Kozlova Medical journalist About the author
Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "General Medicine".
Found a mistake in the text? Select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
