Streptococcal pneumonia: causes, symptoms, treatment
The content of the article:
-
The reasons
- Causative agents of pneumonia
- Ways of transmission of infection and the development of pathology
-
Symptoms
Complications as a characteristic sign of the disease
- Diagnostics
-
Treatment
- Antibiotic therapy
- Additional drug treatment
- Non-drug therapy
- Necessary conditions for treatment at home
- Video
Streptococcal pneumonia is an inflammatory process in the lungs caused by bacteria from the genus Streptococcus. Most often, the disease occurs in children and is a complication of colds. In adults, the pathology is less common, it mainly affects the weakened and elderly people.
Pneumonia can be an independent disease or occur as a complication of other diseases
Outbreaks of the disease are observed in the autumn-spring period, when many people get colds. Pneumonia can be a complication of influenza, measles, chickenpox, whooping cough.
Most often, streptococcus causes interstitial or segmental pneumonia, less often it becomes the cause of the lobar or focal form of the disease.
Streptococcal pneumonia of newborns can be distinguished separately. It occurs in the first 5-7 days after the baby is born. It is most often caused by intrauterine sepsis, which is caused by a streptococcal infection.
The reasons
Causative agents of pneumonia
More often than others, the etiological factor in the development of pneumonia is:
| Causative agent | Features: |
| Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes, or Streptococcus haemolyticus) |
Normally they live in humans in the throat. Most strains produce streptokinase, streptolysins, streptodornase, and some produce erythrogenic toxin. The largest epidemic of streptococcal infection occurred during the first world war |
| Pneumococci (Streptococcus pneumoniae) | If pneumonia is caused by this pathogen, then in pulmonology it is considered as a separate nosological form - pneumococcal pneumonia |
Bacteria from the genus Streptococcus can be involved in the development of many diseases, such as tonsillitis, scarlet fever, otitis media, endocarditis, meningitis, and neonatal sepsis.
Ways of transmission of infection and the development of pathology
In the human body, pathogenic microorganisms droop by airborne droplets. Together with sputum and mucus (during coughing, sneezing or talking), bacteria enter the air and can stay there for some time. Also, bacteria can enter the lungs from foci of infection in the nose or mouth.
Bacteria can enter the lung tissue through the bloodstream from other foci of infection in the body
When it enters the respiratory tract, streptococcus becomes the cause of ulceration and necrosis of the mucous membranes of the bronchi and trachea. This is accompanied by the release of fluid from small blood vessels (exudation) and hemorrhages.
In the tissues of the lungs, such pathological changes in most cases affect the interalveolar septa. Together with the lymph, the infection quickly moves to the lymph nodes of the mediastinum and the root of the lung.
Symptoms
For streptococcal pneumonia, the symptoms are the same as for inflammation of pneumococcal etiology. In humans, the temperature rises sharply to 39-40 ° C. Intoxication is growing rapidly, against the background of fever there is weakness, lethargy, muscle pain, headaches, dizziness, in rare cases - chills.
With the development of the disease, there is a sharp increase in body temperature
Then a dry cough appears, which within 2-3 days becomes moist and productive with an abundance of purulent-mucous sputum. This form of the disease is not characterized by the presence of sputum with blood (so-called rusty).
Pneumonia is often a complication of a cold or sore throat. The fact that the disease has begun to progress is indicated by the fact that the symptoms of ARVI are becoming more severe, other symptoms join the sore throat and runny nose, and the patient's condition worsens. In some cases, the disease is accompanied by the appearance of a rash that looks like scarlet fever.
Also, severe pains appear in the chest area, radiating to the upper abdomen or to the shoulder blade. In order to alleviate the condition a little, the patient sits slightly leaning forward and resting on his arms located behind the body.
Complications as a characteristic sign of the disease
A characteristic feature of streptococcal pneumonia is the rapid development of complications. In about 50% of children and 60% of adults, they develop on the third day after the onset of the disease.
Most often, Streptococcus-induced pneumonia leads to the development of a complication such as exudative pleurisy.
The most common consequences of pneumonia include purulent or exudative pleurisy, in which there is an accumulation of pus between the parietal and visceral pleura.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of the disease is carried out by a pulmonologist or therapist. He collects anamnesis, taking into account previous infectious diseases, acute onset and rapid development of complications. Listening to the lungs and tapping give rather meager data, since the size of the foci is too small.
To make a diagnosis, you must contact a pulmonologist or therapist
The main tool in the diagnosis of the disease is X-ray of the lungs. The image reveals infiltrative shadows that are located in the lower or middle lobe of the lungs. Intense homogeneous darkening with an upper oblique border indicates the development of pleurisy. When an abscess is formed, a cavity with fluid is distinguished.
To clarify the diagnosis, the patient is assigned:
- complete blood count: from the first days of the disease, the number of leukocytes and ESR will be increased;
- bacterial culture: the material is sputum; the bacterial agent can also be detected in the patient's blood.
Differential diagnosis is carried out with other types of pneumonia (pneumococcal or staphylococcal, as well as atypical pneumonia).
Treatment
Antibiotic therapy
Antibiotics are used to treat streptococcal pneumonia. The first-line drugs include penicillins (Benzylpenicillin, Amoxicillin, Amoxiclav).
Initially, antibiotics are administered parenterally, then, after the patient's condition improves, drugs for oral administration are prescribed. The course of treatment is 2-3 weeks.
Additional drug treatment
In combination with antibiotics, the patient is prescribed eubiotics (Linex, Lactovit, Enterol, Enterojermina) and antifungal drugs (Fluconazole, Difluzol).
To eliminate intoxication, saline solutions or glucose are administered intravenously. With the development of purulent pleurisy, closed drainage of the pleural cavity with the removal of exudate and rinsing with antibiotics or antiseptics is shown.
In order to normalize body temperature and reduce pain, drugs from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used, most often based on paracetamol and ibuprofen. For the treatment of adults and children over 12 years old, medications containing acetylsalicylic acid or nimesulide are used.
Treatment is recommended in a hospital setting
Since the disease quickly leads to the development of complications, in most cases, therapy is carried out in a hospital setting. The lethality of the disease is not too high. The infection responds well to antibiotic treatment.
Non-drug therapy
After normalization of body temperature, the patient is assigned physiotherapeutic rehabilitation, in particular UHF, drug electrophoresis, inductothermia.
To eliminate stagnation, chest massage is prescribed. It is also recommended to conduct physical therapy classes.
Necessary conditions for treatment at home
A patient with pneumonia needs bed rest and exercise restriction. This will make it possible to avoid the development of complications.
Proper nutrition plays an important role in the treatment of various lung diseases. Protein must be present in the patient's diet. It is necessary to regularly consume meat, dairy products, vegetables, fruits. For the period of treatment, fried, spicy and salty foods should be excluded from the menu.
In order to eliminate intoxication, you can drink rosehip decoction
In order to quickly eliminate intoxication, you must drink at least two liters of fluid per day. For these purposes, you can use non-carbonated mineral water, tea, rosehip broth, fruit drink or compote.
Streptococcal pneumonia is a rather serious disease that requires timely and adequate treatment, therefore, if its symptoms are detected, it is necessary to consult a pulmonologist. If signs of illness occur in a child, you can consult a pediatrician.
Video
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Anna Kozlova Medical journalist About the author
Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "General Medicine".
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