The lungs are one of the most important organs of our body. Your lungs are the workhorses that keep working all through the days and nights tirelessly. Hence, it is of utmost importance that we take good care of our lungs, in order to ensure a healthy and comfortable life. However, in this modern world with a fast-paced lifestyle, people have little time left to look after their health. As a result of this, and a lot of other factors, including the unprecedented increase in pollutant levels in the environment, ill effects of the COVID pandemic, and many more, lung infections and ailments have been increasing alarmingly in recent years. Hence, it becomes the need of the hour to be aware of the health of your lungs, and make sure that the lungs are perfectly fit and fine. In this article, we discuss in detail about various kinds of lung infections, their symptoms and the tests that can be done to find out and treat these infections accordingly.
What are lung infections?
Lung infections, as the term suggests, are infections in either or both of a patient’s lungs. These can be of different types. However, there are a few kinds of lung infections that are more common than others. A lung infection can be caused by a virus, bacteria or even a fungus. Bronchitis and Pneumonia are some of the most common forms of lung infections. When the large bronchial tubes carrying air to the lungs become infected by bacteria or some other causes, it is called bronchitis. These lung infections, including pneumonia, can range from mild to severe, varying from person to person. They generally turn out to be more serious in patients with already weakened immune systems or chronic conditions.
What are some of the common symptoms of a lung infection?
The symptoms of a lung infection might be varied and can also vary from person to person depending on their age and overall health. This also depends on the organisms causing the infection, such as viruses, bacteria or fungi. The symptoms might also be similar to that of the common cold, but they generally tend to last longer in case of lung infections. However, here are some symptoms that might indicate a lung infection:
- Cough with thick mucus – With lung infections, you might have a cough that produces thick mucus. This mucus can be clear, white, green or yellowish-grey in colour.
- Stabbing pain in the chest – Lung infections can cause a sharp and stabbing pain in the chest which might worsen while coughing or breathing.
- Fever and body pain – If a patient has a bacterial lung infection, he might experience high fever of around 105 degrees Centigrade, along with soreness and pain in the muscles of the body.
- Shortness of breath, wheezing, fatigue, weakness, and a runny nose are also common symptoms of a lung infection.
What are the tests for a lung infection?
If you have the symptoms of a lung infection, your healthcare provider might suggest some tests to you. These tests can be physical tests, blood tests, imaging tests, and other tests.
During a physical test, the doctor would use a stethoscope to find out any crackling, bumbling or other sounds in your lungs while you breathe, to find out any possible infection. Apart from physical tests, there are also some imaging tests that can be used.
- X-ray – An X-ray of the chest might be advised to get a clear image of the lungs, blood vessels, and structures.
- CT Scan – This test can be used to provide a more detailed image than the X-ray.
- MRI Scan – It uses magnetic and radio frequencies to create an image of the chest cavity.
- PET Scan – It is done in cases of suspected lung cancer
Apart from these imaging tests, there are certain blood tests which can indicate lung infection. These tests include Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) test. Other than these tests, there are other methods to identify lung infections. These include sputum test, in which the mucus is tested for possible infections, bronchoscopy, in which a flexible telescope is used to monitor the sway for air passage, and lung biopsy.
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