Treatment of lung infection varies depending on the microorganism responsible for the infection, the use of antivirals may be indicated, in case the infection is caused by viruses, or antimicrobials if it is linked to bacteria or fungi. It is important that in addition to the use of the medication indicated by the doctor, the person stays at rest, has a healthy diet and drinks plenty of fluids to speed recovery.
For treatment to be more effective, it is important that the diagnosis is made as soon as the first symptoms appear, as the agent causing the infection is more likely to be removed and the risk of complications reduced. However, because most cases of infection are caused by bacteria, your doctor generally recommends the use of antibiotics even before the test results, only based on the assessment of the signs and symptoms presented by the person.
Treatment of lung infection is based on the infectious agent and the use of:
Although your doctor usually indicates the start of antibiotic treatment, it’s important that medication use is reassessed after test results, such as blood formula count, x-ray, or sputum test, to make treatment as appropriate as possible and avoid unnecessary medication use.
Treatment in the hospital is usually only necessary in the case of a very advanced infection in which medications should be given directly into the vein for a faster effect. These cases are more common in the elderly or children because they have a more fragile immune system.
Remedies for lung infection are very important to help with healing, however, some precautions help strengthen the body and speed recovery, such as:
It is also advisable to wear a mask and not cough or sneeze around other people, especially in case of infection caused by a virus, to prevent transmission of the disease. Food can also help a lot in recovery, so check out our nutritionist’s tips to find out what to eat during treatment:
These precautions are all the more important in cases of viral lung infection, because there are no antivirals for all these types of microorganisms, it is necessary to help strengthen the immune system so that you can eliminate them more quickly. Discover more natural options to strengthen your immune system.
When lung infection is not treated properly, the infectious agent can further compromise the respiratory system and the infection can progress to stroke, abscess and respiratory failure, for example. In addition, in some cases, the microorganism can reach the bloodstream and spread to other parts of the body, characterizing a widespread infection and increasing the risk of death.
Therefore, it is important that as soon as the first symptoms of lung infection appear, such as dry or secreted cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, and a high and persistent fever, for example, the person goes to a health center or emergency room. It helps to be evaluated by the family doctor or pneumologist so that you can avoid complications. Be aware of the symptoms of a lung infection.
Signs of improvement usually appear up to 3 days after the start of treatment and include relief and reduction of symptoms, such as fever, cough and decreased number of secretions.
Signs of worsening, on the other hand, usually appear when treatment is not effective or when not started quickly, and include increased fever, shortness of breath and coughing up blood, for example, as well as increasing the risk of complications. especially in people whose immune and respiratory systems are more engaged.