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2023 Author: Alfred Shackley | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:14
Many modern people have heard of SARS, which is a dangerous respiratory disease that children often suffer from. In our country, the mortality rate for this disease is about 10%.
In many cases, the causative agent of the pathology is chlamydia - a microorganism that penetrates the cells of the human body and causes serious diseases, including pneumonia. The prognosis for chlamydial pneumonia largely depends on the promptness of referring to the doctor, therefore, when characteristic symptoms appear, especially in children, it is necessary to start active actions.
What is dangerous for the lungs chlamydia - pneumonia
Chlamydia, which causes a disease such as pneumonia, is a special bacterial strain of this species, which is characterized by a rounded shape and a diameter of up to 350 nm. This microorganism successfully parasitizes and multiplies in the organisms of adults and young children and causes pulmonary pathologies.
His insidiousness lies in the fact that the incubation period lasts 3-4 weeks, and then symptoms characteristic of many diseases appear: runny nose, sore throat, headache. In this regard, chlamydial pneumonia is often mistaken for a common acute respiratory disease, which complicates treatment.
However, such an infection develops quite quickly and, instead of alleviating the condition, the patient gets worse.
Only a part of sick children and adults develop pneumonia, and changes in the state of these organs are traced within 3 months after recovery. The diagnosis and treatment of this ailment is carried out by a therapist or infectious disease specialist. In order to correctly differentiate the pathology, examination of the patient, fluoroscopic examination of the respiratory organs and general clinical blood tests are required.
Timely treatment of chlamydial infection is of great importance as it increases the patient's chances of recovery. In addition, in a neglected state, the infection causes complications in children and adults, projected on various organs: otitis media, tonsillitis, bronchial asthma, encephalitis and other serious pathologies.
The main symptoms
To sound the alarm in a timely manner, you need to understand how chlamydial pneumonia differs from a common cold. In addition to the signs that are revealed during the examination, there are also those that the patient can note on their own.
First of all, the following symptoms appear:
- hoarse voice;
- prolonged paroxysmal cough without sputum separation;
- pain in the paranasal sinuses;
- difficulty breathing and shortness of breath;
- an increase in body temperature up to 37.5 degrees;
- weakness;
- excessive sweating;
- unhealthy skin color: pathological blush or pallor;
- chest pain, aggravated by turning the body;
- decreased appetite.
During a pathology such as chlamydial pneumonia, symptoms can appear in any combination, blurring the clinical picture and complicating the task of doctors. Difficulty breathing with increasing shortness of breath is a particularly dangerous symptom. He says that the blood thickens, and intoxication increases in the body. This phenomenon contributes to the development of inflammatory processes in the lungs of children and adults.
Sources of infection
Chlamydia is commonly associated with sexually transmitted diseases, but the strain that causes respiratory tract pathology enters the body differently. These microorganisms choose the upper respiratory tract for colonization. Infection occurs by airborne droplets from person to person during communication. In this case, the culprit of the infection may not have characteristic signs, but be a carrier of chlamydia.
Once in the body of a new host, chlamydiae fill the cell membranes.
This type of parasite may not manifest itself for a long time, and during its life it can develop immunity to many antibiotics. Antibodies to diseases such as chlamydial pneumonia are produced only from the moment the symptoms of the disease appear.
Children and adolescents are most susceptible to infection, and in the adult population, these parasites are found only with a significant decrease in immunity. These are usually the elderly, smokers and carriers of immunodeficiency disorders. In newborns, this type of chlamydia is also sometimes detected. In their case, infection occurs from the mother who is the carrier of harmful microorganisms even in the prenatal period through the amniotic fluid or during childbirth.
Treatment activities
If the symptoms that bother the patient and the test results indicate the presence of a pathology such as chlamydial pneumonia, immediate treatment is required. It includes only a few groups of drugs, since fighting this infection is a difficult task that requires an integrated approach.
Pharmacy preparations:
- The first group of necessary drugs is antibiotics, however, due to the location of the microorganism and its resistance to many antimicrobial agents, only some of them are suitable for treatment. The greatest effectiveness is shown by macrolides, which are not only most active in the treatment of this infection, but are not contraindicated in women in the II and III trimester of pregnancy, as well as in children. Also used in therapy are tetracyclides and fluoroquinolones;
- Speaking of specific drugs, Claritomycin, Erythromycin, Azithromycin and Spiramycin are noted. Antibiotics can be given as injections and pills. In this case, treatment usually begins with injections, which are necessary for the first 3-4 days, and then the patient is transferred to oral drugs. The general course of antibacterial treatment is 2-3 weeks and cannot be interrupted, even if improvements appear. This guarantees getting rid of chlamydia, prevents recurrence of the disease and the development of complications;
- The patient also needs medication to relieve the symptoms of the disease. As a rule, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs based on paracetamol or ibuprofen are used: Ibuklin, Nurofen, Fervex - or conventional antipyretic drugs, for example, Aspirin. Also, medications are needed to facilitate the separation of sputum: Ambroxol, Herbion, licorice root syrup;
- In addition to these drugs, a patient with pneumonia needs to take immunostimulating vitamins. Both multivitamin complexes (Complivit, Alphabet, Vitrum) and monopreparations (vitamin C with a dosage of 1000 mg) are prescribed. Subject to the recommendations of the attending physician, in a few weeks there is a complete cure for a disease such as chlamydial pneumonia.
Medical procedures
Physiotherapy has proven itself well in the treatment of respiratory tract infections. In order to speed up recovery from pneumonia of a chlamydial nature, electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, acupuncture are used. These techniques have a beneficial effect on the affected organs, and also activate the patient's immune system.
At home, you can use baths with essential oils of coniferous plants and sea salt. Pine or fir vapors relieve inflammation in the respiratory tract, facilitate the passage of mucus, and increase the body's defenses. However, such treatment measures can be carried out only after agreement with your doctor.
Preventive actions
It is difficult to prevent infection with chlamydial infection due to the fact that carriers of pathogenic microorganisms often do not have signs of pathology. However, you can increase your chances of protecting yourself from disease by strengthening your immune system. The basis of immunostimulating activities is made up of sports and outdoor walks.
In addition, it is important to follow a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, high in vitamins C and B. It is also important to quit smoking, as this habit increases the likelihood of pathological processes in the respiratory system.
If you failed to avoid SARS, which is caused by chlamydia, you need to contact an infectious disease specialist as soon as possible. It is possible to prevent the development of the disease and the occurrence of complications in children and adults if you follow all the doctor's recommendations and do not interrupt treatment.