17 Jul 24
Lung infections occur when a virus, bacteria, or fungus is able to get into the lungs, causing an immune response that leads to inflammation. Sometimes lung infections are a consequence of upper respiratory illnesses like common cold or influenza.
Most lung infections can be treated with antibiotics or antiviral medications, or they can resolve on their own in mild cases. However, it is always advisable not to underestimate them, as in severe cases they may lead to hospitalization or death.
Although they often share common symptoms – like cough, sore throat, and congestion – there are many different types of lung infections, based on their causes and treatments. Hereby are the most common.
The flu, or seasonal influenza, is one of the most common airborne lung infections. It is caused by viruses that spread through droplets expelled when a person coughs, sneezes, or talks, which makes it highly contagious.
Common symptoms are congestion, sore throat, fever, cough, and fatigue.
Pneumonia is a lung infection affecting the alveoli, i.e. the tiny air sacks where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. Pneumonia may vary in severity – ranging from a mild illness to a life-threatening condition – which is why it shouldn't be taken lightly.
Symptoms may include high fever, chest pain, cough, tachycardia, and production of bloody phlegm.
Because of the 2020 pandemic, the best-known coronavirus infection is COVID-19, although several respiratory illnesses can be caused by other coronaviruses in humans, e.g. SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome).
COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat as well as non-respiratory symptoms like fatigue, headache or muscle aches, and loss of taste and smell. Symptoms can be more severe in SARS and MERS, with a higher chance of complications.
Tuberculosis, or TB, is a lung infection caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although it is more common in poorer Countries or developing regions, it can still affect patients worldwide.
Symptoms include persistent cough, bloody phlegm, weight loss, high fever, night sweats, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is nowadays a vaccine-preventable lung infection, although it has not yet been eradicated. Its severity may vary from mild to severe, with children and infants being the categories of most concern, due to the high rates of hospitalization and the chances of developing pneumonia or encephalitis.
In the first stage, symptoms include a runny nose, red and watery eyes, sore throat, and a temperature. After about a week, intense coughing bouts will start, lasting up to several minutes, with thick mucus production and shortness of breath between coughs.
Bronchitis and bronchiolitis are infections affecting the airways between the trachea and the alveoli. More specifically, bronchitis is an infection of the large airways, or bronchi, while bronchiolitis is an infection of the smaller airways, or bronchioles. They are most often a viral infection, though they can be of bacterial origin in up to 10% of cases.
Although they rarely pose a serious threat in adults, they can be a severe issue for children, often leading to hospitalization in patients under two years old and increasing their risk of developing asthma in the future.
Spirometry can be a valuable tool in managing lung infections, thanks to its versatility, which allows for several applications. It can help in the diagnosis, monitoring, and management of a patient’s health status, by providing detailed information on lung function and tracking progress over time.
Here are some of the advantages for both patients and healthcare providers.
Spirometry can support physicians in determining a patient’s baseline lung function before or early in an infection. This helps assess the severity of lung impairment caused by the infection and track changes in lung function, indicating whether the infection is improving, stablizing, or worsening.
When spirometry tests are performed before and after taking medication, healthcare providers can assess the effectiveness of the treatment plan by comparing the results. This can also be a tool to adjust diagnoses, as it allows to evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotics, antivirals, or other therapies, prompting adjustments in the treatment regimen.
Pre-existing lung conditions, such as obstructive or restrictive diseases, can be exacerbated by infection. Spirometry is a valuable tool for the early detection of complications, allowing for timely intervention and preventing further deterioration of lung function.
Patients with lung infections may sometimes require surgery. Spirometry can be used to assess lung function in order to determine a patient’s surgical risk and plan perioperative management.
With over 30 years of experience and an established presence worldwide, MIR offers a wide range of personal and professional use devices for spirometry and oximetry. Find out more on the dedicated page.
