Pleuropneumonia X-ray results, what does it mean?

Pleuropneumonia is a description of chest X-rays in patients with complaints related to the lungs. Pleuropneumonia describes the presence of inflammation of the lungs and pleura, which is the lining between the lungs and the inner chest wall. What does it mean if my X-ray shows pleuropneumonia?

What is pleuropneumonia?

Pleuropneumonia is an inflammation or infection that occurs in the lungs and pleura (the lining that separates the lungs from the inner chest wall). This condition is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Usually, you will come across the term pleuropneumonia when reading a chest X-ray.

When you have complaints about breathing problems, your doctor may ask you to do a chest x-ray to determine the exact cause. This examination will produce images of your lungs, and reveal any fluid in or around your lungs.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, chest x-rays can detect various lung diseases, including cancer, infection, or the presence of air obstruction that can cause the lungs to malfunction. It can also detect chronic lung conditions, such as emphysema or fibrosis cysts, as well as complications associated with these conditions.

When interpreting x-rays, the doctor can show pleuropneumonia from the infiltrates, which is an abnormal picture of the lungs. The shape is usually in the form of spots or white patches on the lung tissue.

In addition, the costophrenic sinus or the angle that forms from the diaphragm and ribs will appear dull. Pleural effusion (the fluid that surrounds the lungs) will also be seen.

Pleuropneumonia can cause symptoms, such as:

Chest pain
Cough, which may produce phlegm
Fever
Hard to breathe

What diseases can cause pleuropneumonia?

When a chest X-ray shows that you have pleuropneumonia, there are several health conditions that cause it. Some of the diseases that cause your chest X-ray to show pleuropneumonia include:

1.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae are bacteria that are the main cause of pneumonia. This type of pneumonia bacteria is obtained from the community (community-acquired pneumonia) and can cause a number of other lung conditions.

Symptoms of the condition are:

Fever
Malaisa (feeling uncomfortable or achy)
Headache
Cough

Pneumonia is detected through a series of tests, including a chest X-ray. These imaging tests are done to find out where and the extent of lung inflammation you are experiencing. In this process, the doctor can detect pleuropneumonia conditions in your lungs and pleura.

Most people will recover from the disease caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae can heal on its own. However, if you see a doctor and the doctor finds out the presence of these bacteria, generally you will be prescribed antibiotics.

There are several types of antibiotics available to treat pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Discuss the best treatment with your doctor.

2. Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Although it can attack other organs, generally bacteria M. tuberculosis attack the lungs.

Quoted from the American Lung Association, the symptoms of tuberculosis are:

Cough that lasts more than three weeks
Loss of appetite and sudden weight drop
Fever
Shivering
Night sweats

The main sign of tuberculosis affecting the lungs is coughing up blood or phlegm.

One way to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis is with a chest X-ray. From these imaging tests, the doctor may find pleuropneumonia conditions.

If left untreated, tuberculosis can be fatal. However, this condition can almost always be overcome and treated if you take medication as prescribed by your doctor.

3. Viral dengue fever

Viral or dengue fever viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) is a group of contagious viral infections characterized by profuse bleeding and often fatalities. The diseases included in VHF are Lassa fever which was discovered in 1969, Marburg disease which was discovered in 1967, and Ebola fever which emerged in 1976.

In Lassa fever, the sufferer will experience fever and pharyngitis followed by pleuropneumonia on chest X-rays. The disease can then progress to gastrointestinal or lung bleeding causing death in up to 70% of cases.

Treatment is done to treat this condition only aims to relieve symptoms. Prevention so that the disease does not spread to other people is by total isolation of the affected patient.

4. Viral pneumonia

Viral pneumonia is an infection that causes inflammation of the air sacs in one or both lungs due to a virus. In simpler language, viral pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs that is caused by a virus (generally, by bacteria). The influenza virus is the most common cause of viral pneumonia in adults.

Meanwhile, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of viral pneumonia in young children.

Viral pneumonia caused by the influenza virus can be severe and fatal. Viruses can attack the lungs and multiply.

The symptoms that result from viral pneumonia usually develop slowly. Symptoms of viral pneumonia are similar to those of the common cold, namely: