Diagnosis

In order to be able to determine a pneumonia with certainty, typical symptoms must be recorded during the interview and physical examination by the physician, which are consistent with changes in the lungs in the X-ray image. Indications for the presence of pneumonia are revealed to the examiner, for example, when typical sounds in the lung area can be heard by listening with the stethoscope, such as a kind of bubbling in the deeper sections of the lung. Elevated body temperature and increased inflammation values in the blood can also be detected. However, since these findings are less pronounced or even absent in some cases, an X-ray of the lungs is also necessary for a reliable diagnosis of pneumonia. Here, the physician pays attention when evaluating whether there are any changes that are typical for pneumonia.

Therapy

The treatment of pneumonia depends on the severity of the disease and the cause. If bacteria are responsible for the disease, treatment with antibiotics (often aminopenicillin) should be used. Viruses as triggers are not specifically treated.

A high fluid intake (2-3 liters of water or herbal tea per day), as well as physical rest, but no strict bed rest are important for recovery in any case. Pain when breathing, as well as fever, should be alleviated by ibuprofen or paracetamol, for example. A simple pneumonia with a mild course, in younger patients, can be cured at home this way. However, if the doctor finds poor circulation values, in-patient treatment should be preferred, as this is a serious illness. Patients over 65 years of age with pneumonia should also be better treated in hospital.

X-ray

If pneumonia is suspected, it is usually followed up by an X-ray examination of the chest (chest X-ray). For the diagnosis of pneumonia, the detection of typical changes is a prerequisite.The examination is performed, if possible in a standing position and in two planes, i.e. one image is taken from the front and one from the side, so that a three-dimensional assessment can be made. If only one image would be taken, structures can overlap due to the two-dimensional representation and possible changes can be overlooked. In the best case, an older X-ray image is available for comparison, which was taken before the disease. If it is now possible to detect typical shadows that have occurred in connection with the disease, the diagnosis of pneumonia can be made, taking the symptoms and other findings into account.