Diagnosis
The diagnosis “pus in the lungs” is usually the result of a detailed anamnesis with a corresponding medical history and a general physical examination, including listening and tapping of the lungs. Imaging in the sense of ultrasound examinations, chest x-rays or computed tomography (CT) with determination of the configuration, size and location of the corresponding area is also performed if there is a suspicion of pus accumulation in the lungs. If necessary, a bronchoscopy (endoscopy of the lung) can also be performed.
Associated symptoms
Once pus is in the lungs, affected patients often also suffer from cough and fever. The cough is usually productive, which means that an often viscous, yellowish to greenish secretion is coughed up. In addition, patients often complain of general symptoms of illness such as general fatigue, headache and/or aching limbs.
In addition to this strong feeling of illness, affected patients often complain about the feeling of breathlessness and have an increased breathing rate. If the lung skin, the so-called pleura, is also affected by the infection, there is also pain when breathing. Especially in older patients, however, it is quite possible that they suffer less from the above-mentioned symptoms, but are clouded in their consciousness or appear disoriented or confused.
This is due to the fact that the immune system “ages along with” the patient and a physical immune response diminishes or becomes more unspecific with age. Like coughing, possibly with sputum, headache and aching limbs, fever is often part of the symptoms of pus in the lungs. The increase in body temperature (fever is called fever from 38°C) is a defence mechanism of the body against pathogens.
If the cause is unclear, or if the symptoms do not improve over a few days despite therapy, or if the fever does not go down or even rises again, a doctor should definitely be consulted again. If pus is present in the lungs, patients often feel the urge to cough. This often involves coughing up mucus, also known as sputum.
An inflammation in the airways produces mucus there.If possible, the mucus should be coughed up – even if the cough is sometimes painful. During the day, the mucus can be liquefied by fluid intake and expectorant and can be mobilized by inhalation or certain breathing exercises to make coughing up easier. However, the pus can also be encapsulated in the form of an abscess, which makes coughing up impossible. If the coughing stimulus reduces the quality of sleep too much, cough blockers can also be taken at night. This topic might also be of interest to you: Inhalation – the right way to do it
