Prognosis | Water in the lungs

Prognosis

If treatment is initiated quickly and efficiently in the case of water in the lungs, the prognosis is very good. In rare cases, pneumonia can develop on the basis of pulmonary edema. It is important to note that the prognosis always depends on the type and extent of the underlying disease.

Water in the lungs or in the lung gap hinders breathing and oxygen exchange. Depending on the extent and quantity of the water, severe shortness of breath and oxygen deficiency can occur. If the water in the lungs develops slowly and the symptoms gradually increase, the lungs can tolerate large quantities of water and adapt.

In this case, a slow therapy is sufficient to drain the water. However, if large quantities of water rapidly enter the lungs or lung fissure, the lungs do not have sufficient reserve and compensatory mechanisms, which leads to severe breathing difficulties. This may have to be treated in an intensive care unit and may require invasive ventilation.

Life expectancy

If pneumonia is the cause of the water in the lungs, it should definitely be detected with the typical symptoms and treated early on, as it is a serious disease. After all, it is still the infectious disease that most often leads to death in industrialized countries. Especially elderly patients, infants, toddlers and immunocompromised persons have an increased risk due to previous illnesses.Therefore, patients over the age of 65 years, with an unstable cardiovascular system or clouded consciousness should be treated as in-patients in a clinic in any case.

Here, in addition to drug therapy with an antibiotic, the general condition can be monitored and appropriate measures can be taken quickly if the condition deteriorates. If the symptoms of pneumonia are milder, treatment can also be carried out on an outpatient basis, with a check-up being carried out 2-3 days later at the latest. If water retention in the lungs occurs as part of another underlying disease, such as heart failure or kidney weakness, the course of the disease essentially depends on how severe the disease has already progressed and how it is treated.

Often there is no cure, but the symptoms can often be alleviated to the extent that the patient can lead an almost unrestricted life. This presupposes that, in addition to drug therapy, the patient himself pays attention to his lifestyle.