Pulmonology focuses on diagnosing and treating lung and airway conditions such as asthma, COPD, and pneumonia, as well as overall respiratory health.
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The Insidious and Deceptive Onset
Lung abscesses can be tricky to spot because their symptoms vary and often develop slowly, depending on the type of bacteria and the patient’s immune system. Unlike regular pneumonia, which starts suddenly, a lung abscess from mouth bacteria usually comes on gradually. The event that causes the infection, like inhaling food or saliva, may have happened one or two weeks before symptoms start, and patients often do not remember it. Early symptoms can look like mild pneumonia or bronchitis, with low fever, tiredness, and feeling unwell. As the abscess grows, symptoms get worse. At Liv Hospital, we teach our doctors to watch for this slow pattern, especially in patients with risk factors, to avoid missing the diagnosis.
Breathing symptoms are usually the main reason people with a lung abscess go to the doctor.
A chronic lung abscess uses up the body’s energy and causes ongoing inflammation by releasing certain chemicals into the bloodstream.
Aspiration is the main way bacteria enter the lungs to cause a primary abscess. Anything that affects swallowing, coughing, or staying alert increases the risk.
How severe a lung abscess gets is often linked to the person’s dental health.
Any blockage in the airway lets mucus collect behind it, giving bacteria a place to grow where the lung cannot clear them out.
Primary abscesses usually happen in people with normal immune systems, but people with weak immunity can get more severe infections from a wider range of germs.
Abscesses can also start when bacteria travel through the blood to the lungs, not just through the airways.
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A long-lasting infection uses up your body’s energy to fight bacteria and releases chemicals that make you less hungry, causing you to lose weight quickly.
Yes, if bacteria are released during dental work and then inhaled while you are numb or sedated, it can cause an abscess. However, this is rare with today’s dental methods.
Yes, coughing up blood (hemoptysis) means the infection is damaging blood vessels. It is often just a small amount, but sometimes it can become a lot and be life-threatening.
Silent aspiration happens when saliva or food goes into the lungs without causing a cough. This is common in people who have had a stroke or in older adults and can lead to lung infections.
Alcohol increases risk by relaxing the muscles that protect your airway, making it easier to inhale food or saliva, and by weakening the immune cells in your lungs.
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