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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A lung infection is a general medical term for conditions where harmful microorganisms enter the lower respiratory tract. These infections cause inflammation in the lungs, affecting the airways, air sacs, and surrounding tissue. Every day, the lungs are exposed to air that contains dust, chemicals, and germs. The body has strong defenses like coughing, mucus movement, and immune cells, but sometimes these are not enough, and infection can occur. Lung infections can be mild, like acute bronchitis, or more serious, such as pneumonia, lung abscesses, or long-lasting infections like tuberculosis. How severe the infection becomes depends on the type and amount of germs and the strength of the person’s immune system. At Liv Hospital, we see lung infections as complex problems that need careful diagnosis and targeted treatment to protect lung function and avoid further complications.
To clearly define a lung infection, it helps to understand what happens in the tiny air sacs of the lungs. When germs get past the body’s first defenses, they reach the lung tissue and start to cause problems.
Bacterial Colonization and Inflammation
Once bacteria reach the alveoli, they begin to multiply. The immune system responds by sending white blood cells, primarily neutrophils, to the site. These cells release cytokines and enzymes to kill the bacteria, but this process also causes fluid and cellular debris to accumulate in the air sacs. This accumulation, known as consolidation, blocks oxygen transfer and leads to clinical signs of pneumonia.
Viral Cytotoxicity
Viral lung infections work in a different way. Viruses enter the cells lining the airways and use them to make more viruses. This kills the cells and causes the airways to become inflamed and irritated. The immune system responds with different white blood cells called lymphocytes, which can cause widespread inflammation in the lung tissue. This often leads to more general lung damage compared to the more localized effects of bacterial infections.
Lung infections are mainly grouped by the type of germ that causes them. This is important because it determines how doctors will treat the infection.
The definition of a lung infection depends on the specific part of the respiratory tract affected.
A critical distinction in defining lung infections is the setting in which they are acquired, as this predicts the likely bacterial causes and resistance patterns.
Lower respiratory infections are still a major cause of illness and death around the world. They can affect anyone, but young children and older adults are at the highest risk. In countries with fewer resources, not having enough vaccines or antibiotics makes these infections especially deadly. In wealthier countries, older people and those with long-term lung problems are most affected. New germs and growing antibiotic resistance mean that lung infections remain a serious concern for global health.
While most people think of lung infections as acute illnesses that resolve in weeks, many are chronic.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
A lung infection is defined as the invasion and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi, within the lower respiratory tract, leading to inflammation and compromised lung function.
Pneumonia is a specific type of lung infection that affects the air sacs (alveoli). Still, the term “lung infection” is broader and includes conditions such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and lung abscesses.
Yes, while many infections are acute, organisms like mycobacteria (including tuberculosis and MAC) and certain fungi can cause chronic infections that last for months or years.
Doctors use clinical history, blood tests, and sometimes sputum cultures; bacterial infections often present with higher fevers and purulent sputum, while viral infections may have more systemic symptoms and clear sputum.
Many acute lung infections, like those caused by flu or tuberculosis, are infectious and spread through respiratory droplets, while others, like fungal infections acquired from soil, are generally not spread from person to person.
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