Posted by on May 11, 2019 in Breathing Facts, Health, Medical, Respiratory problems | 0 comments

All about Chest X-ray Pneumonia

As deadly as a disease that kills approximately 4 million every year can be, a chest x-rays can be all that is required to start the fight against pneumonia. Doctors faced with a patient with possible disease are unlikely to be able to make an accurate diagnosis without ordering a chest xray pneumonia.

What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is caused by the inflammation of one or both lungs via bacterial, fungal or viral infection. The infection usually airborne, acquired when someone breathes in the disease pathogens.

 

Common symptoms include  chest x-ray pneumonia

  • Productive coughing (with phlegm or blood)
  • Fever with shaking chills
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Chest pains

Existing health factors also pose their own set of problems. Diseases like the flu and emphysema increase one’s chances of contracting pneumonia. Other risk factors such as exposure to and inhalation of various chemicals, immunodeficiency, asthma smoking, and excessive drinking also contribute significantly to the risk of contracting pneumonia.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia is one of the most common forms of pneumonia, developed 48 hours or more after a patient is admitted to a hospital. It’s most likely caused by hospital-acquired infections, with a higher risk of drug-resistant pathogens.

How does a chest x-ray factor into all of this?
A chest x-ray uses minimal doses of ionizing radiation to obtain pictures of the inside of a patient’s chest. An x-ray examination of the chest allows the doctor to examine the lungs, heart and blood vessels to find indicators of pneumonia. On a chest x-ray, abnormalities present as areas of increased density or as areas of decreased density.

The x-ray can also detect any complications that might have developed because of the pneumonia infection. Common side-effects include fluid surrounding the lungs (pleural effusions) and abscesses. Because the x-ray is quick, easy to use and requires little to no special preparation, it is very helpful, especially in emergencies.The x-ray can determine if a patient has pneumonia, but it cannot specifically identify what causes the pneumonia is afflicting the patient.

Prevention and Treatment
Preventing pneumonia involves vaccinations (against bacterial and viral pneumonia) for both children and adults, managing environmental causes (like smoking, air pollution and the like) and the treatment of underlying medical causes.
Antibiotics, rest, fluids, and analgesics feature prominently in treating pneumonia, but other image-guided treatments such as a thoracentesis or chest tube placement may be used for pneumonia treatments.

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