Treatment of alveolitis of the lungs. The best medicine for health is proper nutrition, which is also home treatment.

Causes and risk factors

Exogenous allergic alveolitis develops against the background of allergic reactions (often allergens are plant and house dust, medications, pet hair, components of microscopic fungi, industrial irritants, etc.). The entry of an allergen into the body causes the formation of IgG. Immune complexes (antigen-antibody) settle on the surface of the alveoli, which causes damage to the cell membrane, the release of a significant amount of biologically active substances with the development of the inflammatory process. In the development of this form of alveolitis, repeated entry of the allergen into the body plays an important role.

Secondary alveolitis occurs against the background of other pathological processes. Most often these are sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, and diffuse connective tissue diseases.

Risk factors include:

• genetic predisposition;
• collagen metabolism disorders.

Causes and types of disease

The formation of fibrosing alveolitis of the lungs is always based on a serious catalyst that provokes its formation.
Therefore, alveolitis can be divided into four groups, each of which is caused by certain factors. Types of illness:
1) Allergic alveolitis of the lungs.

Develops in people who ignore doctor's advice about prohibiting a certain allergen. Often diagnosed in patients with severe allergic reactions who keep pets at home.

2) Toxic.

For this form of the disease to develop, there must be constant exposure to chemicals on the respiratory system. This may include industrial hazards. Such people often work on a farm, with metal or toxic dust and gases.

3) Idiopathic.

As a rule, development is based on gene mutations that are passed on from relatives.

4) Secondary.

This variant of alveolitis develops as a complication of previous infectious diseases. For example, chronic hepatitis, candidiasis, pneumonia and so on.

The disease affects men more often than women over the age of 50. Predisposing factors contributing to the rapid development of pulmonary alveolitis with the formation of fibrosis are of considerable importance.

Forms of the disease

Depending on the etiological factor, as well as the characteristics of the course of the disease, the following are distinguished:

• idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis;
• toxic fibrosing alveolitis;
• exogenous allergic alveolitis.

Alveolitis can be primary and secondary, as well as acute, subacute and chronic.

Idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis is prone to gradual progression with the development of complications. Due to increasing irreversible changes in the alveolar-capillary system of the lungs, the risk of death is high.

Stages of the disease

There are various types of disease course, on which the prognosis of the patient’s future life directly depends. There are chronic, acute and recurrent varieties.

The stage of alveolitis can be determined using an open lung biopsy. In total, there are 5 degrees of damage to the body:

• Degree 1. The alveolar septa become thicker, infiltrates appear in the lungs;
• Stage 2. The lumens of the alveoli are filled with fluid (this is taken from the cells of the body or can be sputum released when coughing);
• Stage 3. The alveoli will gradually collapse;
• Stage 4. The structure of the lung tissue changes;
• Stage 5. As a result of the development of fibrous formation, cavities appear in the lungs.

Symptoms of alveolitis

Symptoms of alveolitis vary depending on the form of the disease, but there are a number of manifestations that are common to all forms of pulmonary alveolitis. The main symptom is shortness of breath, which at the initial stage of the disease occurs after physical activity, but as the pathological process progresses, it begins to appear at rest. In addition, patients complain of a dry, unproductive cough, fatigue, and soreness in the muscles and joints. In the later stages of the disease, weight loss, cyanosis of the skin, as well as changes in the shape of the fingers (“drumsticks”) and nails (“watch glasses”) are observed.

The first symptoms of acute exogenous allergic alveolitis may appear within a few hours after contact with the allergen. In this case, the general symptoms of the disease resemble the clinical picture of influenza. Patients experience increased body temperature, chills, headache, then cough and shortness of breath, heaviness and pain in the chest. In children with some allergic diseases, in the initial stages of exogenous allergic alveolitis, asthmatic-type shortness of breath occurs, and sometimes attacks of suffocation. On auscultation, fine moist rales are heard over almost the entire surface of the lungs. After eliminating contact with the allergen that caused the development of the disease, the symptoms disappear within several days, but return upon subsequent contact with the causative allergen. In this case, general weakness, as well as shortness of breath, which is aggravated by physical exertion, may persist in the patient for several more weeks.

The chronic form of exogenous allergic alveolitis can occur with repeated episodes of acute or infraspinatus alveolitis or independently. This form of the disease is manifested by inspiratory shortness of breath, persistent cough, weight loss, and deterioration of the patient’s general condition.

Complications of alveolitis can include chronic bronchitis, pulmonary hypertension, cor pulmonale, right ventricular heart failure, interstitial fibrosis, pulmonary emphysema, respiratory failure, and pulmonary edema.

Idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis develops gradually, while the patient experiences irreversible changes in the pulmonary alveoli, which is expressed in increasing shortness of breath. In addition to severe shortness of breath, patients complain of pain under the shoulder blades, which interferes with deep breathing, and fever. With the progression of the pathological process, hypoxemia (decreased oxygen content in the blood), right ventricular failure, and pulmonary hypertension increases. The terminal stage of the disease is characterized by pronounced signs of respiratory failure, enlargement and expansion of the right chambers of the heart (pulmonary heart).

The main signs of toxic fibrosing alveolitis are shortness of breath and dry cough. During auscultation of the lungs, gentle crepitus is heard in patients.

Alveolitis of the lungs in children

A child can become ill with allergic alveolitis of the lungs through constant contact with decorative or poultry, or feed of organic origin. The disease is accompanied by a dry or productive cough and severe shortness of breath.

Deformation of the chest occurs against the background of pulmonary insufficiency. Deformed fingers resemble drumsticks. When the disease is detected at an early age, the life prognosis for children is favorable.

Despite the fact that the patient is rapidly losing weight, he should not be forced to eat. If the body temperature is elevated, he will refuse it. Treat this with understanding: short-term fasting is acceptable.

The patient should drink plenty of liquid (water, weak black tea with lemon, rosehip decoction). Include broths from lean fish, meat, and fresh fruits in your diet. Prepare juices (apple, orange, carrot, beetroot) immediately before consumption.

Dairy and fermented milk products, porridges and soups, honey, sea buckthorn, black currants, and dried fruits are allowed. Follow this diet until doctors note sustainable positive dynamics.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is determined on the basis of data obtained from the collection of complaints and anamnesis, physical diagnosis, examination of external respiratory function, and chest radiography.

An X-ray examination of exogenous allergic alveolitis reveals a decrease in the transparency of the lung tissue with the formation of a large number of small focal shadows. To confirm the diagnosis, laboratory immunological diagnostics, provocative inhalation tests, and computed tomography of the lungs are performed. In diagnostically difficult cases, a biopsy of lung tissue is resorted to, followed by histological examination of the obtained material.

Exogenous allergic alveolitis is differentiated from bronchial asthma, atypical pneumonia, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, and other forms of pulmonary alveolitis.

In the case of idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis, a radiograph of the lungs on both sides reveals small focal diffuse changes, more pronounced in the lower parts. In the later stages of the disease, secondary cystic changes are detected in the lung tissue. Computed tomography data of the lungs allows you to determine the area of ​​​​altered lung tissue for subsequent biopsy. Electrocardiogram results indicate the presence of hypertrophy and overload of the right heart.

Differential diagnosis of this form of alveolitis is carried out with pneumonia, granulomatosis, pneumoconiosis, diffuse forms of amyloidosis and lung neoplasms.

X-ray changes in acute toxic fibrosing alveolitis may be absent. Subsequently, deformation and diffuse strengthening of the pulmonary pattern, as well as diffuse fibrosis, are determined.

Secondary alveolitis occurs against the background of other pathological processes. Most often these are sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, and diffuse connective tissue diseases.

Pulmonary alveolitis: symptoms, causes, treatment methods

Alveolitis is a serious disease of the upper respiratory tract. Its essence lies in the damage to the pulmonary vesicles, or alveoli.

If treatment for this condition is not started in a timely manner, there is a risk of developing tissue fibrosis. Pulmonary alveolitis is an independent disease that occurs under the influence of multiple external factors.

It is very important to take a comprehensive approach to treatment to prevent serious complications.

Causes of the disease

Pulmonary alveolitis is a fairly common pathology of the upper respiratory tract. Ignoring symptoms for a long time can lead to dangerous complications. Among the most common causes of the development of the inflammatory process are:

• Influence of external stimulus.
• Autoimmune diseases.
• Genetic predisposition. It has been proven that people who have a hereditary factor suffer more often from alveolitis of the lungs.
• The influence of viruses. Most often, pulmonary alveolitis occurs due to excessive activity of cytomegalovirus, HIV, hepatitis, all of which affect the human immune system.
• The influence of various chemical components or natural substances. The cause of alveolitis can be plant pores, pollen and much more. The inflammatory process is formed as a result of prolonged contact with an irritant.
• Consequences of severe allergic reactions.

Symptoms

Usually, pulmonary alveolitis can be detected fairly quickly. The patient quickly develops distinctive symptoms of the disease.

Among the main signs of alveolitis:

• The appearance of shortness of breath. In the initial stages, a person does not notice any problems, so he does not seek help from a doctor. Over time, discomfort increases, shortness of breath appears not only during active movements, but also at rest.
• Cough. Most often, a similar sign is formed in the idiopathic form of alveolitis. It is usually accompanied by wheezing.
• Painful sensations. They arise in the chest, directly under the shoulder blades. Most often, because of this, a person cannot breathe fully.
• Deterioration of general condition. A person rapidly loses weight, his body temperature rises, and discomfort in the joints often occurs.
• The blood veins become significantly enlarged and swell.

Types of disease

Pulmonary alveolitis is a group of diseases. Each of them has some features that should be taken into account during treatment.

Idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis

This disease, also known as interstitial fibrosis or Hamman-Rich syndrome, is predominantly diagnosed in men. It is characterized by damage to the pulmonary interstitial tissue with the subsequent occurrence of respiratory failure, which correlates with the development of pneumosclerosis.

Symptoms are a pronounced cough accompanied by shortness of breath. At the onset of the disease, an accurate diagnosis is impossible; a medical history of at least 3 months is required. The manifestation of idiopathic alveolitis initially does not cause serious problems for the sick. The body stops actively reacting to cough and shortness of breath, and patients reduce symptoms through a less active lifestyle.

Complete recovery is possible only if therapy is started on time. Without this, it will be fatal.

Exogenous allergic alveolitis

The disease is caused by irritants from the external environment. This refers to dust characterized as plant dust, but also includes medicinal preparations and fungal spores. Such substances enter the body through inhalation or non-inhalation penetration.

If you distinguish the type of irritant, subtypes of the alveolitis in question are distinguished. Those at risk are those who come into contact with fur, feathers and rotted hay: furriers, bird fans and farmers, respectively.

The frequency of contact with the irritant determines the form of alveolitis: acute, subacute and chronic. The latter is characterized by compaction of the tissues that form the respiratory tract. Treatment is meaningless if contact with the irritant is not excluded.

Toxic alveolitis

The cause of this pulmonary disease is toxic substances. These include drugs in the form of the same sulfonamides, as well as toxins of chemical origin, for example, chlorine and talc.

The disease becomes chronic if contact with the irritant continues. Toxic alveolitis leads to the appearance of fibrous tissue, which displaces epithelial tissue, which contributes to the loss of the alveoli's ability to function normally.

Diet for pulmonary alveolitis

The consequence of this disease is weight loss, but this does not mean that the patient should be fed regardless of his desire.

Recommendations for catering:

1. An increase in body temperature contributes to loss of appetite. Fasting is possible, but not for long and provided that the patient receives sufficient fluid: drinking water, black tea plus lemon and rose hips in the form of a decoction.
2. It is allowed to supplement the diet with broths made from meat with low fat content and fish belonging to the so-called lean varieties. Stewed dishes are also acceptable, but in minimal quantities.
3. Dairy products, including fermented milk.
4. Active consumption of fresh fruits, provided they are pureed or chopped.
5. You can juice carrots, beets, apples and oranges if they are prepared before immediate consumption.
6. Allowed products include dried fruits of various types, as well as honey, sea buckthorn and black currants.

Drug therapy

The choice of medications in the treatment of alveolitis should be based on the following principles:

1. Fibrosing alveolitis, which is of the idiopathic type, uses glucocorticoids; therapy is supplemented with immunosuppressants and penicillamine in the absence of the required effect.
2. Alveolitis, diagnosed as allergic or toxic, is glucocorticosteroids.
3. Improving the functioning of the respiratory system - aminophylline.
4. An auxiliary drug is dexamethasone, which relieves inflammation and blocks histamine receptors.

Alveolitis of the lungs in children

Accurate diagnosis of the disease is possible only with a full clinical and instrumental examination.

Symptoms of this type of alveolitis often lead to an incorrect diagnosis:

• bronchitis – cough, wheezing, shortness of breath;
• pneumonia – loss of strength, problems with appetite, headache, weight loss, fever.

Pulmonary alveolitis develops rapidly. Home treatment is strictly prohibited. Professional therapy - chest massage, taking antibacterial drugs and exercise therapy.

Folk remedies for the treatment of alveolitis

Resorting to traditional medicine is permissible only when the disease affects adults and appropriate recommendations have been received from a pulmonologist.

Flaxseeds

To prepare the decoction you need:

1. Pour 2 liters of boiling water over 4 tablespoons of flax seeds.
2. Boil.
3. After 1 hour, strain.

One dose of the drug is 120 g. This dose is taken every 3 hours, excluding sleep, which is allotted 6 hours.

Birch buds

For the infusion you will need 80 g of birch buds, and for steaming - 1 liter of boiling water. Infusion time - 1 hour. The resulting product requires filtering. Take 50 g before meals. The duration of treatment is agreed with the doctor.

Regenerating collection

The composition of the collection includes in equal proportions: black elderberry, anise fruits, birch leaves, pine buds, nettles, calendula flowers.

Preparation:

1. Pour the collection (30 g) with cold water.
2. Boil.
3. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
4. Leave for 8 hours.

Take 100 g half an hour before meals and before bedtime.

Complications

The lack of required treatment contributes to the occurrence of complications in the form of respiratory failure and the so-called cor pulmonale, including pulmonary edema. In the latter case, death is possible.

Types of pulmonary edema:

• fulminant – a sharp development of the disease that ends in death;
• acute – rapid progress over several hours, high probability of death;
• subacute – unstable symptoms, when the disease either manifests itself or recedes;
• protracted – development takes from 12 to 24 hours.

Source: https://www.medware.ru/lor/alveolit-legkih.html

Treatment of alveolitis

Treatment tactics for alveolitis depend on the form of the disease. In some cases, the patient may need to be hospitalized in a hospital.

The effectiveness of treatment for idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis decreases as the pathological process progresses, so it is important to start it at an early stage. Drug therapy for this form of the disease consists of the use of glucocorticoids; if this is not enough, immunosuppressants and bronchodilators are prescribed. As the disease progresses, plasmapheresis provides a therapeutic effect. Surgical treatment of this form of the disease involves lung transplantation. Indications for it are dyspnea, severe hypoxemia, and decreased diffusion capacity of the lungs.

For alveolitis of allergic and toxic etiology, in addition to the main treatment, it is necessary to eliminate or maximally limit the patient’s exposure to allergic or toxic agents, contact with which caused the development of the disease. In mild forms of alveolitis, this is usually sufficient for the disappearance of all clinical signs; the need for drug treatment may not arise.

In the treatment of severe forms of exogenous allergic alveolitis, glucocorticoids, inhaled bronchodilators, bronchodilators, and oxygen therapy are used.

For toxic fibrosing alveolitis, mucolytics and glucocorticoids are prescribed (orally or inhaled).

For all forms of alveolitis, in addition to the main treatment, taking vitamin complexes, potassium supplements, and performing breathing exercises (therapeutic breathing exercises) is recommended.

Pulmonary alveolitis: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment methods

• June 22, 2018
• Tests and diagnostics
• Irina Khalus

Pulmonary alveolitis is a serious disease that is accompanied by diffuse inflammation of the alveoli (pulmonary vesicles). This disease in some cases leads to the development of fibrosis.

That is why you should never ignore the signs of the disease. So, why does this lung disease develop? Are there effective prevention measures? What therapy can modern medicine offer? The answers to these questions are of interest to many.

Alveolitis of the lungs - what is it?

First, it’s worth studying the basic information about the disease. This term combines a number of diseases that are accompanied by diffuse inflammation of the pulmonary vesicles (also known as the alveoli of the lungs). The disease is considered rare and is characterized by a chronic course.

If left untreated, the inflammatory process ends in fibrosis - the lung tissue is gradually replaced by connective tissue elements. Thus, the alveoli of the lungs lose their functional properties, which is fraught with a host of dangerous complications, including the development of respiratory failure.

The main causes of the disease

Alveolitis of the lungs can be either an independent disease or a complication of another disease. Today, there are several risk factors, the list of which is worth familiarizing yourself with.

• Heredity. To date, the exact mechanism of genetic transmission of the disease has not been clarified, but scientists suggest that heredity still plays a role.
• Viral infection. The penetration of viral pathogens into the body (especially herpeviruses, cytomegaloviruses, HIV infection, hepatitis C) greatly weakens the immune system, as a result of which the body copes worse with inflammatory processes.
• Autoimmune factor. The likelihood of an inflammatory process in the alveoli increases in the presence of autoimmune diseases or a tendency to them.
• External stimuli. The disease can be the result of prolonged exposure to the respiratory system of chemical (for example, drugs) and natural (fluff, fur, plant spores) substances.

As for secondary forms of inflammation, they can develop against the background of diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, AIDS, sarcoidosis, chronic hepatitis, thyroiditis, arthritis, systemic scleroderma. The causes of alveolitis can be very diverse. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to identify them.

Idiopathic form of the disease

Idiopathic pulmonary alveolitis is less common than other types of the disease, and most often men face this problem. The causes of the development of the disease are not always known - many experts believe that the inflammatory process in this case is of autoimmune origin. Due to malfunctions of the immune system, antibodies to its own cells begin to be produced.

The main symptoms of the disease are cough and shortness of breath. The intensity of the symptoms constantly increases, so patients often consult a doctor after the onset of the fibrotic process. This form of alveolitis is considered the most dangerous, since in the vast majority of cases it ends in pneumosclerosis and respiratory failure.

Toxic form of alveolitis

Toxic alveolitis is spoken of when the disease develops due to the direct effect of toxic chemicals on the lungs. Most often, the disease is associated with taking certain medications, in particular immunosuppressants and sulfonamides. Alveolitis can be provoked by toxic compounds of chlorine, zinc, as well as ammonia and talc.

Chemicals are often taken directly into the respiratory system (by inhalation). However, they can enter the lungs along with the bloodstream. The inflammatory process often becomes chronic, which leads to pathological changes in alveolar tissue. In this case, it is important to determine the nature of the toxin and limit contact with it.

Allergic alveolitis and its features

The cause of exogenous allergic alveolitis is contact with external irritants, but of natural origin. Allergens can include fungal and plant spores, pollen, particles of animal fur and fluff.

Most often, harmful substances enter the body through inhalation. Farmers, furriers, and agricultural workers who constantly work with animals, rotted hay, and other irritants are susceptible to this disease.

A non-inhalation route for allergens to enter the body is also possible, but such cases are recorded extremely rarely.

The disease is accompanied by severe shortness of breath, coughing, attacks of which intensify during contact with potentially hazardous substances. In this case, an important part of therapy is identifying allergens and limiting contact with them. Without this, drug treatment will not have the necessary effect.

Symptoms of the disease

Of course, the clinical picture largely depends on the form of the disease and the stage of its development. However, several common symptoms can be identified.

• Dyspnea. This is one of the first symptoms. At first, breathing difficulties occur during physical activity, so patients rarely pay attention to the presence of such a problem. Gradually, the situation worsens - it becomes difficult for a person to breathe while walking, and then at rest.
• Cough. Another nonspecific symptom, which in most cases develops against the background of an idiopathic form of alveolitis. Some patients experience wheezing in the chest. The sputum does not contain blood impurities.
• Pain. As a rule, discomfort occurs in the chest area and under the shoulder blades. Pain often prevents patients from taking a deep breath.
• Systemic disorders. Hypoxia and intoxication affect the functioning of the entire body. Symptoms of the disease include constant weakness, loss of appetite, sudden weight loss, joint pain, constant fever, and decreased performance.

The disease is also accompanied by swelling of the veins in the neck and the appearance of edema. Due to loss of appetite, the body does not receive enough vitamins - the skin gradually loses elasticity and acquires an earthy tint. Oxygen starvation is accompanied by frequent dizziness, severe weakness, and sometimes fainting.

Diagnostic measures

Diagnosing alveolitis of the lungs is not so simple. To begin with, the doctor conducts a general examination. If there is wheezing and noise in the lungs, additional procedures are prescribed. The patient donates blood for analysis - during the study, antinuclear and rheumatoid factors are detected in the samples. The disease is characterized by an increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

To make a diagnosis, some instrumental studies are also necessary:

• First of all, a chest x-ray is performed, since this simple and affordable procedure makes it possible to notice changes in the structure of the lungs;
• spirometry is a study that allows you to study the characteristics of the patient’s respiratory process;
• additionally, electrocardiography is performed;
• bronchoscopy is a procedure that allows you to carefully examine the structure of the bronchi from the inside;
• the most informative is high-resolution computed tomography - the study makes it possible to determine the number and location of foci of inflammation, to see changes in the size and shape of the alveoli;
• in some cases, patients are shown a biopsy, which helps determine the presence of a malignant process and other abnormalities in the lung tissue.

What does the treatment plan look like?

What should patients who are diagnosed with pulmonary alveolitis do? Treatment is tailored individually. Here, much depends on the form and stage of development of the disease. In any case, therapy should be aimed not only at eliminating the cause of inflammation, but also at inhibiting the fibrotic process.

• In case of allergic and toxic alveolitis, it is extremely important to protect the patient from contact with hazardous substances. Cytostatics and glucocorticoids are also used (sometimes they are administered directly into the respiratory system by inhalation).
• Patients are prescribed medications that dilute the mucus secreted by the epithelium and facilitate its passage.
• Prednisolone in small doses helps to cope with the inflammatory process.
• Autoimmune pulmonary alveolitis requires the use of immunosuppressants.
• Sometimes an oxygen concentrator is used - this helps to avoid hypoxia.
• In some cases, the doctor prescribes antibacterial medications, in particular penicillin.

Patients are also recommended special breathing exercises, which help preserve lung volume and cope with the fibrotic process.

Nutrition rules and some recommendations from doctors

Properly selected therapy helps to get rid of a disease such as alveolitis. Symptoms of mild forms of the disease disappear within a few weeks after the start of treatment. Nevertheless, patients are advised to quit smoking and get rid of other bad habits. You also need to eliminate contact with potentially hazardous substances.

Proper nutrition will also help speed up the healing process. Experts recommend adhering to the following rules:

• maintain a drinking regime (at least 2 liters of fluid per day);
• The diet should include dairy and fermented milk products, vegetables and fruits, freshly squeezed juices, honey, semolina, lean meats;
• dishes need to be steamed or boiled;
• Regular consumption of dried fruits, in particular dried apricots, raisins, prunes, etc., has a beneficial effect on the body’s condition.

What complications can the disease lead to?

Under no circumstances should such a problem be ignored. The lack of timely therapy leads to the replacement of pulmonary structures with connective tissue. The lungs gradually lose their properties, the body does not receive enough oxygen. One of the dangerous complications is hypoxia of all organ systems. Serious metabolic disorders are also possible.

Gradually, the fibrotic process leads to the development of respiratory failure. The list of dangerous complications also includes pulmonary edema, which is the result of liquid blood components entering the cavity of the respiratory organs.

Edema can develop at lightning speed - often this condition ends in the death of the patient.

In other cases, the pathology develops gradually - the symptoms progress slowly, the patient’s condition worsens within 24 hours, which makes it possible to call a doctor in time.

Pulmonary alveolitis: life prognosis

In fact, this is a very serious and dangerous disease. In the absence of treatment, the disease progresses quickly - life expectancy is no more than 4-6 years.

On the other hand, with timely treatment (even before the onset of the fibrotic process), a complete recovery is quite possible. If fibrosis does begin, then the situation worsens - with the help of medications you can prolong the patient’s life and improve its quality, but, alas, it is impossible to completely stop the pathological process. This is why timely diagnosis is so important.

Preventive actions

Unfortunately, today there is no specific prevention of such a disease as pulmonary alveolitis. However, it is worth taking some precautions.

It is important to avoid contact with toxic substances and allergens. It is recommended to stop taking pneumotoxic drugs.

If the use of these drugs is necessary, then it is important to constantly monitor the condition of the respiratory system.

As for patients who have already suffered from such lung diseases, they should be under the supervision of a rheumatologist and pulmonologist throughout their lives, regularly take tests and undergo medical examinations.

Source: https://SamMedic.ru/333722a-alveolit-legkih-prichinyi-simptomyi-diagnostika-i-metodyi-lecheniya

Forecast

With timely and adequate treatment of acute exogenous allergic, as well as toxic fibrosing alveolitis, the prognosis is usually favorable. As the disease becomes chronic, the prognosis worsens.

Idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis is prone to gradual progression with the development of complications. Due to increasing irreversible changes in the alveolar-capillary system of the lungs, the risk of death is high. The five-year survival rate after surgical treatment reaches 50-60%.

Prevention

In order to prevent the development of alveolitis, it is recommended to promptly and adequately treat infectious diseases, limit contact with potentially dangerous allergens, eliminate household and professional factors that may cause the development of the pathological process, observe occupational hygiene rules, and also give up bad habits.

Persons at risk for alveolitis should undergo regular preventive medical examinations.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Alveoli are the smallest structures of the lungs, but thanks to them the process of breathing and ensuring all vital functions is possible. These microscopic vesicles that end the bronchioles are responsible for gas exchange in the body. Both lungs contain about 700 million alveoli, the size of each of them does not exceed 0.15 microns. Thanks to them, the tissues of all organs and systems without exception receive the amount of oxygen necessary for normal functioning. The structure of the alveoli is complex.

Causes of the disease

Men get sick more often than women, and in most cases the disease occurs in patients over 50 years of age.

The exact causes of the disease are still unknown. But according to statistical data on patient histories, medical experts identify the following risk factors:

• Regular active or passive smoking,
• Alcohol abuse
• The presence of chronic infections in the body,
• Autoimmune diseases such as HIV, AIDS,
• Chronic hepatitis,
• Immunity disorders
• Work in hazardous industries,
• Poor living conditions or negligent attitude towards residential hygiene,
• Gastrointestinal diseases,
• The presence of the herpes virus in the body.

Any of these factors, not to mention their combination, significantly increases the risk of developing the disease.

Anatomy

The alveoli have the form of sacs, located in clusters at the end of the terminal bronchioles, connecting with them by the alveolar ducts. Outside they are entwined with a network of small capillary vessels. The main structures through which gas exchange occurs are:

• One layer of epithelial cells located on the basement membrane. These are pneumocytes of orders 1–3.
• A layer of stroma represented by interstitial tissue.
• Endothelium of small capillary vessels immediately adjacent to the alveoli; the wall of one capillary is in contact with several alveoli.
• A layer of surfactant is a special substance that lines the alveoli from the inside. It is formed by cells from blood plasma, helps maintain a constant volume of the respiratory sacs, and prevents them from sticking together. Thanks to this special substance, the main function of the alveoli is ensured - gas exchange.

The surfactant is fully “ripened” by the time the baby is born, allowing the newborn to breathe independently. That is why premature babies have a high risk of developing respiratory distress syndrome due to the inability to breathe independently.

All of these structures form a so-called aerohematic barrier, through which oxygen enters and carbon dioxide is removed. In addition to the indicated structural elements, there are special ones necessary to maintain homeostasis:

• Chemoreceptors that detect fluctuations in changes in gas exchange or surfactant production by cells. Having received a signal about the slightest deviations, they contribute to the production of special active peptides involved in the restoration of altered functions.
• Macrophages - have an antimicrobial effect, protect the alveoli from damage by pathogenic microorganisms.

Thanks to collagen and elastic fibers, the shape is maintained and the volume of the alveolar sacs changes during breathing.

Functions

The most important task performed by the alveolar epithelium is the exchange of gases between the capillaries and the lungs. Its implementation is possible due to the large area of ​​the respiratory surface of the alveoli, amounting to more than 90 square meters, and the same size as the area of ​​the capillary network that forms the pulmonary circulation.

In addition, the alveolar part of the lungs, as the most important structural unit, is involved in performing the following functions:

• Excretory. Through the lungs, gaseous substances formed in the body are removed from the bloodstream and enter from the environment: carbon dioxide, oxygen, methane, ethanol, drugs, nicotine and others.
• Regulation of water-salt balance. Water evaporates from the surface of the alveoli, reaching up to 500 ml/day.
• Heat transfer. Up to 15% of the thermal energy generated by the body is released using the alveolar apparatus of the lung tissue. Before entering the bloodstream, the incoming air is warmed by the alveoli to approximately 37 degrees.
• Protective. Viruses and pathogenic microbes penetrate from the surrounding space through the inhaled air. The coordinated work of macrophages and chemoreceptors, thanks to the production of lysozyme and immunoglobulins, foreign aggressive agents are neutralized and removed from the body.
• Filtration and hemostasis. Small blood clots or emboli from the pulmonary circulation are destroyed with the help of fibrinolytic enzymes produced by the alveolar epithelium.
• Depositing blood. Up to 15% of the volume of circulating blood can remain and fill the capillary network of the pulmonary circulation, while being saturated with oxygen, providing the body with reserve capabilities during critical situations.
• Metabolic. They take part in the formation and destruction of biologically active compounds: heparin, polysaccharides, surfactant. The alveolar epithelium carries out the processes of synthesis of protein molecules, collagen, and elastin fibers.

The lungs are the site of deposition of serotonin, histamine, norepinephrine, insulin and other active substances, which ensures their rapid entry into the blood when acute stressful situations occur. It is this mechanism that is the basis for the development of shock reactions.

How does gas exchange occur?

Inhaled oxygen, passing through a thin layer of alveolar epithelium and the capillary wall, enters the bloodstream. Blood saturation occurs due to low blood flow velocity. In addition, the size of the red blood cell significantly exceeds the diameter of the capillary. Under pressure, the shaped element undergoes deformation, squeezing into the lumen of the vessel, which increases the area of ​​contact with the alveolar wall. This mechanism promotes maximum saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen.

Carbon dioxide diffusion occurs in the opposite direction. The process is carried out due to the difference in pressure on both sides of the air-hematic barrier.

Age, lifestyle, diseases lead to the fact that lung tissue undergoes changes. By the time of adulthood, the number of alveoli increases by more than 10 times compared to their number in a newborn. Playing sports helps increase the respiratory surface.

With age and with certain lung diseases, due to tobacco smoking and inhalation of toxic substances, a gradual proliferation of connective tissue fibers occurs, reducing the respiratory surface of the alveolar structures. Such conditions are the cause of respiratory failure.

They are bubble-like outgrowths, directly on the basis of which gas exchange occurs. Alveoli arise during evolution as a progressive formation in reptiles. Initially, the number of alveoli was small. In birds, they are supplemented by bronchi, and the lungs acquire a folded structure. In mammals, the entire surface area of ​​the lungs is alveolar, and the bronchi branch repeatedly to form smaller vessels. This provides a lot of advantages: it increases the surface area for the absorption of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide, the lungs themselves become more compact, and the efficiency of gas exchange in the pulmonary circulation increases.

The human lungs contain more than 700 million alveoli. They have a total area of ​​approximately 80 sq. m. The thickness of the cell layer is only 0.1-0.2 microns. This is achieved by flattening the cells lining the alveoli. They are called alveocytes. Large and respiratory alveocytes are distinguished. The vesicle itself is divided by partitions that maintain its shape and are connective tissue fibers with a dense network of blood vessels. Alveocytes are an intermediate link in gas exchange between the capillaries of the septum and the air of the alveoli.

Respiratory cells are directly involved in gas exchange, and large ones secrete a special substance called sufractant. It plays a huge role in the breathing process. The sufractant creates a certain surface tension in the alveolus, which prevents it from falling and sticking together. Oxygen is absorbed by alveocytes after it is dissolved in the superfractant. In its absence, for example in premature babies (especially those born before 26 weeks), the breathing process becomes impossible, which can cause the death of the child. Sufractant consists of 90% fat and 10% protein. Therefore, often people on a “low-fat” diet suffer from hypoxia - oxygen deficiency, which can lead to irreversible changes.

The alveolar wall also contains cells of the immune system - macrophages. Their presence is necessary in case of the presence of an infectious agent in the inhaled air. Macrophages are large tissue cells that have the unique ability to “scan” all structures of the body and distinguish between foreign ones. When a virus or bacteria enters the lungs, the macrophage marks them with a special label, which means that they need to be destroyed. This is already done by other cells - the so-called T-killers. Some macrophages have the ability to migrate into the lumen of the alveoli and absorb the superfractant.

The alveoli are filled with a gas mixture. Its composition is constant, and during quiet breathing it is renewed by only 1/7. Gas exchange occurs due to the difference in partial pressure in the capillary and the air environment of the alveoli. There are 2-3 alveoli per capillary. Air oxygen has a pressure of 106 mmHg. Art., and in the veins - 40 mm Hg. Art. In the same way, carbon dioxide is exchanged between arterioles and the external environment. Oxygen dissolves in the sufractant, penetrates into the alveocytes, and from there into the bloodstream. The diameter of the capillary is so small that red blood cells (blood cells that carry oxygen) have difficulty squeezing into the narrow channel. As a result, the contact area between the red blood cell and the vessel wall is maximum, which in turn increases the speed and efficiency of gas exchange.

In our article today:

From time immemorial, ideas about life and breathing have been closely intertwined in people's minds.

To the question: “Is breathing subject to our will?” - most people will answer: “Yes, he obeys.” But this answer is not entirely accurate. We can hold our breath for just a few minutes, no more. The alternation of inhalation and exhalation is subject to special patterns that are not subject to our will, and we can stop breathing only within limited limits.

What is the mechanism of breathing? The lungs, due to the elasticity of their tissue, are able to compress and expand. Fitting tightly to the inner surface of the chest, in which, thanks to the work of the muscles and diaphragm, the pressure is below atmospheric, they passively follow its movements. The chest expands, the volume of the lungs increases, atmospheric air rushes into them - this is how inhalation occurs. As the volume of the chest and, accordingly, the lungs decrease, the air from them is squeezed out into the environment - this is how exhalation occurs.

Movements of the chest are caused by coordinated contractions and relaxations of the intercostal muscles and the thoraco-abdominal barrier - the diaphragm that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. At the moment when all these muscles contract simultaneously, the ribs (1 in the figure), movably connected to the spine, take on a more horizontal position, and the diaphragm, stretching, becomes almost flat (2) - an increase in the volume of the chest occurs. Then, as the muscles relax, the ribs tilt (3), the diaphragm rises (4) and the volume of the chest decreases. Thus, we do not expand the chest with the help of inhalation, but, on the contrary, we are able to inhale due to the expansion of the chest.

The rhythmic contractions and relaxations of the muscles that change the volume of the chest are regulated by the central nervous system. Nerve endings approach the intercostal muscles from the thoracic part of the spinal cord (5), and the diaphragm comes from its cervical region. The activity of the spinal cord, in turn, is entirely subject to impulses that come from the brain. It contains an area called the respiratory center (6).

The respiratory center is capable of automatic, continuous activity, thanks to which a certain rhythm is maintained in the increase and decrease of lung volume. The cells of the respiratory center determine the amount of carbon dioxide that enters the brain along with the blood. As soon as the percentage of carbon dioxide exceeds the norm, the respiratory center issues a signal. It travels along the spinal cord and the nerves that carry signals to the chest muscles. As a result, breathing deepens and becomes more frequent; the body receives oxygen from the atmospheric air and increases the release of carbon dioxide.

Before entering the lungs, inhaled air passes through the nasopharynx, trachea and bronchi (7). Here it is moistened and warmed; Some of the air pollutants settle on the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, trachea, bronchi and are then removed from there along with sputum during coughing and sneezing.

Toxic alveolitis

Prevention of idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis consists of the following measures:

• to give up smoking;
• timely and adequate treatment of viral infections;
• preventing prolonged contact with occupational hazards (for example, silicates, asbestos or metal dust).

In case of exogenous allergic and toxic alveolitis, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the causative factor (see etiology).

Drug treatment includes the use of glucocorticosteroids (prednisolone at a dose of 60-80 mg/day until remission is achieved). If there is no effect, cytostatics are used (cyclophosphamide, azothioprine, chlorambucil). Drug therapy is effective only in the absence of severe pulmonary fibrosis.

Prevention. Prevention of idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis has not been developed. In case of exogenous allergic and toxic fibrosing alveolitis, it is necessary to eliminate the etiological factor (rational employment, correction of drug therapy, etc.). As part of secondary prevention, constant monitoring by a pulmonologist and consultation with an allergist and occupational pathologist are necessary.

The walls of the alveoli are the surface on which gas exchange occurs. In the human lungs there are up to 700 million alveoli with a total surface area of ​​70-90 square meters. m. The thickness of the alveolar wall is only about 0.0001 mm (0.1 µm). The outer side of the alveolar wall is covered with a dense network of blood capillaries; they all originate from the pulmonary artery and eventually unite to form the pulmonary vein. Each alveolus is lined with moist squamous epithelium.

Its cells are flattened, which makes the barrier through which gases diffuse even thinner. The alveolar wall also contains collagen and elastic fibers, which give it flexibility and allow the alveoli to change their volume during inhalation and exhalation.

Special cells in the alveolar wall secrete onto its inner surface a substance that has detergent properties, the so-called surfactate. This substance reduces the surface tension of the layer of moisture on the epithelium lining the alveoli, so that less effort is required to expand the lungs when inhaling.

The surfactant also accelerates the transport of oxygen and CO2 through this layer of moisture. In addition, it also helps to kill bacteria that have managed to penetrate the alveoli. In healthy lungs, surfactant is continuously secreted and reabsorbed. In the human fetus it first appears around the 23rd week. This is one of the main reasons why a fetus before the 24th week is considered incapable of independent existence.

This also determines the period before which induction of premature labor is prohibited by law in the UK. It is assumed that infants born earlier than this period may lack surfactant. The consequence of this will be respiratory failure syndrome - one of the main causes of death in premature infants.

Oxygen in the alveoli diffuses through a thin barrier consisting of the epithelium of the alveolar wall and the endothelium of the capillaries. First, it enters the blood plasma and combines with the hemoglobin of red blood cells, which as a result is converted into oxyhemoglobin. Carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide) diffuses in the opposite direction - from the blood into the cavity of the alveoli.

Effective diffusion is facilitated by: 1) a large surface area of ​​the alveoli; 2) a short distance that the diffusing gases need to overcome; 3) a steep diffusion gradient provided by ventilation, constant blood flow and the participation of the oxygen carrier - hemoglobin; 4) the presence of surfactant.

The diameter of the alveolar capillaries is smaller than the diameter of the red blood cells and the red blood cells squeeze through them under the pressure of blood. At the same time, they are deformed and a larger proportion of their surface comes into contact with the surface of the alveoli, due to which they can absorb more oxygen. In addition, red blood cells move relatively slowly through the capillary, so the exchange may take longer. When blood leaves the alveoli, the partial pressure of oxygen and CO 2 in it is the same as in the alveolar air.

Alveolitis is a disease characterized by a diffuse inflammatory process in the alveoli, pulmonary vesicles. The disease occurs as a result of bilateral inflammation of the alveoli and lung tissue. Alveolitis may be accompanied by pulmonary fibrosis - the proliferation of connective tissue with the formation of scar changes in the interstitial tissue of the lungs.

Alveolitis as a side syndrome can develop in connective tissue diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic scleroderma, dermatomyositis), autoimmune disorders (chronic active hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis), sarcoidosis, Sjogren's syndrome, vasculitis, with mycogenic sensitization (candidiasis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, pulmonary cryptococcosis), bacterial infections (Q fever, legionellosis) and some other diseases.

Types of alveolitis: Currently there are:

• fibrosing idiopathic alveolitis (the cause has not been established);
• fibrosing toxic alveolitis (occurs as a result of intoxication);
• fibrosing allergic alveolitis (occurs after interaction with an allergen).

Causes of alveolitis: Causes of the disease:

• hereditary factor;
• viruses (herpes virus, adenoviruses, hepatitis C virus);
• gastroesophageal reflux;
• polluted environment;
• interaction with allergens (pollen, dust, animal hair, cosmetics, medications, etc.);
• intoxication with chemicals;
• radioactive irradiation of the chest area;
• smoking.

Alveolitis in children is most often of toxic and allergic origin.

Substances that most often cause alveolitis include:

• some medications (most antitumor drugs, immunosuppressants, some sulfonamides, nitrofuran drugs, chlorpropamide, anaprilin, L-asparaginase, oxygen);
• industrial toxicants (gases - hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, ammonia, carbon tetrachloride);
• metals and their compounds - manganese, beryllium, mercury, nickel, iron, cadmium, zinc;
• mineral compounds (dust) - asbestos, talc, cement;
• cotton dust;
• plastics - polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene;
• herbicides.

Symptoms of alveolitis: Symptoms characteristic of alveolitis are as follows:

• constant shortness of breath, worsening after eating or physical activity;
• cough, often dry, hard breathing, cyanosis, sometimes wheezing in the lungs;
• pain in the chest under the shoulder blades;
• pain in muscles, joints;
• sudden weight loss;
• an increase in the size of the terminal phalanges of the fingers;
• general weakness.

Diagnosis of alveolitis: To determine how to treat alveolitis, a pulmonologist conducts a number of tests and studies, including:

• general blood analysis;
• X-ray of the lungs;
• bronchoscopy;
• magnetic resonance imaging of the lungs;
• computed tomography of the lungs;
• histological examination;
• lung biopsy;
• skin and provocative tests.

Treatment of alveolitis: For the treatment of alveolitis the following are prescribed:

• cytostatics;
• glucocorticosteroids;
• oxygen therapy;
• chest massage;
• breathing exercises.

If there is no effect of conservative treatment and if the disease is complicated, a lung transplant may be required. Complications of alveolitis: If treatment for alveolitis is not started in time, there is a risk of developing dangerous complications, such as:

• emphysema;
• pulmonary heart;
• pulmonary edema;
• pulmonary failure;
• heart failure.

High probability of death. The risk group includes:

• working in hazardous industries;
• men over 50 years old;
• people suffering from allergic reactions;
• people living in industrial, polluted areas.

To prevent the disease, patients are recommended to:

• promptly treat lung diseases;
• limit contact with allergens, toxic and chemical substances;
• do breathing exercises regularly;
• quit smoking.

Toxic alveolitis is characterized by the absence of immunological disorders. The disease develops due to the direct toxic effects of various chemical compounds on the lung tissue. The factors contributing to the occurrence of toxic alveolitis are most often drugs and toxic industrial substances.

Among the first, it is necessary to note cytostatics and immunosuppressants (chlorbutin, sarcolysine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, myelosan, mercaptopurine, etc.), antitumor antibiotics (bleomycetin, mitomycin, etc.), cytostatics of plant origin (vinblastine, vincristine, etc.), a number of antitumor drugs (procarbazine , nitrosomethylurea).

The incidence of toxic alveolitis when using antitumor agents and cytostatics reaches 40%. Nitrofuran derivatives, sulfonamides, neuroactive and vaeoactive agents (benzohexonium, anaprilin, apressin), oral hypoglycemic agents (chlorpropamide), L-asparaginase have a toxic effect on lung tissue.

With prolonged inhalation of oxygen, the latter can also have a toxic effect on lung tissue.

The risk of toxic alveolitis depends on the duration of use and dosage of toxic drugs. It increases with the simultaneous use of several such drugs.

Among the industrial provoking factors of toxic alveolitis are irritating gases (hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, ammonia, carbon tetrachloride, etc.), a number of metals (manganese, mercury, zinc, beryllium, cadmium, nickel) and their compounds, some plastics (polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene), some herbicides, etc.

The development of toxic alneoliths is characterized by a direct toxic effect on the walls of the pulmonary capillaries. This leads to disturbances in microcirculation, interstitial edema and infiltration, followed by pulmonary fibrosis. A number of toxic compounds (for example, beryllium), in addition to the direct toxic effect on the lungs, also affect the development of the functions of the immune system.

Bronchioles and alveoli.

Each bronchus (and there are only two of them), entering the lung, is divided into smaller and smaller bronchioles (8). Their diameter is several millimeters. At the end of such bronchioles, like a bunch of grapes, there are tiny vesicles - alveoli (9). The size of the alveoli ranges from 0.2 to 0.3 millimeters. But there are a lot of them, about 350 million, and the total area of ​​the internal surface of all alveoli is 100-120 m2, that is, approximately 50 times the surface of our body.

The walls of the alveoli are formed by only one layer of special cells, to which numerous blood capillaries are adjacent (10). It is here, at the point of contact of the alveoli with the smallest blood vessels, that the exchange of gases takes place between atmospheric air and blood.

But it would be wrong to imagine the matter in such a way that during inhalation all the alveoli are completely filled with atmospheric air, and during exhalation they are completely freed from carbon dioxide. The composition of the air in the alveoli changes slightly during breathing. After inhalation, the volume of oxygen in the alveolar air increases by only 0.6 percent, and the amount of carbon dioxide after exhalation decreases by the same 0.6 percent.

Consequently, alveolar air plays a kind of buffer role, due to which the blood itself does not directly come into contact with the inhaled air.

While at rest, a person takes an average of 16-18 inhalations and exhalations per minute. During this time, about 8 liters of air pass through the lungs. As physical activity increases, this amount can increase to 100 liters per minute. A person can live even if the respiratory surface of his lungs is greatly reduced.

The large reserve capacity of the lungs makes it possible to remove large areas of lung tissue when it is affected by, say, a tuberculosis process or a malignant tumor.

When the inhaled air is polluted, the process of gas exchange in the lungs becomes difficult. If you breathe such air for a long time, diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract may occur. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly ventilate the premises; you should not smoke, especially where people work or relax. It is useful to spend your free time in public gardens, parks, outside the city - where there is a lot of fresh, clean, healthy air.

Pulmonary alveolitis is a pathological process in which damage to the alveoli occurs with subsequent fibrosis. With this disorder, the tissue of the organ becomes thicker and does not allow the lungs to work fully, which often causes oxygen deficiency. The rest of the organs also lack oxygen, hence the metabolic disorder.

Description of the disease

Pulmonary alveolitis is an inflammatory pathology characterized by damage to the alveoli with subsequent growth of connective tissue in it. The disease can appear independently or occur with other disorders:

• chronic hepatitis;
• arthritis;
• AIDS;
• Schanger syndrome;
• scleroderma;
• lupus erythematosus, etc.

The disease can develop in acute (signs appear within 4-12 hours) and chronic forms. The second is the most dangerous, since the symptoms are characterized gradually and often do not allow themselves to be recognized in the early stages, but are noticed only when an irreversible process has appeared in the lungs.

Alveolitis is more often observed in people over 50 years of age and in the male half of the population, as well as in smokers. Treatment involves relieving the inflammatory process and normalizing blood circulation. This can be done with special medications and herbal medicine prescribed by a doctor.

Kinds

Alveolitis that forms independently is called primary, and if it appears against the background of other pathologies, it is called secondary.

There are 3 forms of the disease:

1. Exogenous allergic – caused by various pathogens through the respiratory organs. Often observed in people who have pets.
2. Idiopathic fibrosing - appears hereditarily.
3. Toxic – provoked by the penetration of toxic and chemical substances and medications into the respiratory system. This form is curable quite simply; you need to avoid contact with the agent being called.

Idiopathic fibrosing is not common, but is the most dangerous. This form is associated with hypertension, increasing pneumofibrosis, and respiratory failure.

Sometimes the toxic form is combined with an allergic one and is very difficult, and treatment of alveolitis takes a long time.

Causes

To date, the causes of alveolitis have not yet been fully studied. Some indicate genetic factors, others suggest that a virus is involved in the development of the disease. Regardless of the type of pathology, the reasons may be the following:

• contact with harmful substances;
• presence of hepatitis C;
• use of certain medications;
• some food products;
• bronchial asthma (in childhood);
• weak immune system;
• bacterial, fungal infections;
• prolonged exposure to a polluted atmosphere;
• external irritants (plant pollen, animal hair, sawdust, hay);
• inflammation of the esophageal mucosa;
• smoking;
• experienced radioactive radiation in the chest area.

Damage to the alveoli in the lungs occurs during regular interaction with an irritant.

. Due to its natural basis, it contributes to allergic diseases, and in case of poisoning – toxic pathologies.

It is worth noting that alveolitis is completely non-contagious, because in the essence of the inflammatory process there is a disorder, as a result of which immune complexes appear that affect neutrophils.

Features of diagnosis and treatment of the disease

In order to determine the type of pathology, as well as the form of its development, the patient is prescribed a thorough examination. It includes the following procedures:

1. External examination and interview of the patient. This allows you to determine the exact time of manifestation of symptoms and the possible causes that provoked the disease.

2. Listening to breathing.

3. Examination of the patient's sputum.
4. Study of human respiratory function.
5. ECG.
6. Bronchoscopy.
7. Biopsy of the affected tissue.
8. Provocative allergy tests.
9. Gas, general and biochemical blood tests.
10. Chest X-ray, which allows us to examine structural changes in the lung tissue.

Since the symptoms are not specific, the diagnosis must be differential. Alveolitis must be distinguished from pneumonia, sarcoidosis, and tuberculosis.

Even a child whose immunity is not yet strong enough is not immune from the occurrence of such a disease. Alveolitis in children manifests itself in almost the same way as in adults, but they tolerate it much more severely. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in a child whose parents or other close relatives have encountered this problem.

In the presence of alveolitis, symptoms can manifest themselves very clearly. After an accurate diagnosis is made, the patient is prescribed specific therapy. Of course, it is desirable to initially establish the causes of the development of the disease, but its idiopathic form is characterized by the fact that it is impossible to determine the provoking factors.

Treatment of alveolitis involves not only combating the pathology itself, but also preventing the proliferation of connective tissue that replaces the pulmonary tissue. In case of a toxic form of pathology, the patient should stop contact with those substances that provoked the development of alveolitis. As for drug treatment, the patient is usually prescribed:

1. Cytostatics used to treat advanced forms of the disease and help suppress the autoimmune function of the body's defenses.
2. Small doses of Prednisolone, which inhibits inflammation in the lungs.

3. Oxygen concentrate.

4. Vitamin and mineral complexes.
5. Internal inhalations of hormonal agents.
6. Expectorant medications.
7. Immunosuppressants.
8. Antihistamines.

Physiotherapy means such as plasmapheresis and breathing exercises are also used in therapy. Together with medications, they help achieve greater results.

Symptoms

Since there is an acute and chronic form, the symptoms of pulmonary alveolitis will differ markedly. Acute illness is characterized by:

• strong increase in temperature;
• sudden development of shortness of breath;
• intense wet cough, runny nose.

Such symptoms are similar to other respiratory tract pathologies, for example, pneumonia. But with any such manifestations, you should definitely consult a specialist. The chronic form is expressed as follows:

• difficult painful breathing;
• shortness of breath that occurs gradually;
• unbearable dry cough;
• expectoration with blood particles.

If treatment is not started in a timely manner, shortness of breath will become increasingly worse. As a result, there will be an increase in pressure, followed by respiratory failure. All this can lead to death. The difficulty of diagnosis is that the main symptoms are similar to a cold, because of this the patient may not visit the doctor for a long time, which aggravates the situation. In addition, there are other symptoms that occur with both forms of alveolitis:

• malaise, fatigue;
• weight loss;
• chest tightness;
• swelling;
• increased sweating;
• pain in the joints, chest, hoarseness observed when listening;
• protrusion of the nail plate, thinning of the ends of the fingers;
• muscle weakness;
• goosebumps, pale skin.

Alveolitis of the lungs in a child is expressed by growth retardation. All these signs require a diagnosis and treatment.

Prevention and prognosis

If a person has idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis, the prognosis of the disease directly depends on the stage at which it was detected. Much depends on the preventive measures that the patient must take for life.

In addition, prevention is necessary if there is a history of any diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, as well as a genetic predisposition to them.

What you can do yourself:

1. Limit industrial hazards. It is recommended to change your position if it is related to farming, the production of metal products, working with acids and alkalis, as well as industrial dust.
2. Walk outdoors regularly. To do this, it is better to choose a forested area or an area near a pond.
3. Completely give up the smoking habit. Cigarette smoke is harmful not only because of its composition, but also because of its ability to cause a severe allergic reaction.
4. Don't drink alcohol. Alcohol-containing drinks seriously undermine human immunity.

Fibrosing alveolitis of the lungs is a serious pathology that requires emergency therapeutic measures.

Important! When a person suddenly begins to experience shortness of breath and coughing, it is recommended to immediately consult a pulmonologist. This action will prevent serious health problems and also protect against death.

Alveolitis of the lungs is a disease in which there is an inflammatory process in the respiratory parts of the respiratory organs. Alveoli are components of the lungs; they are formed from special tissue. With alveolitis, this tissue is replaced by connective tissue, which can lead to dire consequences. The disease is accompanied by an inflammatory process and sometimes leads to death.

Alveolitis comes in different forms, and the life prognosis for different forms may differ. If you have any suspicions about the presence of this disease, be sure to contact a pulmonologist who will determine an accurate diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment. Today we’ll talk about what pulmonary alveolitis is, what it is like, how the disease manifests itself and how specialists fight it.

The lungs contain specific vesicles, the so-called alveoli. They consist of lung tissue with special properties. However, for some reasons, which we will talk about a little later, an inflammatory process may begin, accompanied by the replacement of this tissue with connective tissue. This process is called alveolitis. Men aged 50 years and older are most prone to it. The most common risk factor is smoking.

The disease is classified according to several criteria. For example, in origin it can be primary (developed independently) and secondary (resulting from a disease).

Secondary pulmonary alveolitis can develop against the background of the following diseases:

• AIDS;
• sarcoidosis;
• autoimmune disorders;
• thyroiditis.
• lupus erythematosus;
• arthritis;
• connective tissue lesions, etc.

Today, medicine knows three forms of the disease, which include:

1. Toxic. Caused by the entry of any toxins into the respiratory system, it can be a consequence of the body’s reaction to certain medications.
2. Exogenous allergic. It is provoked by all kinds of allergens, and is especially common in families with pets.
3. Idiopathic fibrosing. It becomes a consequence of any genetic disorders or is transmitted hereditarily.

The latter type of disease is quite rare and has not yet been fully studied. At the same time, it is considered the most dangerous. Such alveolitis may be accompanied by progressive pneumofibrosis, respiratory failure and hypertension of the pulmonary circulation. Next, let's talk about how alveolitis manifests itself.

Typical symptoms

Please note that alveolitis is also divided into acute and chronic. This is important because the characteristic manifestations of these two forms of the disease are different. Typical manifestations of the disease in acute form are as follows:

• A sharp increase in body temperature.
• Severe wet cough and runny nose.
• Sudden onset of shortness of breath.

Actually, these manifestations are similar to other diseases of the respiratory system, for example, pneumonia. However, if you notice something similar in yourself, this is a reason to consult a doctor, regardless of the type of disease. As for the chronic form, the manifestations will be as follows:

• severe dry cough;
• shortness of breath, which appears gradually;
• Difficulty breathing, accompanied by pain;
• Coughing up blood particles.

If you do not get treatment on time, shortness of breath will only get worse. Ultimately, it can lead to increased pressure in the pulmonary circle, which will result in respiratory failure. The result of this process is death. The problem with diagnosing the disease is the similarity of its main symptoms with the common cold, which is why a person may not seek medical help for a long time. There are also other manifestations of alveolitis, which include:

• fast fatiguability;
• significant weight loss;
• convexity of the nail plate and thickening of the fingertips;
• paleness of the skin;
• increased sweating;
• sensation of goosebumps;
• compression in the sternum;
• pain behind the sternum, when listening, a characteristic wheezing is heard.

If alveolitis is diagnosed in a child, growth retardation may occur.

Diagnostics

Since the symptoms are similar to other diseases, diagnostic measures are based on different actions. The doctor carefully listens to the patient’s complaints, establishes the period of development of symptoms, goes through the person’s clinical picture, looks for acceptable causes, based on the patient’s work and living conditions. The main manipulation is a blood test and examination of sputum produced during coughing.

Diagnostics implies:

• chest x-ray;
• bronchoscopy;
• careful examination of changes in the respiratory organ;
• spirometry;
• biopsy.

In addition to the above measures, you may need to consult a therapist. Having completed the diagnosis and established the cause of alveolitis, the pulmonologist prescribes a treatment regimen individually in each order.

How is pulmonary alveolitis treated?

When alveolitis is diagnosed, treatment is developed individually, taking into account the cause that provoked the disease. To begin with, a comprehensive diagnosis is carried out, which helps to determine not only the factor that provoked the disease, but also ventilation disorders and decreased diffusion in the lungs.

In general, treatment of the disease is aimed at alleviating the patient’s condition and is symptomatic. Medical measures involve restoring the respiratory function of the lungs, stopping fibrolysis and preventing the progression of the disease. This treatment lasts for months and even years.

Treatment

Therapy for alveolitis can be traditional and carried out using folk recipes. Elimination tactics depend on the type of disease. Treatment takes place in a hospital under the supervision of a doctor

. The basis is the elimination of the pathology itself and preventing the transformation of lung tissue into connective tissue.

In case of toxic, allergic alveolitis, it is important to avoid contact with the allergen, the toxin that causes the disease. For treatment, the doctor prescribes glucocorticoid hormones in the form of inhalations. Mucolytics are prescribed for internal use. At an advanced stage, cytostatics are used, they are aimed at suppressing the spread of cells.

The idiopathic form is treated with glucocorticoid hormonal agents, also in the form of inhalations. If treatment does not produce results, cytostatics are used.

Any form of alveolitis requires the use of the following medications:

1. Medicines that help thin mucus and cough up.
2. Drugs that suppress symptoms.
3. Hormonal agents (Prednisolone) – prevent the occurrence of inflammation. Used in small proportions over a long period.
4. Immunosuppressants - prescribed in case of idiopathic type.
5. Vitamin and mineral complexes.
6. Antibiotics (Penicillin) – kill pathogenic microorganisms.

It is possible to use traditional methods. They involve inhalations with various medicinal herbs, a diet, and you will also need special breathing exercises for pulmonary alveolitis, which will help normalize the patient’s health.

Traditional methods

Herbal infusions quickly calm the irritated respiratory system, have an expectorant effect, eliminate coughing attacks, and remove inflammation.

Treatment of alveolitis at home using traditional methods is used as an additional treatment. Decoctions, infusions, and inhalations are used.

To prepare folk recipes use:

• chamomile, motherwort;
• oregano;
• mint, eucalyptus;
• nettles, ground pepper;
• hawthorn, etc.

To achieve the best results, it is good to follow a simple diet:

• drink at least 2 liters of water per day;
• eat boiled, steamed, baked food;
• eat more vegetables and dried fruits;
• eat low-fat broths;
• there are fermented milk products.

By following a simple diet, the positive effect will not be long in coming.

Respiratory exercise therapy for lung pathology is aimed at normalizing the human condition - eliminating respiratory disorders, shortness of breath. Gymnastics is aimed at:

• strengthening the muscles that take part in the respiratory movement;
• prevention of oxygen starvation;
• restoration of breathing control;
• normalization of gas exchange in the lungs;
• improving the psycho-emotional state of the patient.

A specialist will help you create a set of breathing exercises. Each execution will take no more than 20 minutes.

The role of diet in the treatment of pathology

If alveolitis is detected, it is important to follow a special diet. It is designed not to aggravate the situation in the case of an allergic type of disease, as well as to strengthen the overall immunity of the body. It is important that the diet contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals, and that the food is easily digestible. Among the methods of processing food, you should choose boiling or steaming; frying should be excluded.

It is advisable to eat the following foods:

• Semolina;
• Honey;
• Dried fruits;
• You should choose cooking or steam for food processing;
• Low-fat dairy products;
• Low-fat broths;
• Fruits and vegetables, although it is advisable to grate them or chop them in another way so that the patient does not have to chew;
• Avoid fried and smoked foods;
• Fresh juices.

If you have alveolitis of the lungs, it is advisable to eat dried fruits.
This disease promotes sharp weight loss, however, you should not force the patient to eat through force. But you shouldn’t neglect drinking, especially if your body temperature is elevated. In this case, it is advisable to drink a lot; such remedies as rosehip decoction, cranberry juice, water with lemon will be especially useful. All food should be easily digestible, it’s good if it helps strengthen the immune system.

Complications

If left untreated, lung disease leads to complications. Swelling of the organ, pulmonary heart disease, and difficult and inadequate breathing may appear. Blood penetrates into the tissue of the organ, leading to disruption of gas exchange. In this case, the person will need urgent medical attention to avoid death. Edema may be:

• acute – expressed over a period of time and causes death;
• subacute – occurs alternately, then an increase and then a weakening of the signs of the disease;
• protracted – the most common form, lasts for 12-24 hours;
• fulminant – develops very quickly, the state of health suddenly deteriorates, and death is possible.

As alveolar lungs progress, they can cause increased pressure, chronic bronchitis, and heart failure.

The prognosis for treatment of alveolitis will be unfavorable only if the disease is detected at the last stage of development. Usually, the idiopathic form of the disease is considered fatal. When a disorder in the lungs is detected in time, it is quite possible to cope with it, although it will take a lot of time.