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lung scarring from pneumonia :: Article Creator

Bilateral Interstitial (Double) Pneumonia: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment - WebMD

Bilateral interstitial pneumonia is a serious infection that can inflame and scar your lungs. It's one of many types of interstitial lung diseases, which affect the tissue around the tiny air sacs in your lungs. One way you can get this type of pneumonia is as a result of COVID-19.

Bilateral types of pneumonia affect both lungs. In bilateral interstitial pneumonia, the tissue around your air sacs (interstitial tissue) get irritated and may fill with pus and other fluids. As the pneumonia gets worse, your lungs can develop permanent scars.

When interstitial tissue gets scarred, it may stiffen and make it hard for you to breathe. Your condition can quickly get worse, leading to respiratory failure.

Infection by bacteria or viruses is one cause of pneumonia. Infected people cough or sneeze particles into the air that you breathe or onto surfaces that you touch. You can get pneumonia as a result.

COVID-19 is also spread by contact with droplets spread into the air or onto a surface when someone who is infected coughs or sneezes. Most people who get it have only mild symptoms similar to a cold or the flu. But others end up with severe pneumonia as a complication of COVID-19.

Bilateral interstitial pneumonia symptoms often include:

  • Fever
  • Dry cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Hard time breathing
  • Fatigue

    • Warning signs of COVID-19 are similar.

    In people with serious COVID-19 symptoms, doctors may use CT scans to look for signs of pneumonia. These powerful X-rays show visual signs of damage to your lungs.

    When people with bilateral interstitial pneumonia have CT scans, doctors can often see white patches they call "ground glass." These are a sign of sores on the lungs.

    If you have symptoms of interstitial lung disease but aren't thought to have COVID-19, your doctor will start by giving you a physical exam. They may also give you some tests to rule out other problems. These may include chest X-rays and CT scans as well as:

  • Pulmonary function test. These tests measure how well your lungs are working. The doctor may ask you to exhale into a tube for this type of test.
  • Bronchoscopy. In this test, your doctor inserts a long, flexible tube into your lungs to flush out your airways with saline solution. They'll remove the fluid and examine it. They're looking for high levels of white blood cells in your lungs. This is seen in about half of people with interstitial pneumonia.
  • Biopsy. It's not always necessary, but your doctor may remove a small piece of lung tissue during your bronchoscopy to test for signs of inflammation or scarring.

    • While most cases of COVID-19 are mild, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine to keep your symptom from getting worse. The antiviral that doctors prefer to use is a pill called ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid), which is approved by the FDA to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 infection in people who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 infection, including hospitalization or death.Remdesivir (Veklury), which is given by IV is the only antiviral drug that has full FDA approval. A EUA has also been given to the antiviral molnupiravir (Lageviro) but that should only be used when the other treatments are not available.

     If you get pneumonia as a result of the virus, your doctor may help you breathe by giving you oxygen through a mask or tubes. If it's very serious, you might need a breathing machine.

    If you're diagnosed with interstitial pneumonia, your doctor may prescribe oral corticosteroids like prednisone. But they don't work for everyone. They can also have lots of side effects.

    Drugs that suppress your immune system may help, too. These include:

    Some people take steroids along with one of these drugs.

    Once your lungs are scarred, you can't reverse the damage. But anti-fibrotic drugs like nintedanib (Ofev) and pirfenidone (Esbriet) help keep the scarring from getting worse.

    Other treatments include oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehab, which includes breathing exercises to improve your lung strength. If nothing else works for you, you might need a lung transplant.

    To keep your lungs healthy, don't smoke. To prevent any infection, including COVID-19:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Stay up to date with COVID vaccines.
  • Avoid touching your hands, eyes, or mouth until you've washed your hands.
  • Use hand sanitizer gels that are at least 60% alcohol if you're not in a place where you can wash your hands.
  • Stay away from others who are sick. Keep a safe distance when you go out.
  • Stay home if you're sick except to go to the doctor.

    • Former UFC Star Ben Askren Placed On Lung Transplant List Amid Severe Pneumonia

    Amy Askren, the wife of former UFC fighter Ben Askren, announced Tuesday that Ben has been placed on a lung transplant list.

    Per TMZ Sports, Amy announced the news in a Facebook post, adding, "Please pray he can get stronger and stay stable while he waits, and they find an amazing match for him and he accepts it smoothly."

    Ben Askren has been hospitalized throughout the month of June in his home state of Wisconsin due to a severe case of pneumonia, and he has been on a ventilator since June 17, according to ESPN's Ben Okamoto.

    While Askren requires a lung transplant, his wife noted Tuesday that his other organs are "OK."

    She also expressed hope that he will be able to speak and respond to messages soon.

    Askren, 40, began his combat sports career as an amateur wrestler at the University of Missouri, winning two silver medals and two gold medals at NCAA Division I Men's Wrestling Championships.

    He went on to represent Team USA in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, falling in the quarterfinals.

    Askren then transitioned to MMA and made his debut in 2009. Over his first 20 fights, he went 19-0 with one no-contest, and he held both the Bellator and ONE welterweight titles.

    He made his UFC debut at UFC 235 in March 2019 by beating Robbie Lawler by technical submission. Askren's next two fights were the first two losses of his career, as he fell to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 239 and Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night in October 2019.

    Askren retired from MMA at that point and briefly tried his hand at boxing, losing to Jake Paul by first-round technical knockout in an April 2021 bout.


    Chemical Pneumonia - WebMD

    Chemical pneumonia is an unusual type of lung irritation. Pneumonia usually is caused by a bacteria or virus. In chemical pneumonia, inflammation of lung tissue is from poisons or toxins. Only a small percentage of pneumonias are caused by chemicals.

  • Many substances can cause chemical pneumonia, including liquids, gases, and small particles, such as dust or fumes, also called particulate matter. Some chemicals only harm the lungs; however, some toxic materials affect other organs in addition to the lungs and can result in serious organ damage or death.
  • Chemical pneumonia can be caused by aspiration. Aspiration means that you breathe oral secretions or stomach contents into your lungs. The inflammation comes from the toxic effects of stomach acid and enzymes on lung tissue. Bacteria from the stomach or mouth can also cause a bacterial pneumonia.
  • Chemical pneumonia is only one type of lung inflammation. You can read about viral pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia in their own sections.

    • Signs and symptoms of chemical pneumonia vary greatly, and many factors can determine its seriousness. For instance, someone exposed to chlorine in a large outdoor pool may have only a cough and burning eyes. Someone else exposed to high levels of chlorine in a small room may die of respiratory failure.

  • Factors that determine the severity of symptoms include the following:
  • Type and strength of chemical
  • Exposure environment -- Indoors, outdoors, hot, cold
  • Length of exposure -- Seconds, minutes, hours
  • Form of chemical -- Gas, vapor, particulate, liquid
  • Protective measures used
  • Prior medical condition
  • Your age 
  • Chemical pneumonia may have the following signs and symptoms:
  • Symptoms
  • Burning of the nose, eyes, lips, mouth, and throat
  • Dry cough
  • Wet cough producing clear, yellow, or green mucus
  • Cough-producing blood or frothy pink matter in the saliva
  • Nausea or abdominal pain
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Painful breathing or pleuritis (an inflammation of the outside covering of the lungs)
  • Headache
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Weakness or a general ill feeling
  • Delirium or disorientation
  • Signs a doctor might observe
  • Rapid or shallow breaths
  • Rapid pulse
  • Oral, nasal, or skin burns
  • Pale skin and lips
  • Sweating
  • Altered thinking and reasoning skills
  • Unconsciousness
  • Swelling of eyes or tongue
  • Hoarse or muffled voice
  • Chemical odors on other areas of the body
  • Frothy spit from a cough
  • Fever

    • Should any symptoms of chemical pneumonia occur, call your doctor or the local poison control center. Any person with serious signs or symptoms should be transported immediately by ambulance to the nearest hospital's emergency department.

    Chemical identification is helpful both for the poison control center and the doctor. This should not take precedence over medical care, however, especially for those with severe signs or symptoms.

    Immediate evaluation in a hospital's emergency department is necessary for treating the following conditions:

  • Unconsciousness
  • Cyanosis -- A blue discoloration of the lips, tongue, or skin
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Sudden change of voice
  • Mouth or throat swelling
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cough productive of frothy or bloody spit
  • Altered thinking and reasoning skills
  • Exposure to potentially deadly chemical
  • Vomiting and aspiration

    • The poison control center may suggest other conditions particular to the chemical that would need emergency care.

    Diagnosis and treatment for chemical pneumonia will vary depending on signs and symptoms. Frequently, the symptoms will be mild, the chemical will be well known, and the medical evaluation brief and focused.

  • Sometimes serious signs and symptoms will need life-saving procedures, such as artificial ventilation, advanced cardiac life support, or complex medical therapy. In most cases, the doctor will consult local poison control experts for advice.
  • The doctor must first make sure that hospital staff are not at risk for exposure themselves.
  • The next priority is to identify the chemical and consider the effects this chemical has on the lungs and the rest of the body.
  • A thorough history will be obtained to include the length of exposure, area of exposure, form and concentration of the chemical, other medical problems, and symptoms. In addition to close inspection of the vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, temperature, and how much oxygen you have in your blood), the doctor will evaluate, at a minimum, the eyes, nose, throat, skin, heart, lungs, and abdomen.

    • Once these steps have been taken, further evaluation may vary depending on the status of the person injured, the type of chemical exposure, and other factors.

    Self-Care at Home

    Your decision to seek medical care depends on the severity of symptoms and other factors of exposure. If you accidentally inhale a chemical, you probably want some medical advice. You can call your local poison control center for help. If your symptoms are serious, you will want immediate treatment at a hospital.

    Home care may be the most important aspect of medical management.

  • Quickly get away from the offending chemical or area of exposure. If possible, avoid exposing others to the same chemical. Once you're away from the area, consider further decontamination, such as removing your clothes and showering.
  • Alert the appropriate authorities to avoid further problems.
  • Identify and contain the chemical.
  • Medical evaluation may involve local police, fire department, emergency medical services (EMS), and hazardous materials personnel.

    • Evaluation and treatment vary. Almost everyone will have measurements of blood pressure, oxygen level, heart rate, and respiratory rate.

    In many people with chemical pneumonia, treatment is mostly observation. Sometimes symptoms develop over time and the amount of damage done won't be totally known for several hours.

    Many treatments are possible, including the following:

  • IV fluids
  • Oxygen by mask or tube
  • Breathing treatment with medicine to open breathing tubes
  • Steroid medications by IV or mouth
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by mouth
  • Pain medications by IV or mouth
  • Artificial ventilation (help breathing)
  • Preventive antibiotics (sometimes)

    • Prognosis depends on the chemical exposure and the person's medical condition. For example, an elderly person with lung disease exposed to moderate amounts of vaporized ammonium chloride might suffer serious problems as compared to a young athlete with no lung problems. In general, the more severe the symptoms, the more likely you will suffer short- and long-term complications.

  • Short-term complications include other organ injury in addition to possible death.
  • Long-term complications include lung scarring and recurrent pneumonia.




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