How long does the temperature last for pneumonia in children and adults?

Description of the disease

Pulmonologists, when asked whether pneumonia can be asymptomatic, answer positively. This type of pathology is dangerous, inflammation and pathogenic development of microorganisms exist, but there are no signs.

Asymptomatic pneumonia is a chronic inflammatory process in the lung tissue that does not cause symptoms. Diagnostic methods are different, doctors use other terms for the disease: latent, sluggish, dormant.

Asymptomatic pneumonia in children occurs 3.5 times more often than in adults. The type of disease is detected in adulthood, subject to poorly treated pneumonia.

In ICD-10, sluggish inflammation of the pulmonary structures does not have a code; the problem is classified as J18.9, as inaccurate pneumonia. Dormant inflammatory process of the lungs is divided into types:

1. Interstitial. The tissues of the walls of the alveoli and lung parenchyma die. Damage to the blood vessels and system occurs. The person has a high body temperature, but there are no obvious signs.
2. Carnifying. The replacement tissue grows as a result of necrosis of the lung tissue, but its development occurs incorrectly. The pathological process fills the lumen of the alveoli. There are no signs of pneumonia; the person develops respiratory failure.

Pathology is distinguished according to the area of ​​distribution of foci of inflammation. There are lobar, segmental and focal forms. Despite the absence of obvious signs, the disease is divided by degree:

• remission;
• sluggish;
• exacerbation.

Asymptomatic purulent bilateral pneumonia is diagnosed in 50% of cases. At the stage of exacerbation, a person may notice blurred manifestations of the disease of the respiratory system.

There are still symptoms

Asymptomatic pneumonia in adults presents with non-pulmonary symptoms. There is no cough as such, no pain in the sternum. But the following symptoms help to suspect problems in the body:

• unhealthy blush;
• lack of appetite, weight loss;
• pallor and slight cyanosis of the skin;
• dyspnea;
• irritability;
• fatigue at low loads;
• whistling when breathing.

If the time of exacerbation comes, the symptoms include a temperature of up to 37.7 degrees, a constant cough with purulent sputum.

Asymptomatic pneumonia in the acute stage in a child has a bronchiectasis form, when the area of ​​the bronchi becomes enlarged. Symptoms will vary:

• discharge of copious foul-smelling sputum;
• hemoptysis;
• lack of appetite;
• temperature rise and rapid decline.

Remission is accompanied by irritability and tearfulness in infants. There is restless sleep and decreased activity during the day.

Symptoms of pneumonia in children with fever and cough

All these conditions are accompanied by a prolonged increase in temperature, weakness, and general malaise. After pneumonia, the patient is susceptible to infection with various infections, which can manifest themselves as symptoms of the inflammatory process:

• chills, weakness;
• cough;
• malaise, lethargy;
• decreased or lack of appetite;
• respiratory dysfunction;
• headache;
• aches in bones, joints;
• pain in the ears, trachea;
• runny nose;
• enlarged lymph nodes.

Causes of the disease

Asymptomatic pneumonia in children and adults is the result of exposure to pathogenic microorganisms on the respiratory system. People's immunity, subject to frequent illnesses or disruptions of the endocrine system, cannot resist infectious agents.

White blood cells, designed to signal a problem in the body, cease to be produced to the required extent, and the sick person does not notice the signs of the disease. There is no hyperthermia, and the malaise is attributed to overwork.

Another reason is uncontrolled use of antibiotics. Bacteria, viruses, fungi adapt to medications, multiply, capturing all areas of the respiratory structures.

When a cough appears, many people immediately begin taking medications to suppress it. At the same time, other symptoms are not paid attention to, the main cause of the pathology remains unattended. As a result, the body’s natural reaction to bronchial irritation is “turned off” by medications. Sputum accumulates in the bronchi and alveoli, which leads to the rapid addition of a bacterial infection. As a result, there is no cough, but the disease, although not clearly expressed, is present.

Risk factors include:

• any chronic pathologies of the respiratory system;
• chest injuries;
• smoking;
• elderly age;
• complications after abdominal operations;
• CNS disorders.

Hypothermia and drinking alcohol can also cause pneumonia without obvious signs.

How to reduce fever with pneumonia

It is worth bringing down the temperature only if it remains at a dangerous value for a long time or is poorly tolerated by the person.

Experts advise using mild antipyretics at 38 degrees and above.

For adults, there are many medications that are usually found in a home medicine cabinet.

If there are no personal contraindications, you can drink:

• Ibuprofen;
• Nurofen;
• Paracetamol;
• Aspirin;
• Citramon or other suitable drugs.

Treatment for pneumonia usually involves taking antibiotics or antiviral medications, which make it harder for the liver and kidneys to work.

When choosing additional medications, including antipyretics, you should give preference to the safest and most modern drugs.

To reduce fever in children, it is better to pay attention to medications created specifically for them.

Candles are popular for young children, and syrup can be purchased for older children.

When choosing medications, you need to focus on the permissible age and the presence of contraindications.

How much medicine is needed for a child of a certain age and weight can be determined by the instructions on the medicine package.

Is pneumonia contagious?

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Diagnosis of asymptomatic pneumonia

Patients rarely turn to the help of a pulmonologist and only in the stage of recurrent exacerbation of asymptomatic pneumonia. The pediatrician notices health problems in infants and older children and conducts additional research.

Diagnostic methods will help identify the problem:

1. General blood analysis. Shows a slight increase in leukocytes, ESR.
2. Biochemical analysis. The predominance of protein and fibrinogen indicates the disease; antigens to viruses and bacteria are detected.
3. Bacterial culture. The growth of bacteria is determined.

X-ray is informative in the stage of exacerbation of pathology or its long-term course. There is a decrease or increase in the structures of the lung, and it is easy to notice foci of inflammation.

Additionally carried out:

• CT and MRI;
• bronchography;
• spirography (external respiration function);
• tuberculosis test;
• biopsy of lung tissue;
• endoscopic examination of the pleural cavity.

The main goal of diagnosis is to confirm asymptomatic pneumonia and differentiate it from dangerous diseases and developmental anomalies: cystic fibrosis, oncology, hypoplasia of the lung lobe.

Complications

Complications of pneumonia occur in 89% of cases: the person does not seek medical help, and the disease progresses. Lack of therapy and self-medication leads to problems:

• lung abscess;
• respiratory and heart failure;
• pleurisy;
• pulmonary edema.

Against the background of growing illnesses, oxygen starvation develops, the internal systems of the body suffer. The patient may develop psychosis, neuroses and other mental disorders.

How long does the temperature last for pneumonia?

The duration of fever during pneumonia depends both on the form of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient’s immune system, and on the effectiveness of the selected therapy.

In elderly patients and in patients with reduced immunity due to focal pneumonia, body temperature may remain within normal limits and not increase at all.

Elevated temperature as a protective reaction of the body

Considering that the protective function of the immune system to the source of infection is manifested through fever, in case of mild fever, a wait-and-see approach may be recommended instead of emergency use of antipyretics.

The development of pathogenic microorganisms leads to the production of endogenous and exogenous substances – pyrogens – in the respiratory tract. They are also a product of the immune system, and it is their appearance that causes the development of fever.

In cases where the body temperature is kept within the subfebrile range, metabolism accelerates and the body manages to suppress the bacteria, viruses or fungi that caused the infection. A temperature above 39 °C indicates that the body is unable to cope with the neutralization of the pathological process on its own, and this is when it becomes necessary to take antipyretic drugs.

High temperature during antibiotic therapy

If a high temperature during pneumonia persists during treatment with antibiotics, this indicates that the therapeutic effect of the drugs used has not yet occurred. After starting antibiotic therapy, fever may occur for up to 3 days.

After completing a course of antibiotics, there should be no recurrence of fever.

If a fever appears immediately after finishing a course of antibiotic therapy, this indicates an early end of treatment or the development of a focus of chronic inflammation in the lung tissue. Normally, after complete recovery, recurrent symptoms of fever should not occur.

A sharp increase in temperature some time after the end of treatment may indicate resumption of inflammation in the lungs. In this case, timely consultation with a doctor and early initiation of treatment aimed at completely eliminating the focus of pathogenic microorganisms are of great importance.

Pneumonia without fever

Pneumonia that occurs without fever is considered especially dangerous, since in the absence of this symptom the patient may delay seeking medical help and continue to lead a normal lifestyle. It is during this period that inflammation will actively develop unnoticed by the patient, which will lead either to the disease becoming chronic or to the appearance of complications.

Treatment of asymptomatic pneumonia

How to treat asymptomatic pneumonia? The therapy program is chosen by the pulmonologist with other doctors. It is important not only to eliminate the cause of the disease, but also to prevent the development of further complications.

Depending on the factors that caused the inflammatory process of the lung tissue, antiviral and antifungal agents are prescribed. If the case is advanced, in 89% of cases bacteria are added to the viruses, so the doctor prescribes a course of antibiotics.

The drugs are administered intravenously and intramuscularly, then switch to oral administration of medications. Additionally, expectorant medications are prescribed so that pathogenic sputum comes out naturally.

Reception required:

• bronchodilators;
• anti-inflammatory;
• antihistamines;
• immunomodulators;
• angioprotectors that help restore blood supply.

To support immunity, vitamin complexes are included in the treatment program. Traditional recipes can be used, but as an auxiliary therapy. The medication must be taken under the supervision of doctors.

Inhalations have an effective effect. Bronchodilators and expectorants are used, antibiotics are used with ultrasonic inhalations.

Physiotherapy is important and courses are prescribed:

• magnetic therapy;
• electrophoresis;
• ultrasound therapy;
• inductothermy;
• decimeter wave therapy.

At the end of the treatment, therapeutic exercise complexes and massage help restore the body.

Prevention of asymptomatic pneumonia

Prevention includes contacting a doctor and undergoing an examination. The following will help prevent the development of an asymptomatic inflammatory process in the lungs:

• strengthening the immune system;
• cessation of smoking and alcohol-containing drinks;
• hardening;
• physical training;
• balanced diet;
• breathing exercises;
• chest massages.

It is important to avoid hypothermia, overwork and stressful situations. If your immune system is weakened, avoid visiting crowded places during infections.

Asymptomatic pneumonia is a dangerous infectious disease that leads to complications. It is important to listen to your body and contact a doctor if there are any problems.

Author: Lyudmila Fedorova Pulmonologist, immunologist, therapist

Temperature after treatment of pneumonia

If you have a fever after pneumonia, you should immediately consult a doctor at the Yusupov Hospital. Patients with elevated body temperature are examined by a therapist, prescribe an examination and organize a consultation with related specialists - otolaryngologist, cardiologist, nephrologist, neurologist, endocrinologist. The gynecologist conducts an examination, because pneumonia can worsen chronic inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs.

In order to determine whether there are residual effects of pneumonia, large-frame fluorography or lung radiography is performed in the partner clinics of the Yusupov Hospital. If the clinical picture of the disease does not correspond to radiological data, computed multislice tomography is performed.

A clinical blood test allows you to establish laboratory signs of chronic inflammation or an allergic process. Using immunological and serological research methods, doctors at the Yusupov Hospital determine the presence of pathogens of atypical pneumonia. They can cause a temperature increase to 37°C or higher.

Until the cause of the increase in body temperature after pneumonia is determined, patients are not prescribed antipyretic drugs. They can mask the true clinical picture of the disease. Patients are advised to drink up to 2.5 liters of fluid per day. This helps remove toxins from the body. Preference should be given to purified water, raspberry and cranberry juice. Linden tea with honey has a good antipyretic effect.

Patients are advised to avoid contact with infectious patients and take walks in the fresh air. You should not overcool and avoid drafts. In most cases, after suffering from pneumonia, the temperature drops to normal levels on its own.

If the doctors at the Yusupov Hospital determine that the increase in temperature is a complication of pneumonia, they prescribe treatment for the corresponding pathology. To increase the overall reactivity of the body, immunomodulators are used:

• interferon;
• levamisole;
• zymosan;
• diuciphone;
• t-activin;
• Thymalin.

To prevent viral infections, it is recommended to inhale phytoncides. Garlic or onion juice, prepared before use, is dissolved in an isotonic sodium chloride solution and inhaled through a nebulizer. In order to restore the body's nonspecific resistance, vitamin and mineral complexes are prescribed, biogenic stimulants and adaptogenic agents are used (schizandra and ginseng tinctures, aloe juice, liquid extract of Eleutherococcus). Sometimes body temperature returns to normal after treatment of carious teeth or diseases of the ENT organs.

If you have a fever after pneumonia, call the Yusupov Hospital, where doctors will conduct an examination, identify the cause of the increase in body temperature and prescribe effective therapy. Pulmonologists take an individual approach to the treatment of each patient.

Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Doctor of the Highest Qualification Category

Pneumonia is an infectious disease called inflammation of the lungs. Most often, children and elderly people, as well as patients with weak immunity, are susceptible to the disease. Pneumonia is diagnosed much less frequently in adults, but this does not make the course of the disease any easier.

Pneumonia is considered a bacterial disease that is caused by the following pathogens:

• Pneumococcus;
• staphylococcus;
• Haemophilus influenzae.

As a rule, the disease occurs after a viral infection. This is due to the fact that the upper respiratory tract is inflamed, which creates comfortable conditions for the growth of bacteria.

In an adult, it is more difficult to suspect pneumonia at the very beginning of the disease than in a child. The first symptoms are similar to a common viral infection; the temperature with pneumonia does not rise any more than with a simple cold.

It is extremely important to identify the disease at the very beginning, since lack of treatment can lead to serious complications, including death. Symptoms of pneumonia are as follows:

• runny nose and severe cough for several days;
• body temperature rises up to 39;
• feeling that there is not enough oxygen, it is impossible to fully inhale;
• severe weakness, drowsiness;
• the appearance of fever that does not go away after taking antipyretic drugs;
• with advanced disease - shortness of breath.

At the initial stage, even a doctor cannot always make the correct diagnosis. The first symptoms may appear in the form of a rare cough and periodic fever. At this stage, it is much easier to cure pneumonia, but to identify it, it is necessary to take a chest x-ray or undergo the necessary tests.

As a rule, patients consult a doctor at a later stage, when fear appears due to the inability to breathe fully, there is a cough that keeps them awake at night, and the temperature is constantly elevated.

This disease is most often diagnosed in the autumn-winter period, during the peak incidence of viral infections and influenza. At the beginning of pneumonia, it is easy to infect other people with it, since for the first 3-4 days it is transmitted by airborne droplets, after which the patient is no longer contagious.

At the first signs, you should avoid contact with children and the elderly, because the risk of infecting them is quite high. The likelihood that an adult with good immunity and no diseases of internal organs will get sick is quite small.

Quite rarely, the temperature during pneumonia remains normal; almost always it is elevated. An increase in temperature is associated with the appearance in the human blood of certain chemical compounds that arise due to parasitism of microorganisms in the lungs, as well as under the influence of the immune system.

It is difficult to say what temperature is considered normal during pneumonia; it can be a little more than 37 or reach 40 degrees. An increase in temperature during this disease helps the body quickly get rid of bacteria and improve immunity to fight pneumonia. There are three options for fever in adults with pneumonia:

1. The thermometer scale shows 37-38. This is a normal temperature for many diseases, including pneumonia. These indicators indicate the production of chemicals in the blood that help the body fight bacteria and remove toxins.
2. If the thermometer shows a temperature of 38-39 degrees, this means only one thing - the body is no longer able to cope with a bacterial infection on its own. The immune system is still struggling, but it is no longer possible to do without the help of antipyretic drugs.
3. The critical value is 39-41 degrees. The temperature rises to this level when the pathological process greatly prevails over the protective functions of the body. The body is not able to fight the disease; urgent intervention is required, preferably in a hospital setting. In this situation, it is necessary to call emergency assistance.

If symptoms are ignored, serious complications can occur. This often occurs when medications are stopped prematurely, especially antibiotics, when the clinical picture improves.