Lung infection is when an organism, such as a virus, bacterium, or fungus, causes a disease in one or both lungs. Lung infections are often caused by bacteria or viruses that spread from the throat to the lungs. Other causes include fungi, parasites, and even cancer cells.
The severity of lung infections varies widely. Some lung infections are mild and can be treated at home with over-the-counter medications, while others are more serious and require medical attention.
Globally, lung infections are the fourth leading cause of death. In the United States, they are responsible for more than 2 million hospitalizations and nearly 90,000 deaths each year. This is partly because of the difficulty in diagnosing lung infections, which can be mistaken for other conditions like asthma or pneumonia. The good news is that most lung infections are preventable through vaccination and careful hygiene practices.
Lung infections usually accompany symptoms like fever, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. However, there can be many other symptoms, too, depending on the type of lung infection. Most lung infections can be treated with antibiotics, while some require hospitalization. Some need to be treated by a specialist. A doctor will help patients determine the type of lung infection they have and recommend the best course of action.
Here are some common symptoms of lung infection that anyone should know.
Cough
A cough is a reflexive response to irritation of the respiratory tract. The irritated tissue makes tiny muscle fibers in the lungs contract, which causes the airways to narrow and produce phlegm. This helps remove foreign particles (like dust), irritants (like cigarette smoke), and bacteria from the lungs.
Coughing is a common symptom of lung infection, an attempt to clear the lungs. A productive cough means a person can bring up sputum (phlegm) or mucus from the lungs. A non-productive cough implies that they cannot bring up anything, but it’s still essential to get rid of this phlegm or pus build-up in the chest by coughing.
In the United States alone, about 50 million people suffer from chronic cough, and 17 million have a productive cough that lasts over three months. A non-productive cough may result from smoking, asthma, or other lung conditions.
If a cough becomes painful and lasts longer than ten days, it may be severe. If a person has any other symptoms, such as fever and shortness of breath with the cough, they should see a doctor immediately because it could be pneumonia, a severe illness caused by bacteria infecting the lungs’ air sacs.
