Lung Abscess

Lung abscess: causes, symptoms and treatment

A lung abscess is a serious disease that is characterized by inflammation of the lung tissue followed by the formation of a cavity filled with purulent mass. This condition requires immediate treatment as it can lead to serious complications including pulmonary hemorrhage, pneumothorax and pleural empyema. Let's take a closer look at the causes, symptoms and treatments of lung abscess.

Causes of lung abscess

A lung abscess is usually caused by a bacterial infection. The most common pathogens are streptococci, staphylococci, fusobacteria and peptococci. Infection can occur by inhaling bacteria that are in the environment, or when infection enters from another part of the body through the blood. Several factors may contribute to the development of a lung abscess, including a weakened immune system, smoking, diabetes, and chronic infection.

Symptoms of a lung abscess

Symptoms of a lung abscess can appear acutely or against the background of another inflammatory process in the lungs. These may include the following:

  1. Increase in body temperature to 40-41°C;
  2. Chills and excessive sweating;
  3. Dry cough;
  4. Severe chest pain;
  5. Dyspnea;
  6. Shortening of sound when percussing over an abscess;
  7. Decreased breathing when listening;
  8. Decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate.

In some cases, an abscess may break into the bronchus, which can lead to a cough with the release of a large amount of purulent sputum, improvement in general condition and normalization of body temperature. However, if the communication between the cavity and the bronchus is insufficient, then pus may remain in it, which is manifested by increased body temperature and the discharge of a small amount of purulent sputum.

Diagnosis and treatment of lung abscess

Various techniques are used to diagnose a lung abscess, including x-rays, computed tomography, and bronchoscopy. Once the diagnosis of a lung abscess is confirmed, treatment may include antibiotic therapy, which is aimed at destroying the causative agent of the infection, and drainage, which allows the pus to be removed from the abscess cavity. In some cases, surgery may be required.

The treatment process for a lung abscess can take several weeks, and the success of treatment depends on many factors, including the size and location of the abscess, the age and general condition of the patient.

It is important to note that treatment of a lung abscess should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor, as improper or insufficient treatment can lead to serious complications.

In conclusion, a lung abscess is a serious condition that can lead to serious complications if left unattended. If you experience symptoms associated with a lung abscess, you should immediately consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Modern diagnostic and treatment methods make it possible to successfully cope with this disease, but it is important to start treatment correctly and in a timely manner.



A lung abscess (LA) is a localized collection of pus in the lung. A. makes up less than 3% of all empyemas. Empyema should not be confused with empyema, because the second concept is a clinical syndrome, which includes purulent processes of various localization and nature of purulent inflammation in the body. If the patient suffers from pulmonary empyema, he may require hospitalization in a hospital. In this case, he will not be able to treat himself, and traditional methods are contraindicated.

As a rule, this pathology most often affects men under 50 years of age who suffer from chronic lung diseases. In this case, a mild chronic abscess develops (A.L.H.). The disease can develop either independently or in combination with inflammatory processes of the kidneys and urinary tract. This process is characterized by a long course. Symptoms and complaints are similar to those that appear with “classic” mild inflammation.

**Pathological anatomy** Anatomical signs of AL are the presence of a cavity, which is lined from the inside with granulation tissue, and the accumulation of a large number of neutrophils. In addition, there is the presence of purulent