Lung Abscess

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Lung Abscess


Causes

  • aspiration
    • reduced cough reflex
      • sleep
      • coma
      • anaesthesia
    • dental infection
    • foreign bodies
    • food
    • vomit
  • Bronchial carcinoma
    • peripheral tumour
    • distal consolidation and breakdown
    • central necorsis
  • septic pulmonary infarction
  • pulmonary embolism in drug abusers
  • Wegener's granulomatosis
  • tuberculosis
  • Staph. aureus pneumonia

Symptoms

  • acute onset
  • cough
  • malaise
  • night sweats
  • fever
  • shivering
  • sputum
    • foul
    • purulent
  • pleurisy

Signs

  • variable
  • often located
    • lower lobe, apical segment
    • upper lobe, posterior segment
  • crackles
  • clubbing
  • bronchial breathing
  • pleural rub
  • dull to percussion

Investigation

  • FBC
    • leukocytosis
  • CXR
    • fluid level
    • cavity
  • Sputum
    • anaerobes

Treatment

  • antibiotics
  • postural drainage
  • surgery
 

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