Lung Consolidation

Lung Consolidation Definition

This medical condition means a solidification of your lung tissue and describes the filling of your lungs with liquid and solid material. These liquids replace the air pockets that are normally present that would usually be filled by gas. It is also known as pulmonary consolidation. When a person has lung consolidation it can involve in only certain lobes of your lung or it can be widespread and affect all of the lobes of your lung. It can also be incomplete or complete.

Lung Consolidation Symptoms

Some of the symptoms that may be more prominent with lung consolidation can happen because of the process of the disease itself. You may find yourself experiencing:

• Having shortness of breath
• Difficulty in breathing called dyspnea. The level of difficulty in breathing depends on the extent of lung consolidation
• Breathing that is noisy
• Having abnormal breathing sounds such as a crackling sound
• Having cyanosis or pallor
• Cough that is productive and loose
• Possible chest pain
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Sputum that is red-colored or rust-colored
• Fatigue

If it is a severe case of lung consolidation you may experience tachypnea which is when you breathe more rapidly, have diaphoretic which is when you appear sweaty, have difficulty when speaking, having a pale to little color, and coughing frequently.

What are the Causes of Lung Consolidation?

Lung consolidation is us usually caused by pneumonia which is inflammation of your lungs. This type of pneumonia is called lobar pneumonia. When a person has pneumonia the inflammation is caused by the collection of blood cells, exudates, and cellular debris in the air sacs of your lungs known as the alveoli.

In addition to pneumonia it can be caused by other reasons such as:

• Having an accumulation of edema and pus
• Atelectasis, which is collapse of your lung.
• Actinomycosis – this is an infectious chronic bacterial infection.
• Ascariasis – a disease that is caused by a parasitic roundworm
• Aspergillosis – this is infection that is caused by a common mold that lives both outdoors and indoors.
• Blastomycosis – this is a fungal infection
• Cryptococcosis – this is a fungal disease that can be potentially fatal
• Hydatid cyst – this is a parasitic disease of tapeworms
• Syphilis
• Having a viral infection like the flu
• Inhalation of toxic or poisonous gas
• Oxygen toxicity
• Inhaling toxic fumes

Diagnosis

When you see your physician they will take your medical history and the symptoms you are experiencing and then do a physical exam. Your physician will listen to your lungs using a stethoscope. When listening to your chest your physician is listening bronchial sounds. Your physician will also have a chest x-ray done to make an accurate diagnosis so the right treatment can be started.

Treatment for Lung Consolidation

Some of the ways that lung consolidation can be treated include:

• Maintaining your general hygiene and vaccinations to help prevent lobar pneumonia from occurring.
• Lots of rest, especially if you have lobar pneumonia
• Prescription for antibiotics
• To improve your immunity eat a controlled diet
• To help eradicate the mucus in your lungs drink a mixture of honey and lime juice
• To help increase your body temperature and expel the toxicity from your body drink Fenugreek tea to enhance perspiration
• Drink a mixture of two teaspoons of honey, some sesame seeds, and a pinch of salt to also help remove the mucus from your lungs
• Drink spinach or carrot juice every day
• To ease your breathing you may have to use a breathing machine at home or in the hospital.

You may also have to be hospitalized if the condition is severe to receive oxygen treatment and intravenous antibiotics to help ease the pain and discomfort sometimes associated with lung consolidation.