Editing Pulmonary infections


== Specific conditions: ==

* Lung abscess - separate topic
* Bronchiectasis - separate topic
* Histoplasmosis
* Organising pneumonia
** If the shadow or mass persists for 6-8 weeks, resection can be performed to exclude carcinoma
* Mycobacterial infections
** Tends to occur in apical and posterior segments of the upper lobes and superior segments of the lower lobes
* Fungal infections
** Aspergillosis
*** Aspergilloma - colonisation of an existing lung cavity (commonly TB) - treat aggressively and resect when possible
*** Invasive aspergillosis - immunocompromised patients - primarily medical
*** Allergic aspergillosis - allergic reaction to chronic colonisation - usually treated medically
** Histoplasmosis
*** Generally a serious systemic disease
** Coccidiodomycosis
*** Usually self-limited
** Cryptococcus
* Parasitic
** Entamoeba histolytica can extend from liver to RLZ

== Presentation ==

* Similar to pneumonia - fever, cough, leucocytosis, pleuritic pain, sputum production
* Ask about foreign body aspiration

== Work-up ==

* CXR and CT of chest and upper abdomen
* Bronchoscopy indications:
** Clear secretions
** Rule out cancer/foreign body/bronchial stenosis/stricture
* Cultures to guide antibiotics

== Management ==

* Optimise medical treatment
** Cease smoking
** Postural drainage
** Bronchodilators
** Antibiotics

[[Category:Thoracics]]