Lung infections are caused by bacteria or viruses in the lower respiratory tract. The most common are:

• Pneumonia: In this condition, infection causes inflammation in the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with pus or fluid making it difficult to breathe.
• Tuberculosis (TB): TB is a condition where the lugs are infected with a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Symptoms vary widely but usually include at least some of the following:

• A cough that lasts longer than three weeks
• Greenish, yellow or bloody mucus
• Shortness of breath
• Sharp chest pain when you cough or breathe deeply
• Crackling, bubbling or wheezing noises when you breathe

Other symptoms may affect your entire body:

• Fatigue or weakness
• Fever, perhaps with chills and/or sweating
• Loss of appetite and weight loss

To evaluate your lungs, your doctor will:

• Listen to your lungs with a stethoscope
• Ask you questions about your health and your medical history
• Inquire about any recent travel, contact with animals or interaction with other sick people
• Order a chest X-ray to look for inflammation in the lungs
• Perform pulse oximetry, by placing a device on your finger to measure the level of oxygen level in your blood

Depending on the results, your pulmonologist may perform other tests on your skin, blood or mucus. The tests will determine whether you have an infection and what type of germ caused it.

For more complicated cases, our team also uses advanced diagnostic technology, including:

• CT scan: Like an X-ray, this creates an image of the chest that may reveal abscesses or other complications.
• Sputum culture: Testing phlegm and mucus can identify specific germs and help your doctor prescribe the most effective antibiotics.
• Bronchoscopy: The doctor may need to place a long tube into your airways. This helps to find blockages, identify sources of infection and retrieve mucus for testing.

Our doctors treat each infection with specifically tailored antibiotics, which you take by mouth or intravenously (IV). Treatment differs based on the type of infection, how sick you are, your age and the presence of other health conditions.

In addition to medications, supportive care prevents complications and makes you as comfortable as possible while you heal. Your pulmonologist may recommend:

• Aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen to treat fever and pain
• Plenty of fluids, particularly warm beverages, to help loosen mucus
• Hot baths and a humidifier to help break up mucus
• Avoidance of any type of smoke
• Rest
• Oxygen supplementation, where you breathe oxygen from a tank to increase oxygen levels in your system and improve your symptoms

Your pulmonologist will follow you throughout your treatment to monitor your progress. They will continue to test you until they can prove that you are completely cured.