Severe viral pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs caused by the downward spread of an upper respiratory tract infection that has invaded the lung parenchyma.
Common viruses include influenza A and B viruses, adenoviruses, parainfluenza-associated viruses, respiratory syncytial viruses and coronaviruses. The virus is mainly inhaled through droplets, but can also be infected through contaminated tableware or toys and direct contact with patients, spreading widely and rapidly.
Infants, young children, the elderly, the original chronic cardiopulmonary disease and other immunity poor people easy to develop, and the condition is critical, can lead to death.
It is common in winter and spring, and most of the acute onset of the disease, manifested as nasal congestion, sore throat, fever, headache, generalized muscle pain and other symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, and invaded the lungs after a dry cough, coughing up a small amount of sputum or white mucus sputum, children or the elderly are prone to severe viral pneumonia, and even shock, respiratory failure and other complications.
Blood leukocyte count is normal, slightly high or low. The white blood cells seen in sputum smear are mainly mononuclear cells. Sputum culture is often free of pathogenic bacterial growth. x-ray signs are dominated by interstitial pneumonitis, which can be seen as increased lung texture, or scattered multilobar patchy hyperdense fuzzy shadows, and in severe cases, diffuse nodular infiltration in both lungs. Immunologic examination, virus isolation and antigen detection are the basis for confirmation of the diagnosis.
In the presence of severe viral pneumonia, it is necessary to actively seek medical attention and rational treatment under the guidance of physicians.