Anatom3D
ENCZDE
Download

Lung abscess

Abscessus pulmonis · Plicní absces

What it is

A cavity of pus in the lung, usually after mouth bacteria are breathed in during drunkenness, seizures, anaesthesia or swallowing trouble, with poor teeth; sometimes from a blocked airway or tumour.

Symptoms & signs

  • Cough with foul-smelling, foul-tasting sputum
  • fever, night sweats
  • weight loss over weeks
  • chest pain
  • coughing blood

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Coughing up a lot of blood
  • call 112 / 911 now Severe breathlessness or blue lips
  • see a doctor soon Fever and cough lasting over 2 weeks
  • see a doctor soon Coughing up foul-smelling phlegm

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Chest X-ray and CT
  • Antibiotics for weeks (e.g. amoxicillin-clavulanate) — most heal trials support
  • bronchoscopy to exclude tumour or foreign body
  • drainage or surgery if it fails
  • dental treatment

Natural & lifestyle

  • Good dental hygiene
  • less alcohol
  • safe swallowing techniques after stroke

Emerging & experimental

  • Image-guided drainage earlier in large abscesses

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Postural drainage and chest physiotherapy — traditional; little evidence anecdotal / traditional
  • Oil pulling for mouth bacteria — small studies of plaque only anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes