Introduction

A lung abscess is a cavity full of pus in the lung. Most often, it stems from a bacterial infection in the lung tissue. The infection destroys lung tissue, forming a space. Pus gathers in th is space. Treating a lung abscess can be challenging, and it can also put your life at risk. When a lung abscess sticks around for less than 4 to 6 weeks, doctors call it acute. If it lasts longer than that, it is called chronic.

Symptoms of a Lung Abscess

The main sign of a lung abscess is a cough that brings up phlegm. What you cough up might contain blood or resemble pus, and it smells bad. You might also have:

• Stinky breath
• A temperature of 101°F (38.3°C) or more
• Pain in your chest
• Trouble breathing
• Lots of sweat at night
• Losing weight without trying
• Feeling tired all day along

Causes of Lung Abscess

Lung abscesses can be of two types. They come from different sources and different kinds of bacteria.

Primary lung abscess: A primary abscess starts when an infection takes hold in your lung. This occurs from: Alcohol use has the biggest influence on making someone prone to getting a lung abscess. People with this disorder often throw up and accidentally inhale the stuff from their stomach and germs into their lungs, which can lead to an infection. People who drink too much have weaker body defences because they're not healthy overall and don't eat properly. This also makes it easier to get an infection. Pneumonia, especially a type called aspiration pneumonia, can also result in a primary lung abscess. Aspiration pneumonia is an infection that develops when food or secretions from the mouth, stomach, or sinuses enter the lungs instead of the oesophagus. This condition has a significant impact on the formation of primary abscesses. People who are sedated or unconscious, due to intoxication or anaesthesia, face a higher risk of aspirating food or secretions.

Secondary lung abscess: Secondary abscesses result from causes other than an infection that begins in the lung. Some examples include:

• A blockage in the big airways of the lung
• Other lung diseases happening at the same time
• Infections spreading to the lungs from elsewhere in the body
• Secondary lung abscesses don't happen as often as primary lung abscesses.

Who is Likely to Get a Lung Abscess?

People who struggle with alcohol or have been sick (with pneumonia) have a higher chance of getting a lung abscess. Others who are also at risk include those with weak immune systems due to:

• Organ transplant
• Cancer
• HIV
• Autoimmune disease

How do Doctors Identify a Lung Abscess?

• To diagnose a lung abscess, your doctor first checks your medical history. They'll ask about recent surgeries involving anaesthesia.
• If they think you have an abscess, they will test your sputum or pus.
• The doctor might also use X-rays or CT scans to see where the infection is in your lungs and rule out other issues, like cancer or emphysema.
• For more severe infections, the doctor might take a fluid sample from the abscess area using a tool called a bronchoscope.
• If the doctor suspects a foreign object in your lungs, they might put a bronchoscope down your windpipe to find it.

How is a Lung Abscess Treated?

• Antibiotics serve as the main way to treat a lung abscess. Doctors suggest treatment lasting anywhere from 3 weeks to 8 weeks. In some instances, treatment might need to continue for 6 months or more.
• Your doctor may also advise you to make changes in your daily habits such as quitting smoking if you're a smoker, and drinking more fluids.
• Sometimes more complex procedures or surgery become necessary. A doctor can put a tube into the lungs to drain pus from the abscess, or you might need an operation to remove infected or damaged lung tissue.