LUNG ABSCESS

Lung abscess is relatively common in all developing countries.
ETIOLOGY:
Single abscess: Usually due to pneumonia, tuberculosis or foreign body and, occasionally, following rupture of amebic liver abscess in to lung or super added infection of hydatid cyst.

Multiple abscesses: Usually due to pneumonia, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, fungus infection, leukemia's, agammaglobulinemia etc.
If an abscess fails to resolve, it may cause pleurisy, pleural effusion or empyema.
CLINICAL FEATURES;
Acute abscesses usually develop during the course of staphylococcal pneumonia and resolve spontaneously with suitable treatment.
Chronic abscesses have insidious onset with fever, persistent cough and foul-smelling sputum.
At times, dyspnea and chest pain may be there. Clubbing develops if the patient remains without
treatment over a prolonged period.
Chest signs are usually those of consolidation with bronchial breathing.
DIAGNOSIS;
X-ray chest shows characteristic opacities. The cavities may show fluid levels.
TREATMENT:

• Appropriate antibiotics
• Postural drainage
• Breathing exercise
• Surgical resection of the particular segment or lode should only be done when the medical measures have failed. surgical drainage is obsolete now.