Source: Shenyang Evening News
Recently, "white lung" has become a hot topic discussed by many netizens.
Why does it feel like there are more “white lungs”? According to CCTV News , Zhang Wenhong, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Zhang Wenhong said that the current epidemic strain in my country is still the Omicron strain . The proportion of Omicron causing pneumonia is much lower than that of delta and the original strain.
However, due to the large infected population base, the number of "white lungs", that is, patients with severe pneumonia, will also increase. However, other bacterial pneumonia , that is, all severe pneumonia will cause "white lungs", which is not a sign of Omicron.
Is the appearance of "white lung"
due to the increased virulence of the virus?
Some netizens believe that "white lung" is related to infection with the original strain or the Delta strain of the new coronavirus. The National Health Commission recently invited experts to be interviewed on new coronavirus treatment and other issues.
Dean of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University Yu Kaijiang : There are currently two main popular strains in China, one is BF.7 and the other is BA.5, mainly these two popular strains of Omicron. There is no monitoring that the strain currently infected is the early original strain, nor is it the later Delta strain.
Everyone has seen the phenomenon of "white lungs" appearing, and would like to know whether the virulence of the virus strain has increased. So far, we have seen that the entire situation is actually similar to the epidemic in Jilin, Shanghai, Hainan, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia starting in 2022. In fact, the proportion of "white lungs" has not increased, but the total number of infections has increased, which has brought about an increase in its absolute value.
Deputy Director of the Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University Zhongming: Some patients who are prone to severe illness can avoid becoming severe if they receive timely treatment; patients who are prone to severe illness may develop into severe illness if they do not receive timely treatment during the development process.
After being infected with Omicron, most patients only have upper respiratory tract symptoms, and a few patients may develop into pneumonia. The evolution of pneumonia in some patients is related to their own constitution, such as low immunity. We have also received such a patient. Even if he was hospitalized in time and under the full supervision of doctors, his disease still progressed from mild to severe and turned into pneumonia. There are also some patients who may avoid developing severe disease with timely treatment when they develop or are prone to severe disease. Therefore, timely treatment can prevent some people from developing severe disease.
Li Lanjuan : Treatment of "white lung"
Focus on 4 aspects
How to treat "white lung" if it occurs? Li Lanjuan, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and director of the State Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, said that currently, clinical treatment can focus on four aspects: anti-virus, anti-shock, anti-hypoxemia, and anti-secondary infection to adopt symptomatic treatment.
Antiviral treatment should be early. When infection first occurs, timely use of antiviral drugs can reduce the severity of the disease; patients with shock , hypoxemia , etc. must be promptly treated with ventilators; when there are secondary infections, effective antibiotics must be appropriately treated. In addition, maintain water and electrolyte balance.
What are the chances of "white lung" being cured?
Li Tong, chief physician of the Department of Respiratory and Infectious Diseases at Beijing You'an Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, once said that "white lungs" are actually manifestations on imaging , which generally means that more than two-thirds of the area of both lungs turns white. Many people have mild symptoms of pneumonia, with only localized white spots.
He said that if the underlying diseases of people aged 60-80 are relatively stable, and they have pneumonia but do not have hypoxia or shortness of breath, most of them can recover on their own or through antiviral treatment. Most pneumonia patients can recover after treatment.
How to avoid pneumonia caused by new coronavirus infection?
What is "white lung"? How to avoid pneumonia caused by new coronavirus infection? The National Health Commission organized Tong Zhaohui, an expert in respiratory critical care, deputy director of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, and director of the Beijing Institute of Respiratory Diseases, to respond to hot issues of public concern.
asked: Could you please briefly introduce what "white lung" is and what measures are generally taken to treat it?
answer: "White lung" is a colloquial description in clinical work. Either you have pneumonia or you have "white lung". Medical staff say "white lung" among themselves, which means that the patient's pneumonia is relatively severe. In many cases, we will not call it "white lung", but describe whether it is unilateral or bilateral, and whether it is upper or lower. Only when the bilateral lesions of the lungs reach more than 75%, it is called "white lung".
Recently, some patients are suffering from general pneumonia. A very small number of patients with "white lungs" also have corresponding treatments. Whether it is severe pneumonia, hypoxemia or acute respiratory failure, we have relatively mature treatment methods, and we have corresponding guidelines and strategies from both international and domestic levels.
Recently, judging from the treatment of severe and critical patients in designated hospitals in Beijing that we are responsible for, the current situation of inpatients, "white lung" or severe and critical patients account for 3% to 4%. The clinical treatment of respiratory failure caused by pneumonia is very mature. As long as the treatment is timely, the doctor handles it promptly, provides oxygen inhalation, uses non-invasive ventilator , invasive ventilator , and even if it is severe, you can use extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), etc., a considerable number of patients can get better.
asked: How to avoid pneumonia caused by untimely treatment of new coronavirus infection?
Answer: The incidence of pneumonia is higher in winter. When young adults get pneumonia, their body temperature rises immediately, they have fever, respiratory tract cough, and sputum production. These symptoms are very obvious, and they often go to the hospital in time. Pneumonia in the elderly may not have fever or obvious respiratory symptoms. Some elderly people cannot express any special symptoms. When their family members see that the elderly people do not have a fever or cough, they sometimes do not pay attention to them and may delay medical treatment.
The onset of pneumonia in the elderly is relatively insidious, and sometimes there are no obvious symptoms. The elderly cannot be observed based on the reactions of young people such as fever, cough, and sputum production. It should be noted that if the elderly suddenly do not like to eat, the whole person becomes wilted, or is lethargic , they should seek medical treatment in time. The situation of the elderly should be closely observed.
Here are some suggestions. The weather is cold in winter, which is also the season when pneumonia is most common. Even without COVID-19, elderly people with underlying diseases are still prone to pneumonia. Pay attention to monitoring the respiratory rate, whether there are chest tightness, shortness of breath and other symptoms. If the blood oxygen saturation is less than 93%, you should go to the hospital in time.
asked: How can patients with chronic respiratory diseases in winter be prevented and treated during the COVID-19 epidemic?
Answer: Not only are chronic respiratory diseases in winter, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, etc., but also cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, all of which are highly susceptible in winter, you should pay attention to monitoring and seek medical treatment in time.
COPD has a higher proportion in my country. It is more common in winter and has more patients hospitalized in emergency rooms and respiratory wards. The current COVID-19 epidemic and cold weather will definitely induce the onset or aggravation of COPD. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who usually have hypoxia can inhale oxygen at home. They should insist on taking medication during the stable period. Patients are also advised to go out less often to avoid aggravation or flare-ups of the condition. If COPD is induced by pneumonia and the asthma worsens, you should come to the hospital for prompt diagnosis and treatment.
