Lung abscess
Lung Abscess
A Lung Abscess (pronounced: luhng ab-ses) is a localized collection of pus within the lung, caused by a bacterial infection.
Etymology
The term "abscess" is derived from the Latin word "abscessus," meaning "a going away," referring to the pus that has 'gone away' from the body. The term "lung" is from the Old English "lungen" meaning 'the light organ,' due to its relatively light weight compared to other organs.
Causes
Lung abscesses are often caused by aspiration of oral or gastric contents into the lungs, leading to an infection. Other causes can include pneumonia, tuberculosis, and lung cancer.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a lung abscess can include fever, cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of a lung abscess is typically made through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and imaging studies such as a chest X-ray or CT scan.
Treatment
Treatment for a lung abscess typically involves antibiotics to treat the underlying infection. In severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to drain the abscess.
Related Terms
- Pneumonia: An infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs.
- Aspiration: The inhalation of food, stomach acid, or saliva into the lungs.
- Tuberculosis: A potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs.
- Lung Cancer: A type of cancer that begins in the lungs.
- Chest X-ray: An imaging test that uses small amounts of radiation to produce pictures of the organs, tissues, and bones of the chest.
- CT Scan: A type of imaging test that uses a series of X-ray images to create cross-sectional images of the body.
- Antibiotics: Drugs used to treat bacterial infections.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Lung abscess
- Wikipedia's article - Lung abscess
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