Acute frank lobar pneumonia, sometimes called acute frontal pneumonia or PFLA, is a lung infection that primarily affects young children, the elderly and anyone with a weakened immune system.
Definition: what is acute frank lobar pneumonia?
The lung is divided into three lung lobes for the right lung and two lung lobes for the left lung. Acute frank lobar pneumonia (or PFLA) is an acute infection, therefore brutal, of a pulmonary lobe, mainly caused by bacteria (80-90% of cases). It can affect anyone but mainly affects children, the elderly and people with weak immune systems. PFLA can also result from atypical pneumonia and complicate viral infection, especially influenza.
What causes PFLA?
“In the vast majority of cases, acute frank lobar pneumonia is due to the bacterium streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus,) but other germs may be involved, in particular atypical bacteria such as mycoplasma, (legionella pneumophila, haemophilus influenzae)“, says Dr. Jean-Philippe Santoni.
What are the symptoms of PFLA?
The infection manifests suddenly, with two types of symptoms.
► respiratory symptoms, which include unilateral chest pain, coughing, and rapid breathing. There may also be shortness of breath depending on the patient’s age and general condition.
► General symptoms such as a high fever of up to 39°C or higher, feeling tired and generally unwell.
The diagnosis is based, first, on the interrogation of the patient, then the clinical examination. On auscultation, the physician may hear pulmonary rales. The diagnosis will then be confirmed by front and side chest X-ray which shows an image of opacity, due to the fact that the pulmonary alveoli are full of pus and inflamed.
What is the treatment for PFLA?
Bacterial forms normally heal well by antibiotics (amoxicillin with or without clavulanic acid, or spiramycin) for a minimum of ten days, according to the clinical and radiological evolution. “It is very important to continue the treatment without stopping it to avoid antibiotic resistance, even if the clinical improvement is rapid”, warns the pulmonologist. Viral forms do not require antibiotics. “At the same time, it is essential to fight against fever with paracetamol and ensure that you have a sufficient supply of hot drinks (infusion, tea, soup) to promote rehydration. It is useless or even dangerous to prescribe antitussives since the cough is a defense reflex of the body which will allow the elimination of cellular and microbial debris. Hospitalization may be necessary for elderly and frail patients.he continues.
There are also three main ways to prevent the onset of pneumonia:
► Smoking cessation in the smoker;
► Hygiene measures: regular hand washing with soap and water, wearing a mask for symptomatic patients (coughing, sneezing), avoiding kissing and blowing in the face, airing the premises for at least 15 minutes twice per day, summer and winter.
► Vaccination: as the majority of pneumonias are caused by pneumococcus, vaccination of people at risk should be offered.
Is it dangerous?
“Acute frank lobar pneumonia can be a complication of viral pneumoniaespecially in the elderly or with chronic diseases such asasthma or the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Some pneumonias can be induced by influenza or by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and not just in infants. Coronaviruses can also give diffuse pneumonia with an acute frank lobar complication.informs the specialist.
Thank you to Dr Jean-Philippe Santoni, primary prevention pulmonologist at the Fondation du Souffle. For more information: www.lesouffle.org