Do you use lung lavage for mycoplasma infection?
Apr 23, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
In general, whether bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is used for mycoplasma infection mainly depends on the severity of the infection. If the patient's condition is mild, BAL is usually not required; however, if the condition is severe, BAL may be necessary. During mycoplasma infection, patients should ensure adequate rest and avoid crowded places to prevent cross-infection.
Generally, whether bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), commonly referred to as "lung washing," is used for mycoplasma infection primarily depends on the severity of the infection. If the patient's condition is mild, lung washing is usually not necessary; however, if the condition is severe, lung washing may be required. The detailed analysis is as follows:
In cases of mild illness, patients with mycoplasma infection typically do not require lung washing. Mild infections are usually confined to the respiratory mucosa and have not spread deeply into the lung parenchyma. Patients may only experience mild symptoms such as coughing and fever. Under medical guidance, taking medications such as azithromycin tablets, doxycycline hyclate tablets, or clarithromycin tablets, combined with adequate rest and nutritional support, enables most patients to recover on their own.
When a mycoplasma infection is severe—especially when it has spread deep into the lung tissue and caused significant impairment of lung function—lung washing may become necessary. Severe infections can lead to the accumulation of large amounts of mucus and inflammatory secretions in the lungs, impairing respiratory function and potentially becoming life-threatening. In such cases, lung washing can effectively remove accumulated debris from the lungs, improve breathing, and create favorable conditions for further treatment.
During mycoplasma infection, patients should ensure sufficient rest to strengthen their immune system and avoid crowded places to prevent cross-infection.
