Lung Conditions Specialist
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Ocala Infectious Disease and Wound Center
Infectious Disease Physicians & Wound Care Specialists located in Ocala, FL
Many lung conditions develop from a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. While some cases are mild and easily cured, others resist treatment or require the expert attention of an infectious disease specialist like Haris Mirza, MD, at Ocala Infectious Disease and Wound Center. If you live around The Villages, Citrus County, Lake County, and Sumter County and have an ongoing cough or chest pain, call the office in Ocala, Florida, or schedule an appointment online today.
Lung Conditions Q&A
What causes lung infections?
Lung infections represent a wide range of conditions caused by viral, bacterial, and fungal microorganisms. Two of the most common lung infections, acute bronchitis and pneumonia, begin when the virus that started a cold or the flu travels into your lungs.
What is a mycobacterial lung infection?
Mycobacteria cause tuberculosis, a lung infection that’s spread through coughing and sneezing. Tuberculosis may stay inactive and not cause symptoms or illness. In some people, especially those with a weak immune system or HIV, the infection becomes active.
Early treatment of tuberculosis is important to prevent permanent lung damage and to stop the infection from spreading to your spine, brain, or other areas of your body.
Another related group called nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) seldom affects healthy people. However, they often cause lung infections in people with underlying conditions such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
How do I get a fungal lung infection?
Fungal lung infections develop when you breathe in mold spores. Fungi thrive in moist indoor environments and in soil and plant debris.
Some fungal lung infections can infect everyone, while others are opportunistic. An opportunistic infection develops in people who have a weakened immune system or an existing lung problem, often causing a serious threat to their health.
What symptoms develop due to a lung infection?
The symptoms you develop depend on the type of infection. As a group, lung infections cause problems such as:
- Prolonged cough
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Sweating and chills
- Shortness of breath
- Back pain
Pneumonia may cause a lower than normal body temperature in older adults.
How are lung conditions treated?
The treatment for each lung infection depends on the type of microorganism, the severity of your symptoms, and other concerns such as your overall health and age.
As a specialist in infectious disease, Dr. Mirza carefully evaluates each patient, performs diagnostic testing, and determines the best course of treatment.
The first line of treatment typically includes antibacterial or antiviral medications. Some lung conditions may require long-term therapy, nutritional support, immune support, infusion therapy, and treatment for underlying lung problems.
If you have an ongoing lung condition, call Ocala Infectious Disease and Wound Center or book an appointment online.