Lung Abscess

A lung abscess (pulmonary abscess, PA) is a suppurative lesion of lung tissue caused by one or more pathogens. It begins as suppurative pneumonia, followed by necrosis and liquefaction, leading to abscess formation. It is clinically characterized by sudden onset of high fever, chills, cough, and copious foul-smelling purulent sputum; chest X-rays show one or more cavities containing air-fluid levels. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this condition falls within the category of “lung abscess” (fei yong, 肺痈).

TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference

| Common Symptoms

Clinical Description:

Early in the illness: fever and cough, with white, sticky sputum that gradually increases in volume.

In Plain Language:

  • Fever and cough may occur early in the illness.
  • The sputum may be white and relatively sticky.
  • The amount of sputum may increase day by day, and it may feel difficult to cough it all up.

| Treatment Approach

Clinical Description:

Disperse wind and clear heat; diffuse the Lung and transform phlegm.

In Plain Language:

  • Disperse external “wind-heat” from the body surface and clear heat, to ease symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, and nasal congestion.
  • Promote the flow of Lung qi and help transform thick phlegm so it becomes thinner and easier to cough up; this may help relieve cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath and make breathing more comfortable.

| Related Products

The following products are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

| Common Symptoms

Clinical Description:

High fever, cough and shortness of breath, expectoration of thick, yellow, foul-smelling purulent sputum, and chest pain.

In Plain Language:

  • High fever.
  • Cough, rapid breathing, or feeling short of breath.
  • Coughing up yellow, very thick, foul-smelling, pus-like sputum that may be difficult to clear.
  • Chest pain.

| Treatment Approach

Clinical Description:

Clear heat and resolve toxins; dispel blood stasis and relieve pain.

In Plain Language:

  • Reduce fever and inflammation, and clear “toxic heat” in the body (corresponding to inflammation), to ease symptoms such as fever, redness, swelling, and sore throat.
  • Promote blood circulation and resolve stasis or blockage, to relieve distending pain, sharp pain, and discomfort from lumps and support recovery.

| Related Products

The following products are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

| Common Symptoms

Clinical Description:

Elevated body temperature and a flushed face; expectoration of copious foul-smelling purulent sputum, sometimes mixed with blood; and discomfort and pain in the chest.

In Plain Language:

  • Fever and a flushed, hot face.
  • Coughing up a large amount of foul-smelling, pus-like sputum.
  • Sometimes there may be blood in the sputum or blood-streaked sputum.
  • Chest tightness or pain.

| Treatment Approach

Clinical Description:

Clear heat and resolve toxins; dispel stasis and drain pus.

In Plain Language:

  • Reduce fever and inflammation, and clear “toxic heat” in the body (corresponding to inflammation or infection), to ease symptoms such as fever, redness, swelling, and pain.
  • Promote blood circulation and the flow of the channels, and help resolve blockages and drain accumulated pus (such as purulent sputum or an abscess), with the aim of easing swelling and pain and supporting recovery.

| Related Products

The following products are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

| Common Symptoms

Clinical Description:

Fever gradually subsides, cough eases, purulent sputum decreases, and shortness of breath may remain.

In Plain Language:

  • The fever gradually goes down.
  • The cough is improving.
  • The amount of pus-like sputum is decreasing.
  • Breathing may still feel short, or you may still feel easily out of breath.

| Treatment Approach

Clinical Description:

Tonify qi and nourish yin; support the body’s vital qi to help expel pathogenic factors.

In Plain Language:

  • Reduce fever and inflammation, and clear “toxic heat” in the body (corresponding to inflammation or infection), to ease symptoms such as fever, redness, swelling, and pain.
  • Promote blood circulation and the flow of the channels, and help resolve blockages and drain accumulated pus (such as purulent sputum or an abscess), with the aim of easing swelling and pain and supporting recovery.

| Related Products

The following products are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

References

  1. Chinese Medical Association. Clinical Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment: Respiratory Medicine Volume[M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2009.
  2. Chen Haozhu, Lin Guowei, Wang Jiyao. Practical Internal Medicine[M]. 14th edition. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2013.
  3. Zhang Hongchun. Annotations on the TCM Clinical Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment: Respiratory Diseases Volume[M]. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2015.
  4. Wang Yongyan, Chao Enxiang, Wang Guiqiang. Guidelines for the Clinical Use of Chinese Patent Medicines: Infectious Diseases Volume[M]. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2015.
  5. Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China: Volume on Prepared Formulations and Single-Herb Preparations[M]. Beijing: China Medical Science Press, 2015.
  6. He Zhiguo. Clinical applications of Zijin Ding in internal medicine[J]. Journal of Practical Traditional Chinese Internal Medicine, 1993, 7(3): 41.
  7. Patradoon-Ho P, Fitzgerald DA. Lung abscess in children[J]. Paediatr Respir Rev，2007，8：77-84.
  8. Ghazal S, Kumar A, Shrestha B, et al. Risk factors predicting mortality in patients with lung abscess in a public tertiary care centre in Karachi. Pakistan[J]. JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc，2013，52(192)：571-575.
  9. Schweigert M, Dubecz A, Stadlhuber RJ, et al. Modern history of surgical management of lung abscess: from Harold Neuhof to current concepts[J]. Ann Thorac Surg，2011，92：2293-2297.
  10. Moreira Jda S, Camargo Jde J, Felicetti JC, et al. Lung abscess: analysis of 252 consecutive cases diagnosed between 1968 and 2004[J]. J Bras Pneumol，2006，32：136-143.
  11. Puligandla PS, Laberge JM. Respiratory infections: pneumonia, lung abscess, and empyema[J]. Semin Pediatr Surg，2008，17：42-52.