Stages
- Congestion
This stage occurs within the first 24 hours of contracting pneumonia. During congestion, the body will experience vascular engorgement, intra-alveolar fluid, and multiple bacteria. The lungs will be very heavy and red. Capillaries in the alveolar walls become congested, and the infection will spread to the hilum and pleura. During this stage, a person will experience coughing and deep breathing.
- Red Hepatization
This stage occurs two to three days after congestion. At this point, the lungs will be red, firm, and airless, with a resemblance to the liver. Alveolar capillaries will be engorged with blood, and vascular congestion will persist. During the red hepatization stage, the alveoli will contain many erythrocytes, neutrophils, desquamated epithelial cells, and fibrin.
- Grey Hepatization
This stage will occur two to three days after red hepatization and is an avascular stage. The lungs will appear to be a grayish brown or yellow color because of the disintegration of red cells. Your lungs will also appear to be paler and drier than usual. There will be persistence of fibrin exudate during this stage.
- Resolution
The resolution, or complete recovery, occurs when the exudate experiences progressive enzymatic digestion. This will produce debris that is eventually reabsorbed, ingested by macrophages, coughed up, or reorganized by fibroblasts. [1]