Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a curable disease. What is pneumonia? Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. It can be in one or both of them at the same time. It causes inflammation to form in the air sacs causing fluid in them and makes it very difficult to breath. (http://healthline.com/pneumonia)
According to "Pneumonia History" pneumonia is a worldwide disease caused by an infection of the lungs producing coughing, fever, chills , muscle aches, and difficulty in breathing for those who suffer it (http://www.news-medical.net/health/Pneumonia-History.aspx). Pneumonia was first described by the Greek physician Hippocrates around 460 B.C. In 1875, German pathologist Edwin Kelbs observed pneumonia bacteria under a microscope for the first
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This can be caught outside of medical facilities and hospitals. The main causes are bacteria, bacteria-like organisms, fungi and viruses. Bacteria is the most common cause because it can happen on its own or can follow a cold or the flu. This type happens after the lungs have already been affected by a cold or flu. Another type is called hospital-acquired pneumonia. This type is caught during a hospital stay for some other type of illness or accident. This type may be resistant to antibiotics because the people are already sick. The next classification is health care- acquired pneumonia. This one occurs when people are living in long term care facilities such as nursing homes. This can also occur with people receiving care at outpatient clinics including kidney dialysis centers. The type is also caused by a bacteria that is more resistant to …show more content…
The goals of treatment are to cure the infection and prevent complications. Most people can be treated at home by following these simple steps. You must drink plenty of fluids. This will help loosen up the phlegm and you will be able to cough it up. You must get plenty of rest. Take the lowest dose of cough medicines that you can. You must control your fever. It is always important to take your antibiotics when you are suppose to.
They are used to treat bacterial pneumonia after it is decided the type that is causing it.
If you do not get better the doctor may have to change the medicine. Cough medicines are used to control your coughing. This way you are able to rest some. The reason your body makes you cough is to get the fluid loose in your lungs so it can be removed. This is a necessary thing that must happen for you to get better. Fever and pain reducers can be taken as needed to make you more comfortable during your recovery. There are sometimes when people have to be admitted to the hospital before they will get better. Some reasons may be if you are having trouble breathing, high or low temperature, you are confused or having high blood pressure. These are serious problems that only a hospital will be able to help you with. Children are also at a great risk for the same problems. If someone is admitted to the hospital, they will
* Pneumonia is refers to an infection in the lungs that causes swelling in the lungs tissue and this inflammation
The pneumonia virus affects the respiratory system. The respiratory system includes the throat, voice box,windpipe, air tubes, air sacs, and most important the lungs. “This system job is to take in air from the outside and take out carbon dioxide from inside the air and that helps your body prevent illness.” (Health tab) This is how it works, the air can enter through the nose or mouth, then it passes through the air sacs, and then finally it enters in the lung. Once in the lungs the oxygen can enter the bloodstream. This maybe common knowledge but you can not live very long without breathing so the respiratory system is very important.
Pneumonia is classified according to the organism causing the infection and where the infection was acquired. Community-acquired pneumonia is contracted by individuals with minimal contact with health care facilities – such as a hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation facility – and contract the infection by people in the wider community (MedlinePlus, 2016). Hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator assisted pneumonia, can be caused by a wide variety of bacteria and other organisms that can originate from the health care environment (Oxford Journals, 2016). Pneumonia that develops whilst an individual is in hospital, can be extremely severe and is more likely to be fatal. This is due to the fact, that individuals within a health care setting, often already have a serious illness, causing a weakened immune system. Also, the types of bacteria present in hospitals, are often more dangerous and resistant to treatment – then the bacteria found in the outside community (MedlinePlus, 2016). Aspiration pneumonia – or anaerobic pneumonia - results after the inhalation of a foreign matter into the lungs. If foods, liquids, saliva, or vomit make their way into the airways or lungs, instead of the oesophagus and stomach, it can cause aspiration pneumonia. It is more likely in individuals with a disturbed gag reflex – commonly due to having a brain injury or being under the influence of drugs or anaesthetics (MedlinePlus,
The clinical manifestations of pneumonia will be different according to the causative organism and the patient’s underlying conditions and/or comorbidities (Smeltzer, et al). Some of the manifestations are
Most pneumonias are caused by bacterial infections.The most common infectious cause of pneumonia in the United States is the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae. Bacterial pneumonia can attack anyone. The most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in adults is a bacteria called
Bronchopneumonia is usually treated with antibiotics, even if bronchopneumonia is suspected it could be from a fungi, virus, or a bacterium. The type of antibiotic used and the way it is given will be determined the severity, and cause of bronchopneumonia. If able to be treated at home treatments usually includes taking antibiotics, drinking plenty of water, using an humidifier, and getting an over the counter cough and fever medicine to help reduce fever and coughing. If treatment in hospital is required taking antibiotics or using oxygen therapy to let oxygen to where its need in the body and sometimes physical therapy is needed to help clear the sputum from the lungs. If your diagnosis is bronchitis Treatments usually includes soothing remedies to help with coughing, which may last weeks. Antibiotics are not usually recommended for bronchitis just plenty of rest, fluids, to eat healthy, do not smoke, or drink. Sometimes the doctor would tell you to take an aspirin if you are an adult to reduce the fewer. If you are diagnosed with bronchiectasis then it cannot be cured, but treatment may help. Treatment may include physical therapy and medications such as antibiotics and drugs to help loosen mucus. The main thing you need to do when you have bronchiectasis is drink plenty of fluid, rest, eat healthy, exercise, do not smoke, or heavily drink. If you do not follow what you are supposed to, to help you get better than your life style will be a struggle every
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. Many different organisms can cause it, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Pneumonia can range from mild to severe, and can even be deadly. The severity depends on the type of organism causing pneumonia, as well as your age and underlying health.
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung which results into an excess of fluid or pus accumulating into the alveoli of the lung. Pneumonia impairs gas exchange which leads to hypoxemia and is acquire by inhaling a contagious organism or an irritating agent. (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2013). Fungal, bacteria and viruses are the most common organisms that can be inhale. Pneumonia could be community-acquired or health care associated. Community –acquired pneumonia (CAP) occurs out of a healthcare facility while health care associated pneumonia (HAP) is acquired in a healthcare facility. HAP are more resistant to antibiotic and patients on ventilators and those receiving kidney dialysis have a higher risk factor. Infants, children and the elderly also have a higher risk of acquiring pneumonia due to their immune system inability to fight the virus. Pneumonia can also be classified as aspiration pneumonia if it arises by inhaling saliva, vomit, food or drink into the lungs. Patients with abnormal gag reflex, dysphagia, brain injury, and are abusing drug or alcohol have a higher risk of aspiration pneumonia (Mayo Clinic, 2013). In the case of patient E.O., this patient had rhonchi in the lower lobe and the upper lobe sound was coarse and diminished. Signs and symptoms of pneumonia include difficulty breathing, chest pain, wheezing, fever, headache, chills, cough, confusion, pain in muscle or
According to the Center for Disease Control, pneumonia is considered the leading cause of death of children less than five years old. However, there is a way to reduce the chance of contacting this disease. A vaccine called Pneumococcal is available for people to take (Centers for Disease Control, 2014). There is not only one type of pneumonia. The type of pneumonia is based upon the way the patient contacted the pneumonia. The following are the different types of pneumonia: Community-Acquired, Hospital Acquired, Health-Care associated, Aspiration, and atypical (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2011).
It was also noted that the patient had an influenza vaccine for this season, however a rapid influenza and RSV test were completed which resulted negative (Fahey, 2011). Fahey (2011) also discussed how difficult it is to identify organisms that cause pneumonia, and how cultures are not done a lot in the primary care setting (Fahey, 2011). A chest radiograph was ordered for suspected pneumonia and a confirmed diagnosis of left lobar pneumonia was received (Fahey, 2011). The most common organisms that cause pneumonia in children were discussed by age group (birth-3 weeks=group B streptococcus; 3 weeks-4 months= streptococcus or chlamydia pneumonia; 4 months-5 years=viruses and RSV in the younger than 2 year age group) (Fahey, 2011). It was discussed that pneumonia patients typically present with respiratory symptoms and fever (Fahey, 2011). This article also discussed the diagnosis of children older than 1 year is usually made through clinical/physical assessment, and it is not always possible to determine the pathogen causing the problem because cultures and lab work are not routinely done as an outpatient (Fahey, 2011). The requirements for the hospitalization of children were discussed, and the importance of practitioners using algorithms for CAP management
There are four different classifications of pneumonia including community-acquired pneumonia, hospital-acquired pneumonia, healthcare associated pneumonia, and ventilator-associated event which were previously referred to as ventilator-associated pneumonia (HESS). Bacteria, fungus, and viruses are some of the major causes of any type of pneumonia. Specifically, pneumococcus and Haemophilus, influenza are common pneumonia-causing bacteria. In children, these bacteria are the most present. Streptococcus pneumonia These microorganisms are capable of causing pneumonia, which is defined as inflamed air sacs in the lungs capable of developing fluid.
M. pneumoniae is generally referred to as primary atypical or walking pneumonia because the symptoms are not as sever as pneumonia. The symptoms include a dry hacking cough, fever, and headache. The symptoms will last for about 2 to 3 weeks. M. pneumoniae affects people worldwide. Typically only 33 % of people who have M. pneumoniae will get atypical pneumonia. The majority, 77 %, will come down with an upper tract infection (tracheaobronchitis). (Pulmonary Disorders pg 609) M. pneumoniae is transmitted through aerosol droplets. The bacterium is capable of infecting anyone at any time but it has a pattern of coming in the fall and winter and causing an outbreak every 4 to 8 years, although more tight communities occur more frequently. The pathogen rarely occurs on children less than 4 years of age. Since the bacterium lacks a cell wall, B-lactums are futile against them. The body’s immune system is responsible for killing the pathogen. There were 2 million cases in the US with 100,000 requiring hospitalization. The mortality rate is very low with only occasional fatalities among the elderly and sickle cell anemia persons. ( ).
The patient's overall symptoms and lab work suggest that she is suffering from hospital acquired pneumonia. Currently the patient is presenting a moist chesty cough. Additionally, her heart rate is elevated, her oxygenation is low, and her RR is high. She has a raised white blood cell count, which indicates infection. Finally, the patient is acting confused and disoriented, which can be the direct result of a lack of oxygenation to the brain. All of these symptoms point to pneumonia (Torres, 1999).
Getting sick is a part of life, but it can also be deadly. Pneumonia is a deadly, if kept untreated, infection that I received while I was in my sophomore year of high school. I remember coming back home at around four o’ clock in the afternoon, on a Tuesday, and feeling very ill. I knew that I was starting to get sick because it was the beginning of winter, and I usually catch a cold during this weather transition. Unfortunately, I hadn’t had an idea of what was to come.
be less likely to be infected by the virus(Carson-DeWitt). Antibiotics are only given to the patient if