Epidemiology Of Pneumonia

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 a disease that affects the respiratory system. Specifically, it is an inflammation of the lungs that can be caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and parasites. Microscopic sacs in the lungs (Alveoli) become inflamed and fill up with fluid, which causes symptoms such as cough, fever, chills and trouble breathing. It is a lung disease that kills thousands every year and hospitalizes many more. Pneumonia is more serious and can be deadly for infants and elderly. This disease has personally affected me when my son was hospitalized with it for 5 days. He was only 10 months old at the time and was admitted with diagnosis of Pneumonia, low oxygen and dehydration.

Pneumonia is described in Tabers cyclopedia medical dictionary, “as inflammation of the lungs, usually due to an infection with bacteria, viruses, or other pathogenic organisms” (p.1833)

The pneumonia virus affected the lives of 4 million people this year! The pneumonia virus affects the virus affects the respiratory system. The throat, voice box,windpipe, air tubes, air sacs, and most important the lungs are located in the system. Over 4 million people got sick last year with pneumonia and believe it or not 1 in every 5 cases of people who got the virus were hospitalized. Also, the virus targets are age group! 12 and 13 year olds are most common for the virus. This causes the respiratory system malfunction. One example is coughing, sneezing, and much more. This is the pneumonia virus.

VAP has been seen to cause up to 71% of hospital pneumonia deaths. According to Koenig (2006),

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, or parasites. (McCance 1290). Microorganisms different than those infections obtained in the hospital produce community-acquired pneumonia. (McCance 1290). Lower respiratory tract infections’ paths include aspiration of oropharyngeal secretions and inhalation of microorganisms released into the air by an infected individual. (McCance 1290). An infection already in the body can spread to the lungs causing pneumonia. (McCance 1290).

By definition pneumonia is a serious lung infection that can cause difficulty with breathing, coughing, fever and fatigue. In the elderly and the very young it can lead to death. The Join Commission estimates that 125,000 people are hospitalized each year due to pneumococcal pneumonia (2015). Due to the mortality rates of this disease the Joint Commission (JC) has developed a set of core measures that provide a guideline for hospitals with suspected cases of pneumonia. The Joint commission focuses the set of core measures on the problems of the initial treatment of the disease and how the patient is taught to prevent future episodes.

intubation whereas pneumonia is defined as the presence of “new lung infiltrate plus clinical evidence

Pneumonia is an illness of the lower respiratory tract in which the lungs become inflamed and congested and alveolar spaces are filled with fluid and cells-polymorphs and lymphocytes (Mandell L.A). It is an inflammatory condition of the lung and it is one of the most serious infections, causing two million deaths annually among the young and elderly. Pneumonia is the largest killer, accounting for 28% to 34% of all child deaths below five years of age in low-income countries and is an important cause of mortality in the elderly in high-income countries (Suárez).

Pneumonia is a lung inflammation in which the air sacs (alveoli) get filled with pus which might become solid. The invader colonizes itself in the place where gases exchanges take place. Since an invasion is present the immune system starts fighting to get rid of the infection and the sacs get filled with fluid and pus. The inflammation can affect both lung, one, or any certain lobe. Breathing becomes difficult the patients can also develop a chronic cough, fatigue, chest pains, and fast breathing (feels like drowning). The bacterium Streptococcus pneumonia usually causes it other types are Mycoplasma pneumoniae which is referred to as “walking pneumonia.”Viruses that can lead to pneumonia are influenza (type A) in adults and in children respiratory

An infection of one or both the lungs refers to Pneumonia. The major causes of pneumonia are germs like bacteria, virus, and fungi. The alveoli (air sacs) of an infected person’s lungs are inflated with fluids or pus. Pneumonia spreads in several ways. The viruses and bacteria found in airborne droplets transmitted due to coughing and sneezing, when inhaled can cause pneumonia. It is also transmitted through blood, especially during and shortly after birth. Research is still underway on the other pathogens that possibly cause the disease.

Pneumonias are respiratory infections that lead to inflammation of the lung structures such as the alveoli and the bronchioles (Porth, 2011). It is also a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among all age groups. The very young, the very old or those with chronic disease are more susceptible to the disease. According to Driver (2012), “1.4 million people die each year because of pneumonia.” Pneumonias are categorized based on where the infection is acquired, types of organisms that cause the infection, and the location of the lung that infection occurs. The presence of signs and symptoms depends on types of pneumonia and hosts’ defense mechanisms and is the result of the destruction of the alveoli and impairment of gas exchange.

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

The interventions for pneumonia are as follows. First, the patient must have oxygen administered to increase the blood's oxygenation level and ensure proper oxygenation to the body's organ systems. As the patient is treated with oxygen, she should be encouraged to breath deeply, as oxygen is the best cure of pneumonia. Next, vitals should be consistently monitored and oxygen treatment repeated whenever the oxygenation level drops below 90 percent. Finally, the on-call physician should be notified of the patient's condition so that