Respiratory Diseases

Both tracts work together to obtain the oxygen and remove the gas. The upper respiratory tract takes care of air conduction and the lower respiratory tract works on gaseous exchange.

When CAP occurs, it is determined if the need for hospitalisation is necessary as it depends on the seriousness of the infection. Gram- positive organisms such as S. pneumoniae, naturally occur in the upper respiratory tract, is one cause of lower respiratory infections such as pneumonia, but is also a culprit in causing upper respiratory infections like otitis media. H. influenzae is just one of many bacterial infections that can result in CAP, it therefore can be subacute and present with a low-grade fever and a persistent cough for a few weeks before a patient has a diagnosis. Adults that have very little or no immunity are an easier target for certain viruses such as that of the Cytomegalovirus, which is a viral pathogen that is commonly contracted within the community, other common virus are adenovirus and herpes simplex. When a virus starts to become acute, it starts an infection within the ciliated cells within the airway. When pneumonia occurs from this viral infection, the inflammatory action starts to seep into the alveolar areas and leads to the problem of excess exudation and oedema within the respiratory tract. It is sometimes often difficult to differentiate symptoms of a viral pneumonia from that of bacterial pneumonia (Smeltzer &

Lungs – Mucus plugging, chronic bacterial infections, pronounced inflammatory response, damaged airways leading to respiratory insufficiency, progressive decline in pulmonary function.

Essentially what occurs during the process with any kind of an infection involved is the body is being infected with a virus. That virus is basically going to gain entry inside the cells found in your body. It is also going to use the machinery of the cell found in your body to make multiple duplicates of it. In the end, it’s going to abolish the cell and spread off to infect multiple different cells. Specifically, when people get an upper respiratory infection the cells in their body are making viruses, which are spreading to other cells.

Bronchitis is the inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchi, the airways that carry airflow from the trachea into the lungs. The thin mucus lining of these airways can become irritated and swollen; the cells that make up the lining may leak fluids in response to the inflammation. Bronchitis most often occurs during the cold and flu season usually coupled with an upper respiratory infection. Bronchitis can be divided into two categories: acute or chronic each of which has distinct etiologies, pathologies, and therapies. I chose this condition because it seemed like an interesting topic to research on, and I am also interested in learning more

Respiratory disorder, mostly affect the upper or lower respiratory tract, however bacterial or viral infection are the causative agent and the disease is common in all ages. In addition, the lungs and the bronchi can also be affected, causing inflammation and obstruction of the airflow resulting in wheezing, chest tightness, stridor, low grade fever, cough, and hemoptysis due severe damage to the lung tissues. Most common diseases of the respiratory system include; pneumonia, croup, asthma, bronchitis, laryngitis, and tuberculosis, affected disease location determines the signs and symptoms. Hereditary and environmental factors such as allergens and other irritants can be a contributory factor, especially in children. However, respiratory compromise occur as a result of incomplete airway development among this vulnerable population predisposing them to chronic asthma (Huether & McCance, 2012).

RSV infection is limited to the respiratory tract. Respiratory Syncytial Virus affects the respiratory system causing an interruption of the normal physiology of the lungs which are the main organs affected. The lungs are a pair of cone-shaped bodies that occupy the thorax. The lungs have two vital functions air distribution and gas exchange. In addition to attending as an air distribution pathway and gas exchange surface the components of the respiratory tract cleanse, warm and humidify inspired air. RSV affects the lungs by inflaming the small airways and decreasing the oxygen flow in and out, thereby affecting the capacity for normal oxygen exchange. Initial infection in young infants or children frequently involves the LRT and most often manifests as the clinical entity of bronchiolitis. Inoculation of the virus occurs in the URT in respiratory epithelial cells [ (Leonard R Krilov, 2010) ]. Spread of the virus down the respiratory tract occurs by

To give you some information on what is respiratory disease is. The composition of the walls of the bronchi and bronchioles changes. Smaller tubes don’t need a lot cartilage to hold them open, so the incomplete rings of the cartilage supporting the bronchi are slowly replaced by plates of cartilage in the bronchioles. Also without that cartilage the small tubes can be completely shut by contraction of the smooth muscles. So dealing with asthma and other obstructive respiratory diseases, this smooth muscle becomes irritated and tightens,reducing the diameter of the tubes, sometimes even effectively closing it. Take Bronchitis is a diease of the lower respiratory tract. It is an inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the bronchi.

A URI or Upper Respiratory Infection is also known as the common cold. There are several types of viruses that can contribute to a URI. When the body notices that there is a foreign virus, it begins to increase the mucus production, swelling in your nose which makes it hard to breathe, sneezing and coughing. The best way to prevent colds is by keeping away from other people that may already be sick, hand hygiene, sanitize your area throughout the day. Treatment for the common cold is simply based on what symptoms you have. Antibiotics cannot cure a cold. There are some medications that can help relieve symptoms but it will not make them go away.

Chronic inflammation leads to structural changes, narrowing of the small airways, and destruction of lung tissue, which diminishes the ability of the airways to remain open during expiration

pneumoniae and there chemotactic signals and the host cell’s alternate pathway, invade the alveoli. Also red blood cells are recruited to this site. In the third stage, mostly neutrophils are packed into the alveoli and very few bacteria remain. In the final stage, macrophages eliminate the remaining residue from the inflammatory response. As one can see, the damage which is done to the lung is largely a result of the host’s inflammatory response, which causes the build up of fluids in the lungs. If S. pneumoniae is allowed to persist in the lungs it can then invade the blood, which causes bacteremia. When in the blood it can traverse the blood-brain barrier and infect the meninges, which results in meningitis. S. pneumoniae is also associated with diseases in other parts of the respiratory tract including the paranasal sinuses, which is better known as sinusitis, and the middle ear can become infected, which is known as otitis media. It has also been known to cause peritonitis, an inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdominal wall, and it is also implicated in causing arthritis.

Bronchitis is a characterized by inflammation of the bronchial tubes. The hallmark sign of bronchitis is cough. Patients with bronchitis often have a productive cough producing mucus, but mucus or phlegm is not always produced with bronchitis. Furthermore, green sputum does not indicate bacterial infection over viral lower respiratory infections. Although bronchitis is mainly an upper respiratory infection it is characterized by inflammation that involves the lower respiratory tract (Blush, 2013).

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

The Rhinovirus affects the upper respiratory system. “The respiratory system is responsible for taking oxygen from the lungs and carrying it to other parts of the body where it is needed” (Healthy Children 22 ). The Respiratory system is accountable for taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. Red blood cells collect the air as we breathe and take it to other parts of the body where

Respiratory disease is a term which encompasses a wide range of diseases that effect the lungs. Examples of respiratory diseases include, but are not limited to: asthma, tuberculosis and lung cancer (US National Library of Medicine, 2016). Lung diseases are classified as either obstructive or restrictive.