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Pneumonia

Terms in this set (17)

pneumonia
An inflammation of lung tissue, where the alveoli in the affected areas fill w/fluid.
This impedes gas exchange and leads to decreased oxygen saturation and tissue hypoxia.
signs of illness
OBJECTIVE, measurable changes in body function
(ex: rash, fever, swelling)
Symptoms of Illness
SUBJECTIVE, not as easily measured
(ex: pain, anxiety, fatigue)
Signs and Symptoms of pneumonia
*productive cough (due to increased inflammation and mucus production)
*cyanosis - due to decreased oxygen saturation
*fever - due to pyrogens released by the our own immune cells and sometimes the pathogen itself.
*crackles on auscultation
*painful breathing (dyspnea) - due to prostaglandins released by damaged cells
prostaglandins
chemicals released during inflammation that have many effects, but here we are focused on their ability to sensitize nerve endings and make things more painful.
auscultation
listening to sounds within the body, usually with a stethoscope

literally "to listen"
pyrogens
substances that stimulate the hypothalamus to "turn up the thermostat" of the body, which results in increased metabolic rate body-wide and a fever.
Literally "fire-starter"
dyspnea
difficulty breathing
literally "bad air"
causes of pneumonia
1. Community-Acquired: usually a secondary bacterial infection (most common secondary to influenza or COVID-19 infection)
2. Aspiration Acquired: infants might inhale meconium, elderly inhale food particles (due to weak swallowing muscles), and drug/alcohol intoxication can lead to vomit aspiration
3. Ventilator-Acquired: Type of hospital-associated infection/nosocomial infection
aspirate
inhaling fluid or foreign object into airways
Infectious pneumonia organisms
1. Streptococcus pneumonia
2. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (mostly HAI)
3. SARS-CoV-2
Why are newborns more susceptible to pneumonia?
They lack alveolar macrophages
Secondary infection
opportunistic infection after a primary (predisposing) infection
How does influenza increase the likelihood of a secondary bacterial infection?
The virus damages the respiratory mucus membrane cells, allowing bacterial cells to adhere and proliferate more than they normally would.
cyanosis
a bluish discoloration of the skin, nails, and gums resulting from decreased blood oxygen saturation.
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