UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA

PNEUMONIASATRUPA SINGH

BMR 3106

DEFINITION OF PNEUMONIA

Can be broadly defined as an infection of the lung parenchyma.

Additionally, it can be defined as an inflammatory condition of the lung affecting primarily the microscopic air sacs known as alveoli.

ANATOMY OF THE LUNGIn order to better understand pneumonia, it

is important to understand the basic anatomic features of the respiratory system.

The human respiratory system begins at the nose and mouth, where air is breathed in (inspired), and out (expired).

The air tube extending from the nose is called the nasopharynx; the tube carrying air breathed in through the mouth is called the oropharynx.

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The nasopharynx and the oropharynx merge into the larynx.

Because the oropharynx also carries swallowed substances, including food, water and salivary secretions which must pass into the esophagus and then the stomach, the larynx is protected by a trap door called the epiglottis.

The epiglottis prevents substances which have been swallowed, as well as substances which have been regurgitated (thrown up) from heading down into the larynx and toward the lungs.

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A useful method of picturing the respiratory system is to imagine an upside-down tree.

The larynx flows into the trachea, which is the tree trunk, and thus the broadest part of the respiratory tree.

The trachea divides into two tree limbs, the right and left bronchi, each of which branches off into multiple smaller bronchi, which course through the tissue of the lung.

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Each bronchus divides into tubes of smaller and smaller diameter, finally ending in the terminal bronchioles. The air sacs of the lung, in which oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange actually takes place, are clustered at the ends of the bronchioles like the leaves of a tree, and are called alveoli.

The tissue of the lung which serves only a supportive role for the bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli, is called the lung parenchyma.

WHO GETS PNUEMONIA?Some people are more likely than

others to develop pneumonia. Individuals at higher risk include those who:

Smoke Abuse alcoholAre younger than 1 year of age or

older than 65Have a weakened or impaired immune

system

WHO GETS PNUEMONIA?Have recently recovered from a cold

or influenza infection.Are malnourished.Have been recently hospitalized in an

intensive care unit.Have been exposed to certain

chemicals or pollutants.

ETIOLOGYCaused by bacteria, fungi or viruses and

other micro-organisms.Aspiration pneumonia occurs when you

inhale food, drink, vomit or saliva from the stomach into your lungs. 

Aspiration may happens if something disturbs your gag reflex such as brain injury, swallowing problems, excessive use of alcohol or drugs.

Other conditions as such as autoimmune diseases.

RISK FACTORSChronic lung disease

(COPD, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis)Cigarette smokingDementia, stroke, brain injury, cerebral

palsy, or other brain disordersImmune system problem (during cancer

treatment, or due to HIV/AIDS, organ transplant, or other diseases)

RISK FACTORS

Other serious illnesses, such as heart disease, liver cirrhosis, or diabetes mellitus

Recent surgery or traumaSurgery to treat cancer of the

mouth, throat, or neck

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY There are different categories of pneumonia. Two of these types are hospital-acquired and

community-acquired. Common types of community-acquired pneumonia are

pneumococcal pneumonia and Mycoplasma pneumonia. In some people, particularly the elderly and those who are debilitated, pneumonia may follow influenza.

 Hospital-acquired pneumonia tends to be more serious because defense mechanisms against infection are often impaired. Some of the specific pneumonia-related disorders include: aspiration pneumonia, pneumonia in immunocompromised host and viral pneumonia

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Cough (with mucus-like, greenish, or pus-like sputum chills with shaking ), fever, easy fatigue, chest pain (sharp or stabbing increased by deep breathing or increased by coughing)

Headache, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, general discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise), joint stiffness (rare), muscula stiffness (rare), rales(crackles)

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease: Dyspnea (shortness of breath), clammy skin(wet/sweaty), nasal flaring, coughing up blood, tacypnea (rapid breathing)Apnea, anxiety, stress, tension and abdominal pain.

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DIAGNOSTIC TESTSCrackles are heard when listening to the

chest with a stethoscope (auscultation).Tests include: chest X-ray, sputum gram

stain, CBC (Complete Blood Cells), arterial blood gases.  

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests: thoracic CT, routine sputum culture, pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scan, pleural fluid culture, lung needle biopsy.

 

MEDICAL MANAGEMENT

The goal of treatment is to cure the infection with antibiotics.

If the pneumonia is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not be effective. 

Supportive therapy includes oxygen and respiratory treatments to remove secretions.

REFERENCEDisability Guidelines. (n.d.). Retrieved October

07, 2014, from http://www.mdguidelines.com: http://www.mdguidelines.com/pneumonia/rehabilitation

http://www.sonic.net. (n.d.). Retrieved October 07, 2014, from Pneumonia: http://www.sonic.net/~danslist/pathos/pneumoniapatho.htm

Pneumonia - Anatomy Of The Lung. (n.d.). Retrieved October 05, 2014, from http://science.jrank.org: http://science.jrank.org/pages/5353/Pneumonia-Anatomy-lung.html

REFERENCE CONT’DWikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved October 05,

2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumonia

Medline Plus. (n.d). Retrieved October 08, 2014, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov.org: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000145.htm

Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved October 08, 2014, from http://www.mayoclinic.org: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pneumonia/basics/causes/con-20020032