Pneumonia Case Study
I. INTRODUCTION
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung parenchyma caused by various microorganisms, including bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, and viruses. Pneumonias are classified as community- acquired pneumonia (CAP), hospital-acquired (nosocomial) pneumonia (HAP), pneumonia in the immunocompromised host, and aspiration pneumonia. There is overlap in how specific pneumonias are classified, because they may occur in differing settings. Those at risk for pneumonia often have chronic underlying disorders, severe acute illness, a suppressed immune system from disease or medications, immobility, and other factors that interfere with normal lung protective mechanisms.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms vary depending on the age of the child and the cause of the pneumonia, but common ones include: fever, chills, cough, nasal congestion, unusually rapid breathing (in some cases, this is the only symptom) breathing with grunting or wheezing sounds, labored breathing that makes the rib muscles retract (when muscles under the ribcage or between ribs draw inward with each breath) and causes nasal flaring, vomiting, chest pain, abdominal pain, decreased activity loss of appetite (in older kids) or poor feeding (in infants), which may lead to dehydration in extreme cases, bluish or gray color of the lips and fingernails bacterial pneumonia illustration
Risk factors
Pneumonia can affect anyone. But the two age groups at highest risk are: Infants and children younger than age 2 years, because their immune systems are still developing. People older than age 65. Other risk factors are Cigarette smoking, recent viral respiratory infection (common cold, laryngitis, influenza), Difficulty swallowing (due to stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, or other neurological conditions), Chronic lung disease (COPD, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis), Cerebral palsy, other serious illnesses, such as heart disease, liver cirrhosis, or diabetes mellitus, Living in a nursing facility,
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung parenchyma caused by various microorganisms, including bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, and viruses. Pneumonias are classified as community- acquired pneumonia (CAP), hospital-acquired (nosocomial) pneumonia (HAP), pneumonia in the immunocompromised host, and aspiration pneumonia. There is overlap in how specific pneumonias are classified, because they may occur in differing settings. Those at risk for pneumonia often have chronic underlying disorders, severe acute illness, a suppressed immune system from disease or medications, immobility, and other factors that interfere with normal lung protective mechanisms.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms vary depending on the age of the child and the cause of the pneumonia, but common ones include: fever, chills, cough, nasal congestion, unusually rapid breathing (in some cases, this is the only symptom) breathing with grunting or wheezing sounds, labored breathing that makes the rib muscles retract (when muscles under the ribcage or between ribs draw inward with each breath) and causes nasal flaring, vomiting, chest pain, abdominal pain, decreased activity loss of appetite (in older kids) or poor feeding (in infants), which may lead to dehydration in extreme cases, bluish or gray color of the lips and fingernails bacterial pneumonia illustration
Risk factors
Pneumonia can affect anyone. But the two age groups at highest risk are: Infants and children younger than age 2 years, because their immune systems are still developing. People older than age 65. Other risk factors are Cigarette smoking, recent viral respiratory infection (common cold, laryngitis, influenza), Difficulty swallowing (due to stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, or other neurological conditions), Chronic lung disease (COPD, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis), Cerebral palsy, other serious illnesses, such as heart disease, liver cirrhosis, or diabetes mellitus, Living in a nursing facility,