Nursing Study #8

Pneumonia is a lung disease. Pneumococcal pneumonia can infect the upper respiratory tract and can spread to the blood, lungs, middle ear, or nervous system.

Pneumococcal pneumonia mainly causes illness in children younger than 2 years old and adults 65 years of age or older. The elderly are especially at risk of getting seriously ill and dying from this disease. In addition, people with certain medical conditions such as chronic heart, lung, or liver diseases or sickle cell anemia are also at increased risk for getting pneumococcal pneumonia. People with HIV infection, AIDS, or people who have had organ transplants and are taking medicines that lower their resistance to infection are also at high risk of getting this

Cause

Pneumonia can be caused by a variety of viruses, bacteria, and sometimes fungi. Pneumococcal pneumonia is caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae. S. pneumoniae is also called pneumococcus.

Transmission

Pneumococcus is spread through contact between people who are ill or who carry the bacteria in their throat. You can get pneumococcal pneumonia from respiratory droplets from the nose or mouth of an infected person. It is common for people, especially children, to carry the bacteria in their throats without being sick.

Symptoms

Pneumococcal pneumonia may begin suddenly. You may first have a severe shaking chill which is usually followed by

• High fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid breathing
• Chest pains

Other symptoms may include

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Tiredness
• Muscle aches

Diagnosis

Your health care provider can diagnose pneumonia based on your

• Symptoms
• Physical exam
• Lab tests
• Chest x-ray

Other bacteria and germs also can cause pneumonia. Therefore, if you have any of the symptoms of pneumonia, you should get diagnosed early and start taking medicine, if appropriate.

Your health care provider can usually diagnose pneumococcal pneumonia by finding S. pneumoniae bacteria in your blood, saliva, or lung fluid.

Treatment

Your health care provider usually will prescribe antibiotics to treat this disease. The symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia usually go away within 12 to 36 hours after you start taking medicine.

Some bacteria such as S. pneumoniae, however, are now capable of resisting and fighting off antibiotics. Such antibiotic resistance is increasing worldwide because these medicines have been overused or misused. Therefore, if you are at risk of getting pneumococcal pneumonia, you should talk with your health care provider about what you can do to prevent it.

Prevention

The pneumococcal vaccine is the only way to prevent getting pneumococcal pneumonia. Vaccines are available for children and adults.

The Vaccines and Immunizations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you get the pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine if you are in any of the following groups.

• You are 65 years old or older
• You have a serious long-term health problem such as heart disease, sickle cell disease, alcoholism, lung disease (not including asthma), diabetes, or liver cirrhosis
• Your resistance to infection is lowered due to
• HIV infection or AIDS
• Lymphoma, leukemia, or other cancers
• Cancer treatment with x-rays or medicines
• Treatment with long-term steroid medicines
• Bone marrow or organ transplant
• Kidney failure or kidney syndrome
• Damaged spleen or no spleen
• You are an Alaskan Native or from certain Native American populations

NIP also recommends that all babies and children younger than 2 years old get the pneumococcal vaccine.

Contact your health care provider to find out whether you or your child should be vaccinated to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia.

Complications

In about 30 percent of people with pneumococcal pneumonia, the bacteria invade the bloodstream from the lungs. This causes bacteremia, a very serious complication of pneumococcal pneumonia that also can cause other lung problems and certain heart problems.

Source:
http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/pneumonia/

Nursing Study #2

Cough
Coughing is a defense mechanism that is used to clear the airways of mucus, inhale toxins, or a foreign body. Coughs can be productive or unproductive depending on how it is done. A productive cough should result in the clearing of mucus or secretions from the airways. A persistent or worsening cough hay be accompanied by a high fever, dyspnea, or bloody or copious sputum requiring immediate medical attention. Coughing is one of the most common lung disease symptoms.

Chronic Mucus Production
Mucus, or sputum, is produced by the lungs as a defense response to infection or irritants. If your mucus production has lasted a month, this could indicate lung disease.

Dyspnea
Dyspnea (shortness of breath) is sometimes a result of a problem with the respiratory system, heart disease, anxiety, or other condition. Sudden bouts of shortness of breath, particularly if is is persistent or accompanied by other symptoms, may indicate disease, and should be evaluated by a doctor immediately. Shortness of breath is NOT a natural part of aging. It should be taken seriously and reported to your doctor.

Wheezing
Wheezing is a high pitched sound produced while inhaling or exhaling. It occurs when airways are narrowed or obstructed by abnormal tissue or inflammation, excessive secretions or mucus, or when a foreign material has been inhaled and is obstructing the airways. Wheezing may also be a signal that a lung condition is worsening.

Lung Disease Symptoms - Chest Pain
Chest pain generally indicates a problem in the lungs, pleura, or muscles and bones of the chest wall. The problem may be minor or severe, or even life-threatening, and may be constant or experienced only during inhalation. Pain in the chest may indicate infection if it is accompanied by cough or fever. If you are experiencing chest pain, you should immediately seek medical attention.

Lung Disease Symptoms - Hemoptysis
Hemoptysis (coughing up blood) may appear as pinkish froth, mucus with a bloody streak or clot, or pure blood. It may occur as a result of a persistent cough or it may be indicative of a serious lung disease. If you are experiencing hemoptysis, you should consult your doctor immediately. Hemoptysis is a serious lung disease symptom.

Lung Disease Signs - Cyanosis
Cyanosis is when the skin becomes a bluish or purplish color, most apparent around the lips and nail beds. It is a sign that the blood is not receiving enough oxygen. Cyanosis may appear suddenly as a result of acute lung disease or slowly as lung disease progressively worsens.

Lung Disease Signs - Swelling
Swelling of the arms, legs, and ankles may indicate lung disease. Swelling is typically associated with heart disease and accompanied by shortness of breath. Many times, the heart and lungs produce similar symptoms because many disorders affect both organs. (Read: Why Does Lung Disease Cause Swollen Ankles?)

Lung Disease Symptoms - Respiratory Failure
Respiratory failure is the most severe sign of lung disease, acute and chronic. Acute respiratory failure may be due to massive infection, lung inflammation, cessation of the heartbeat, or severe lung disease. Chronic respiratory failure is when the lungs cannot oxygenate the blood and/or remove carbon dioxide normally.

Sources:
http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/generalinformation1/a/signsoflungdis.htm
http://www.smokehelp.org/html/lung_disease.html