StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Pneumonia - Disorder Affecting the Human Respiratory System - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "Pneumonia - Disorder Affecting the Human Respiratory System" states that the respiratory system is a series of organs designed to facilitate the exchange of gases, primarily oxygen and carbon dioxide, between red blood cells in the circulatory system and the outside environment…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.9% of users find it useful
Pneumonia - Disorder Affecting the Human Respiratory System
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Pneumonia - Disorder Affecting the Human Respiratory System"

According to The American Lung Association (2007), pneumonia is a serious infection and/or inflammation of the lungs. The air sacs in the lungs fill with pus and other liquid. Oxygen has trouble reaching the blood. If there is too little oxygen in the blood, the body cells can't work properly. Because of this and spreading infection through the body pneumonia can cause death. Different causes of pneumonia manifest different signs and symptoms. In patients with pneumonia caused by bacteria (streptococcus pneumonia), the temperature may rise as high as 105º F.

The patient sweats profusely, and breathing and pulse rate increase rapidly. Lips and nailbeds may have a bluish color due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. A patient's mental state may be confused or delirious. If caused by a virus (influenza), there is a fever, dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. Within 12 to 36 hours, there is increasing breathlessness; the cough becomes worse and produces a small amount of mucus. There is a high fever and there may be blueness of the lips.

In mycoplasma (are the smallest free-living agents of disease in humankind, unclassified as to whether bacteria or viruses, but having characteristics of both) pneumonia, there is a cough that tends to come in violent attacks but produces only sparse whitish mucus. Chills and fever are early symptoms, and some patients experience nausea or vomiting. Patients may experience profound weakness that lasts for a long time. Other causes of pneumonia are fungi and other chemicals. Some types of pneumonia develop when the immune system is weakened. Pneumonia can be acquired from community, hospital, and thru aspiration when foreign bodies enter the lungs (The Patient Education Institute, Inc., 2008).

According to MayoClinic.com (2008), pneumonia treatments vary, depending on the severity of symptoms and the type of pneumonia that the patient has. Bacterial and mycoplasma pneumonia is treated with antibiotics, viral pneumonia is treated generally the same as flu including rest and plenty of fluids, while fungal pneumonia is treated with antifungal medication. Hospital treatment includes IV (intravenous) antibiotics that are delivered thru a needle inserted into a vein and respiratory therapy that helps the patient breathe.

While still negative of the disease, it is wise to pay attention to the prevention of the disease thru following good hygiene habits such as washing the hands frequently with warm soapy water, using separate drinking glasses and eating utensils, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue. Stay healthy and boost the immune system by eating healthy foods, sleeping well, avoiding smoking, exercising, reducing stress, and not drinking excessive alcohol (The Patient Education Institute, Inc., 2008).

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 14”, n.d.)
Biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 14. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1553598-biology
(Biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words - 14)
Biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words - 14. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1553598-biology.
“Biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words - 14”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1553598-biology.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Pneumonia - Disorder Affecting the Human Respiratory System

1918 Flu Pandemic Brings Higher Fatalities than World War 1

Although there is a vaccine for seasonal flu, the immune system of most people is capable of fighting the infection.... Seasonal flu also called common flu is a respiratory infection that affects people frequently.... Flu is the short form of influenza and it causes respiratory disorders in human beings.... According to CDC (2006), the 1918 flu pandemic killed 2% of the world's human population because of lack of sufficient knowledge about the virus and ineffective medical response....
12 Pages (3000 words) Research Paper

Respiratory System of Human Body

This essay focuses on such an understanding and focuses on the structure and function of the respiratory system and the associated diseases and diagnosis as well.... The respiratory system proves to be one of the essential parts of human bodies since it involved the inhale.... From the essay "Respiratory" it is clear, that the primary role of the respiratory system is to provide oxygen to the body such that the supply of oxygen may be continuous....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

The Most Common Cause of Meningitis

In general, it transpires in people who undergo a head injury or among individuals with a weakened immune system.... Some examples are, the ears, sinuses, or upper respiratory tract.... hose who abuse alcohol, indulge in prolonged d deep kissing, suffer from chronic ear and nose infection, and who have contracted pneumococcal pneumonia are at a higher risk of developing this disease.... mong children and young adults, meningococcus or Neisseria meningitides, and Streptococcus pneumonia occur frequently....
7 Pages (1750 words) Research Paper

Analysis of Medical Situations

The author explains the mechanism of action of heparin, and whether CF is transmitted as a recessive disorder affecting the endocrine gland function .... Though many patients are asymptomatic, some patients with IgA deficiency have increased risk for upper respiratory tract infection, allergies, celiacs like enteropathies and autoimmune disorders....
18 Pages (4500 words) Assignment

Pneumonia Disease in Children

Part of a respiratory system called epiglottis prevents the food and other substance from entering into the lungs.... Celia and the extraordinary white blood cell; macrophages also capture all the foreign substances and protect the function of the respiratory system effectively.... the human body has resistance power to keep away from all the microorganism substances.... athophysiology: pathophysiology is the twig of medical science which observes and analyses the changes of normal biochemical, mechanical and physical functions of the human body....
15 Pages (3750 words) Research Paper

Oral Health and Ventilator Associated Pneumonia

HIV/AIDS and diabetes reduce the body's immune system hence, increasing the severity of oral diseases.... The oral health is not only healthy teeth; the mouth can be seen as the mirror which gives an insight to the general health of a human being.... The paper "Oral Health and Ventilator Associated pneumonia" highlights that Chlorhexidine is the most effective technique that has an anti-plaque action.... A type of pneumonia, which is ventilator associated pneumonia, also develops in patients who are on mechanical ventilation....
7 Pages (1750 words) Book Report/Review

The Diagnosis of Right-Sided Pneumonia Leading to Acute Respiratory Failure

His immune system is partly impaired by surgery's triple therapy of azathioprine, corticosteroids, and cyclosporine that has an immunosuppressive effect and opened his body to infections.... As the paper "The Diagnosis of Right-Sided Pneumonia Leading to Acute respiratory Failure" outlines, postoperative pneumonia is clinical signs of infection occurring 48 hours after surgical operation of the abdominal or chest injury due to pseudomonas aeruginosa.... oC), increased respiratory rate (28 breaths/minute accompanied by shortness of breath....
7 Pages (1750 words) Case Study

Respiratory Tract Infections

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are diseases that affect the respiratory system of the body.... Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are diseases that affect the respiratory system of the body.... espiratory tract infections (RTIs) comprise various diseases that affect parts of the respiratory system.... In children, the immune system is still developing, while the elderly may have weakened immune systems because of age-related comorbidities....
6 Pages (1500 words) Case Study
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us