Pneumonia

Subject: Child Health Nursing

Overview

Acute respiratory infections can affect any component of the respiratory system, including the nose, middle ear, and other nearby structures. A severe respiratory illness that damages the lungs is known as pneumonia. When a healthy person breathes, little sacs in their lungs called alveoli fill with air. The alveoli are stuffed with pus and fluid when someone has pneumonia, which makes breathing difficult and reduces oxygen intake. Pneumonia can be brought on by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or protozoa, among other things. Chest tightness, a cough, a fever, dyspnea, tachypnea, chills, and breathing problems are all signs and symptoms of pneumonia.

Pneumonia

A severe respiratory illness that damages the lungs is known as pneumonia. A healthy person's lungs are made up of tiny sacs called alveoli that fill with air as they breathe (World Health Organization). The alveoli are stuffed with pus and fluid when someone has pneumonia, which makes breathing difficult and reduces oxygen intake.

Classification:

  • On the basis of anatomical involvement:
    • Bronchopneumonia: Patchy involvement of lungs.
    • Lobar pneumonia: One or more lobes are involved.
    • Interstitial pneumonia: Alvoeli or intertitial tissue are involved.
  • On the basis of etiology:
    • Viral.
    • Bacterial.
    • Fungal.
    • protozoal.
  • On the basis of pathology:
    • Consolidation of alveoli
    • Inflammation and infiltration of the tissue/cells
  • On the basis of severity of infection:
    • No pneumonia.
    • Pneumonia.
    • Severe pneumonia.
    • Very severe pneumonia.

Predisposing Factors

  • Malnutrition, chronic systematic diseases, chronic lower respiratory tract disease and disease causes low immunity to a child.
  • Age: very young children up to 2 years of age.
  • Season: too cold environment.
  • Low socioeconomic status.
  • Overcrowded and slump area.
  • Poor nutritional status.
  • Low birth weight baby.
  • Air pollution.
  • Smoking.
  • Repeated respiratory tract infection.

Causes:

  • Viral causes: a common virus is an influenza, parainfluenza, Adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, measles virus etc.
  • Bacterial causes: staphylococcus, pneumococci, H.influenza, E.coli.
  • Protozoal causes: pneumocystis carinii, toxoplasma gondii, Entamoeba histolytic.
  • Fungal causes: candidiasis, coccidiomycosis, histoplasmosis.
  • Others: Aspiration of foods, oils, liquid paraffin, kerosene poisoning, hypersensitivity pneumonia etc.

Signs and Symptoms:

  • Cough
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Chest indrawing
  • Fever
  • Dyspnea
  • Tachypnea
  • Chills
  • Irritable
  • Cry
  • Wheezing
  • Unable to feed
  • Grunting
  • Cyanosis
  • Lethargy
  • Stridor in calm
  • Abdominal distention
  • Convulsion
  • Chest pain
  • Malaise
  • Anorexia

Diagnosis:

  • History taking
  • Clinical presentation
  • Physical examination
  • Chest x-ray
  • Blood examinations
  • Sputum culture
Things to remember
  • Acute respiratory infections can affect any component of the respiratory system, including the nose, middle ear, and other nearby structures.
  • A severe respiratory illness that damages the lungs is known as pneumonia.
  • When a healthy person breathes, little sacs in their lungs called alveoli fill with air. The alveoli are stuffed with pus and fluid when someone has pneumonia, which makes breathing difficult and reduces oxygen intake.
  • Pneumonia can be brought on by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or protozoa, among other things.
  • Chest tightness, a cough, a fever, dyspnea, tachypnea, chills, and breathing problems are all signs and symptoms of pneumonia.
Questions and Answers

A severe respiratory infection that damages the lungs is known as pneumonia. When a healthy person breathes, little sacs in their lungs called alveoli fill with air. The alveoli are stuffed with pus and fluid when someone has pneumonia, which makes breathing difficult and reduces oxygen intake.

Predisposing factors

  • Low immunity in children is brought on by malnutrition, persistent systemic illnesses, chronic lower respiratory tract disorders, and illness.
  • Age: infants and young children up to two years old.
  • Season: Uncomfortably cold climate
  • Bad socioeconomic standing
  • Congested and unproductive area
  • A poor state of nutrition
  • Baby with low birth weight Pollution
  • Smoking
  • Respiratory tract infections repeatedly

Causes:

  • Viral causes: influenza, parainfluenza, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, measles virus, etc. are examples of common viruses.
  • Staphylococcus, pneumococci, influenza, and E. coli are examples of bacterial causes.
  • Pneumocystis carinii, toxoplasma gondii, and Entamoeba histolytic are examples of protozoan causes.
  • Histoplasmosis, candidiasis, and coccidiomycosis are all fungi.
  • Others include ingesting foods, liquid paraffin, oils, kerosene, hypersensitivity pneumonia, etc.
  • Cough
  • Having trouble breathing
  • Indrawing the chest
  • Fever
  • Dyspnea
  • Tachypnea
  • Chills
  • Irritable
  • Cry
  • Wheezing
  • Not able to eat
  • Grunting
  • Cyanosis
  • Lethargy
  • Stridor in repose
  • Abdominal squeezing
  • Convulsion
  • Chest pain
  • Malaise
  • Anorexia

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