Regаrding rаttlesnаke bites, which part оf the canine bоdy is mоst often bitten by the snake?
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Initiаl Pоst оn Pneumоniа Pneumoniа is when the lungs become inflamed, and lung parenchyma (alveoli) fills up with fluid (Capriotti, 2024). This makes gas exchange very difficult or impossible. It is an acute condition, often caused by bacteria or fungi being inhaled, or viral complications. Pneumonia is classified by environment, whether it be community acquired, health care associated, ventilator associated, or hospital acquired. It’s a very serious infection, and is the eighth leading cause of death for people 65 and older (Capriotti, 2024). Etiology Pneumonia can be caused when the patient inhales droplets infected with bacteria or chemicals. The droplets travel to the lung tissue, where the pathogen stimulates an inflammatory response. The inflammation spreads throughout the lung and reaches the alveoli. Vasodilation occurs at the inflamed spots. Respiratory goblet cells are stimulated, and mucus is over-secreted. The alveoli in the patient’s lungs attempt to open and close, and this is what causes the crackles that are heard in the lungs. People are at a higher risk of contracting pneumonia if they are habitual drinkers, smoke often, or if they have a weak or compromised immune system. Patients who are recovering from atelectasis should be monitored closely, because they are at a higher risk of contracting pneumonia due to the condition of their lungs. Bacterial Pneumonia Bacterial pneumonia is caused when bacteria is inhaled into the lungs. Streptococcus pneumoniae and mycoplasma pneumoniae are known for causing bacterial pneumonia. Bacterial pneumonia can also occur from complications with a different respiratory infection. People with compromised immune systems, such as those with HIV, are more likely to contract bacterial pneumonia. (Htun, 2024) Aspiration Pneumonia Aspiration pneumonia occurs when a patient accidentally inhales food, liquid, or vomit into the lungs. It’s basically a form of bacterial pneumonia, but it is referred to differently based on how a patient contracts it. Viral Pneumonia Viral pneumonia can develop from common viruses, like influenza or COVID-19. This type of pneumonia is more common in children and the elderly, and if it is allowed to progress it can be severe. Fungal Pneumonia Fungal pneumonia isn’t as common as bacterial and viral pneumonia, and it usually infects people with compromised immune systems (such as people with HIV or AIDS). It has a lot of the same symptoms as bacterial infections and the flu, it may be misdiagnosed at first, which can make recovery harder. Chemical Pneumonia Chemical pneumonia, or chemical pneumonitis, is caused when someone breathes in a toxic substance like a fumes or gas. The irritants in the chemicals inhaled can cause significant damage to the lungs that may be longterm, and can cause pulmonary fibrosis. Symptoms Symptoms of pneumonia at first can just look like a bad chest cold, and it is only upon further inspection that it can be detected. Some signs include tachypenia, use of accessory muscles to breath, fever, and pleuritic chest pain. In addition, crackles in the lungs can usually be heard. Diagnosis Diagnosing pneumonia as soon as possible is crucial for the best recovery of the patient. There are a couple of different tools or methods to diagnose pneumonia, but so far the best way to diagnose it is an x-ray. On a regular x-ray of healthy lungs, the lungs will appear dark and clear, and the edges of the lungs won’t be blurry. With pneumonia, however, the lungs will appear cloudy and have white patches in them, and the edges of the lungs will appear blurry. All of these signs point to inflammation and fluid in the lungs. Another method that helps to identify pneumonia is vocal resonance. This is a blanket term that describes the assessment of the patient’s voice heard through their lungs. Usually, in a healthy lung, the patient’s voice will be muffled and quiet. In lungs with pneumonia, however, the patient’s voice will be loud and clear. Using an examination technique called broncophony, the provider can listen to the patient’s lungs with a stethoscope, and when the patient speaks, their voice will sound loud and clear over areas of pneumonia. Another technique similar to this is called whispered pectoriloquy, where whispered words sound loud over areas of pneumonia. Treatment The best way to treat pneumonia depends on what type of pneumonia the patient has. For instance, if the patient has pneumonia caused by inhaling droplets infused with bacteria, then they would be treated with an antibiotic. For viral pneumonia, an antiviral medication will be prescribed. If necessary, then the patient may need to be hospitalized. If hospitalized, the patient will usually receive oxygen therapy and fluids/antibiotics through an IV. In general, it’s a good idea to encourage the patient to take deep breaths, and this can be done using an incentive spirometer. This will help to open the lungs and help gas exchange. In addition, it’s good to encourage patients to move around and get mild exercise to the best of their ability, but to not push themselves too far. This helps to improve ventilation to the lungs. Another helpful treatment is PEP (Positive Expiratory Pressure) therapy, which is a treatment that helps to clear mucus from the lungs. Resources: Capriotti, T. M. (2024). Pathophysiology: Introductory Concepts and Clinical Perspectives. (3rd ed.). F.A. Davis. Capriotti, T. M. (2024). Pathophysiology: Introductory Concepts and Clinical Perspectives. (3rd ed.). F.A. Davis. Zin Mar Htun, Gul, M. H., & Sadikot, R. T. (2024). Bacterial Infections in Patients Living with HIV. Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation, 537–549. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-62036-2_21