Respiratory

• Selected Diseases of the Lung

  • Pneumonia
  • COPD
  • Asthma
  • Chronic Bronchitis
  • Emphysema
  • Pulmonary Embolism
• Pneumonia


  • Lung infection
  • Multiple causes
  • Etiology depends on age and setting/environment
  • Inflammation of lung tissue
  • Accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the airways (mucus, sputum)
• Pneumonia Clinical Manifestations


  • Fever
  • Chills/rigours
  • Productive cough
  • Dyspnoea
  • Pain
• Pneumonia Pathophysiology


  • Local inflammatory response to infection
  • Systemic Inflammatory Response directed at the invading microorganism
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

  • Chronic and persistent respiratory symptoms
  • Airflow limitation
  • Airway pathological abnormalities
  • Alveolar pathological abnormalities
  • Common, preventable, treatable
  • Not necessarily curable
  • Spectrum of pathological conditions
• COPD Pathophysiology


  • Increased resistance to expiratory airflow
  • Pathology within the airway lumen
  • Pathology in the airway wall
  • Pathology in the supporting structures surrounding the airway
• COPD Conditions


  • Asthma (intraluminal pathology)
  • Chronic Bronchitis (intraluminal pathology)
  • Pulmonary Emphysema (loss of supporting surround structure)
• Asthma Clinical Manifestations


  • Episodic dyspnoea
  • Chest tightness
  • Expiratory wheezing
  • Tachycardia
  • Tachypnoea
  • Runny nose, sneezing
  • Skin rash, hives
  • Red itchy eyes
  • Visible contraction of accessory respiratory neck muscles
  • Prolonged expiratory phase of breathing
• Chronic Bronchitis


  • Productive cough > 3 months/year for 2 years
  • Dyspnoea
  • Airway obstruction
  • Smoking is an important risk factor
• Pulmonary Emphysema


  • Significant dyspnoea
  • Coughing not necessarily productive
  • Rapid and shallow breathing
  • Barrel chest