Pneumonia

• Pneumonia

  An infection of one or both of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi that fill the alveoli with pus and other fluids
• Pathophysiology

  1. Bacteria, viruses or fungi invade and multiply within the lungs

  2. White blood cells are rapidly released

  3. Alveoli are filled, making it difficult for gaseous exchange to take place
• Symptoms

  • Cough (may cough up yellow or green mucus, hemoptysis)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Aching body
  • Feeling tired
  • Loss of appetite
  • Making wheezing noises when you breathe (babies may also make grunting noises)
  • Feeling confused (common in older people)
• Signs

  • Auscultation: Bronchial breath sounds or fine cracks over the affected area
  • Pleural friction rub: crackle, wheezing and bronchial breath sound heard during auscultation
  • Chest X-rays will show decreased lung expansion and patchy opacity with undefined margins
  • Sputum samples and blood tests will show infection markers
  • Pale in colour
  • High temp, RR, BP, HR
  • Apical breathing: loss of movement in effected lung
  • Dyspnoea: struggling to talk
• Diagnostics

  • Auscultation: bronchial breath sounds with pleural rub in effected area
  • Percussion Note: dull in effected area, otherwise resonant
  • ABGs: hypoxaemia and low PaO2 (not enough gas exchange)
  • CXR: opacity and consolidation in effected area
• Management

  • Antibiotics (if bacterial)
  • Pulmonary rehab
  • Early mobilisation
  • Airway clearance techniques
  • Breathing techniques