Introduction

Pneumonia is a serious infection and/or inflammation of the lungs. The

air sacs in the lung which are the alveoli are folled with fluid. Oxygen has
trouble reaching the blood. If there is too little oxygen in the body, the body
can't work properly. Because of this and spreading infection through the body
pneumonia can cause death.

Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms of pneumonia caused by bacteria usually come on quickly.

They may include productive cough (greenish phlegm), fever and chills, fast
breathing and feeling of short of breath, chest pain that often feels worse
when you cough or breathe in, the body weakness and difficulty of breathing.

Etiology

Pneumonia is not a single diseases. It can have over 30 different

causes. There are five main causes of pneumonia; bacterial pneumonia
(pneumoccocal pneumonia & legionnaires disease) viruses/viral pneumonia,
mycoplasmas pneumonia, fungi (pneumocytis carinii) and other various
chemical.

Prevention

•Smoking cessation is important not only because it helps to limit lung

damage, but also because cigarette smoke interferes with many of the
body's natural defenses against pneumonia.

•Suctioning the mouth and throat of infants with meconium-stained

amniotic fluid decreases the rate of aspiration pneumonia.

•A vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae is also available for adults.

A repeat vaccination may also be required after five or ten years.
Influenza vaccines should be given yearly to the same individuals who
receive vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Laboratory Examination

•Chest X-ray

•Chest CT scan

•CBC

•Liver Function test

•Sputum Culture test

Treatment

Typically, oral antibiotics, rest, fluids, and home care are sufficient for
complete resolution. However, people who are having trouble breathing, with
other medical problems, and the elderly may need greater care. If the
symptoms get worse, the pneumonia does not improve with home treatment,
or complications occur, then hospitalized may be recommended. Over the
counter cough medicine has not been found to be helpful in pneumonia.

Complications

•Respiratory and circulatory failure

•Pleural effusion

•Empyema

•Lung abscess

Incidence

Pneumonia is a common illness in all parts of the world. It is a major

cause of death among all age groups and is the leading cause of death in
children in low income countries. In children, many of these deaths occur in
the newborn period. The World Health Organization estimates that one in
three newborn infant deaths are due to pneumonia. Over two million children
under five die each year worldwide and it is estimated that up to 1 million of
these (vaccine preventable) deaths are caused by the bacteria Streptococcus
pneumoniae, and over 90% of these deaths take place in developing
countries. Mortality from pneumonia generally decreases with age until late
adulthood with increased mortality in the elderly.

A case with a diagnosis of Pneumoniamay catch one's attention,

though the disease is just like an ordinary cough and fever, it can lead to
death especially when no intervention or care is done. treating patient with
pneumonia is necessary to prevent its spread to others and make them as
another victim of this illness.

Prognosis

With treatment, most types of bacterial pneumonia can be cleared

within two to four weeks. Viral pneumonia may last longer, and mycoplasmal
pneumonia may take four to six weeks to resolve completely. The eventual
outcome of an episode of pneumonia depends on how ill the person is when
he or she is first diagnosed.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/20627642/Case-Study-of-PNEUMONIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumonia