Bronchitis
Pneumonia
Bronchitis
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung caused
by infection with bacteria, viruses, and other organisms. Bronchitis
Pneumonia is usually triggered when a patient's
defense system is weakened, most often by a simple viral upper
respiratory tract infection or a case of influenza.
FREE
Bronchitis Pneumonia Lessons.
Simply click below to receive your FREE information
Such
infections or other triggers do not cause Bronchitis
Pneumonia directly but they alter the mucous blanket,
thus encouraging bacterial growth. Other factors can also make
specific people susceptible to bacterial growth and pneumonia.
Defining Pneumonia by Locations in
the Lung
Pneumonia
is sometimes defined in one of two ways according to its distribution
in the lung:
Lobar Pneumonia (occurs in one lobe of the lung).
Bronchopneumonia (tends to be patchy).
For an effective bronchitis treatment, please click Bronchitis
Pneumonia
Defining Bronchitis Pneumonia by Origin
of Infection
Bronchitis Pneumonia is often classified
into two categories that may help predict the organisms that
are the most likely culprits.
Community-acquired (pneumonia contracted outside the hospital)
Pneumonia in this setting often follows
a viral respiratory infection. It affects nearly 4 million adults
each year. It is likely to be caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae,
the most common pneumonia-causing
bacteria. Other organisms, such as atypical bacteria called
Chlamydia or Mycoplasma pneumonia
are also common causes of community-acquired pneumonia.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia.
Bronchitis Pneumonia that is contracted
within the hospital is called nosocomial pneumonia.
Hospital patients are particularly vulnerable to gram-negative
bacteria and staphylococci, which can be very dangerous.
Disease Process Leading to Bronchitis Pneumonia
Infectious
agents reach the lungs and cause pneumonia through different
routes:
Most often, organisms that cause pneumonia
enter the lungs after being inhaled into the airways.
Sometimes the normally harmless bacteria present in the mouth
may be aspirated into the lungs, usually if the gag reflex is
suppressed.
Bronchitis Pneumonia may also be caused
from infections that spread to the lungs through the bloodstream
from other organs.
Under normal circumstances, however, the airways that take air
in and pass through the upper part of the body have very effective
mechanisms that protect the lung from infection by bacteria
and other microbes.
Large particles are first filtered out in the nasal passage.
When smaller particles are inhaled, sensors along the airways
trigger coughing or sneezing reflexes, which force many particles
to back out.
Tiny ones that are able to reach the bronchioles are trapped
in a mucous blanket and are then moved up and out of the lungs
by the beating movements of tiny hair-like cells called cilia,
a mechanism known as the mucociliary escalator.
Bacteria or other infectious agents that evade the airway defense
system are attacked in the alveolar sacs by defenders from the
body's immune system, particularly macrophages, large white
blood cells that literally eat foreign particles.
These strong defense systems normally keep the lung sterile.
If these defenses are weakened or damaged, however, bacteria
or other organisms, such as viruses, fungi, and parasites, can
gain the upper hand, producing Bronchitis Pneumonia.
FREE
Bronchitis Pneumonia Lessons.
Simply click below to receive your FREE information
For
an effective bronchitis treatment, please click Bronchitis
Pneumonia
|
