Disorders Of The Lower Respiratory Tract Flashcards
A sudden inability of the respiratory system to provide O2 and/or remove CO2 from the blood.
Acute respiratory failure (ARF)
Respiratory disorder characterized by recurring episodes of paroxysmal (sudden, episodic) dyspnea. Patients exhibit coughing, wheezing, and SOB. If the attack becomes continuous (termed status asthmatics), it may be fatal.
Asthma
Collapse of lung tissue or an entire lung.
Atelectasis
Chronic dilation of the bronchi. Symptoms include dyspnea, expectoration of foul-smelling sputum, and coughing.
Bronchiectasis
Viral inflammation of the bronchioles; more common in children younger than 18 months.
Bronchiolitis
Inflammation of the bronchi, may be acute or chronic.
Bronchitis
A sudden involuntary contraction of the bronchi, as in an asthma attach.
Bronchospasm
Respiratory disorder characterized by a progressive and irreversible diminishment in inspiratory and expiratory capacity of the lungs. Patients experiences dyspnea on exertion (DOE), difficulty inhaling or exhaling, and a chronic cough.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Inherited disorder of the exocrine glands resulting in abnormal, thick secretions of mucus that cause COPD.
Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
Bacterial respiratory infection characterized by a sore throat, fever, and headache.
Diphtheria
Abnormal condition of the pulmonary system characterized by distention and destructive changes of the alveoli. The most common cause is tobacco smoking, but exposure to environmental particulate matter may also cause the disease.
Emphysema
A condition in which multiple rib fractures cause instability in part of the chest wall and in which the lung under the injured area contracts on inspiration and bulges out on expiration.
Flail Chest
Blood in the pleural cavity.
Hemothorax
Also known as the flu. Acute infectious disease of the respiratory tract caused by a virus. Avian (bird) Flu is caused by type A influenza virus. Swine flu is caused by H1N1 virus.
Influenza
Bacterial infection of the respiratory tract with a characteristic high-pitched “whoop.” Also called whooping cough.
Pertussia
Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the intrapleural space.
Pleural Effusion
Inflammation of the parietal pleura of the lungs. May be caused by cancer, pneumonia, or tuberculosis (TB).
Pleurisy
Loss of lung capacity caused by an accumulation of dust in the lungs. Types may include asbestosis (abnormal condition of asbestos in the lungs), silicosis (abnormal accumulation of glass dust in the lungs), and anthracosis (abnormal accumulation of coal dust in the lungs –also known as black lung disease or coal workers’ pneumoconiosis [CWP]).
Pneumoconiosis
Inflammation of the lungs caused by a variety of pathogens. If infectious, it is termed pneumonia; if noninfectious, it is termed pneumonitis. The name of the lobes are used to describe the extent of the disease (e.g., RML pneumonia is pneumonia of the right middle lobe). If both lungs are affected, it is termed double pneumonia.
Pneumonia
Air or gas in the pleural space causing the lung to collapse.
Pneumothorax
Localized accumulation of pus in the lung.
Pulmonary abscess
Accumulation of fluid in the lung tissue. Often present in congestive heart failure (CHF), it is caused by the inability of the heart to pump blood.
Pulmonary edema
Pus in the pleural cavity, Also called empyema.
pyothorax
Acute respiratory disorder usually occurring in the lower respiratory tract in children and the upper respiratory tract in adults. Most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants and highly contagious in young children.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Viral respiratory disorder caused by a coronavirus. Usually results in pneumonia
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
Chronic infectious disorder caused by an acid-fast bacillus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Transmission is normally by inhalation or ingestion of infected droplets. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) is fatal in 80% of cases.
Tuberculosis (TB)
