Pneumonia Flashcards
what is pneumonia?
Lung infection and inflammation where the alveoli & small airways fill with exudate, forming a solid mass called consolidation.
what is exudate?
a type of liquid containing neutrophils, fibrin and RBC
what is lung consolidation?
when the air in the small airways of the lungs is replaced with a fluid, solid or other material such as pus, blood, water, stomach contents or cells.
what are the 2 types of pneumonia?
Lobar
Bronchopneumonia
what does lobar pneumonia affect?
it affects all of 1 lobe.
It can be unilateral, bilateral or involve more than 1 lobe.
It is associated with pleuritic pain and reduced tidal volume (smaller breaths).
what causes lobar pneumonia?
Streptococcus pneumoniae- common organism
where does bronchopneumonia affect?
Distribution of the affected areas of the lung is more patchy
what causes bronchopneumonia?
Haemophilus influenzae or Staphylococcus
what are pleural effusions?
production of fluid within the pleural cavity (collection of fluid around lungs)
what are the consequences of consolidation?
impairs diffusion
reduces ventilation
results in hypoxaemia and dyspnoea (breathlesness)
what does the term ‘Shunt’ mean?
refers to blood flowing through unventilated areas
what does pleural effusion cause?
reduced movement
reduced breath sounds
dullness to percussion
dyspnoea
what 2 types of effusions can form in pleural effusion?
Exudates
OR
Transudates
what is exudate made up of?
high protein content & white blood cells
what is transudate made up of?
low proetin content and watery
what is Empyema?
where there is pus in pleural cavity due to infected lymphatic fluid occupying space
how does restrictive lung disease (RLD) occur?
can develop due to either intrinsic or extrinsic causes
What is restrictive lung disease?
RLD is associated with decreased compliance of the lungs, chest wall or both
name the intrinsic causes of RLD
- decreased lung compliance
- pneumonia
- surfactant deficiency
name the extrinsic causes of RLD
- respiratory muscle weakness
- chest deformities
- cardiomegaly
- pleural effusion
- haemothorax
- pneumothorax
what is haemothorax?
a collection of blood in the space between the chest wall and the lung (pleural cavity)
what is cardiomegaly?
enlargement of the heart
what is pneumothorax?
a collapsed lung (can be complete or just a portion)
