Pneumonia: Causes, Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment

All flashcards

What is pneumonia?

An inflammatory condition of the lungs, usually caused by infection, that primarily affects the alveoli and may impair gas exchange.

What is the difference between pneumonia and pneumonitis?

Pneumonitis is a broad term for lung inflammation from infectious or noninfectious causes. Pneumonia usually refers to lung inflammation associated with infection.

What symptoms commonly occur in infectious pneumonia?

Cough, fever or chills, shortness of breath, faster breathing, fatigue, and sometimes sharp chest pain with deep breaths.

How may pneumonia appear in an older adult?

Confusion or a change in mental status may be prominent, and typical symptoms such as fever may be less noticeable.

Name serious warning signs of pneumonia in a child.

Examples include blue-tinged skin, difficulty drinking, convulsions, persistent vomiting, extreme temperature, or decreased consciousness.

Quiz questions

1. How do many bacteria reach the lungs and contribute to pneumonia?Answer: Through small aspirations of organisms from the nose or throat.
2. What is one important limitation of a chest X-ray in pneumonia?Answer: It cannot reliably distinguish bacterial from viral pneumonia.
3. When does hospital-acquired pneumonia typically begin?Answer: At least 48 hours after hospital admission, if it was not present at admission.
4. Which statement correctly describes antibiotic treatment for pneumonia?Answer: Antibiotics treat bacterial pneumonia, but not the viral infection itself.
5. Why may empyema require drainage in addition to antibiotics?Answer: Antibiotics alone may not adequately reach infected fluid in the pleural space.