pneumonia (redirected from desquamative pneumonia)

Pneumonia 

Definition

Pneumonia is an infection of the lung that can be caused by nearly any class of organism known to cause human infections. These include bacteria, amoebae, viruses, fungi, and parasites. In the United States, pneumonia is the sixth most common disease leading to death; 2 million Americans develop pneumonia each year, and 40,000-70,000 die from it. Pneumonia is also the most common fatal infection acquired by already hospitalized patients. In developing countries, pneumonia ties with diarrhea as the most common cause of death. Even in nonfatal cases, pneumonia is a significant economic burden on the health care system. One study estimates that people in the American workforce who develop pneumonia cost employers five times as much in health care as the average worker.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, the number of deaths from pneumonia in the United States has declined slightly since 2001.

Description

Anatomy of the lung

To better understand pneumonia, it is important to understand the basic anatomic features of the respiratory system. The human respiratory system begins at the nose and mouth, where air is breathed in (inspired) and out (expired). The air tube extending from the nose is called the nasopharynx. The tube carrying air breathed in through the mouth is called the oropharynx. The nasopharynx and the oropharynx merge into the larynx. The oropharynx also carries swallowed substances, including food, water, and salivary secretion, which must pass into the esophagus and then the stomach. The larynx is protected by a trap door called the epiglottis. The epiglottis prevents substances that have been swallowed, as well as substances that have been regurgitated (thrown up), from heading down into the larynx and toward the lungs.

A useful method of picturing the respiratory system is to imagine an upside-down tree. The larynx flows into the trachea, which is the tree trunk, and thus the broadest part of the respiratory tree. The trachea divides into two tree limbs, the right and left bronchi. Each one of these branches off into multiple smaller bronchi, which course through the tissue of the lung. Each bronchus divides into tubes of smaller and smaller diameter, finally ending in the terminal bronchioles. The air sacs of the lung, in which oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange actually takes place, are clustered at the ends of the bronchioles like the leaves of a tree. They are called alveoli.

The tissue of the lung which serves only a supportive role for the bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli is called the lung stroma.

Function of the respiratory system

The main function of the respiratory system is to provide oxygen, the most important energy source for the body's cells. Inspired air (the air you breath in) contains the oxygen, and travels down the respiratory tree to the alveoli. The oxygen moves out of the alveoli and is sent into circulation throughout the body as part of the red blood cells. The oxygen in the inspired air is exchanged within the alveoli for the waste product of human metabolism, carbon dioxide. The air you breathe out contains the gas called carbon dioxide. This gas leaves the alveoli during expiration. To restate this exchange of gases simply, you breathe in oxygen, you breathe out carbon dioxide

Respiratory system defenses

The healthy human lung is sterile. There are no normally resident bacteria or viruses (unlike the upper respiratory system and parts of the gastrointestinal system, where bacteria dwell even in a healthy state). There are multiple safeguards along the path of the respiratory system. These are designed to keep invading organisms from leading to infection.

The first line of defense includes the hair in the nostrils, which serves as a filter for large particles. The epiglottis is a trap door of sorts, designed to prevent food and other swallowed substances from entering the larynx and then trachea. Sneezing and coughing, both provoked by the presence of irritants within the respiratory system, help to clear such irritants from the respiratory tract.

Mucus, produced through the respiratory system, also serves to trap dust and infectious organisms. Tiny hair like projections (cilia) from cells lining the respiratory tract beat constantly. They move debris trapped by mucus upwards and out of the respiratory tract. This mechanism of protection is referred to as the mucociliary escalator.

Cells lining the respiratory tract produce several types of immune substances which protect against various organisms. Other cells (called macrophages) along the respiratory tract actually ingest and kill invading organisms.

The organisms that cause pneumonia, then, are usually carefully kept from entering the lungs by virtue of these host defenses. However, when an individual encounters a large number of organisms at once, the usual defenses may be overwhelmed, and infection may occur. This can happen either by inhaling contaminated air droplets, or by aspiration of organisms inhabiting the upper airways.

Conditions predisposing to pneumonia

In addition to exposure to sufficient quantities of causative organisms, certain conditions may make an individual more likely to become ill with pneumonia. Certainly, the lack of normal anatomical structure could result in an increased risk of pneumonia. For example, there are certain inherited defects of cilia which result in less effective protection. Cigarette smoke, inhaled directly by a smoker or second-hand by a innocent bystander, interferes significantly with ciliary function, as well as inhibiting macrophage function.

Stroke, seizures, alcohol, and various drugs interfere with the function of the epiglottis. This leads to a leaky seal on the trap door, with possible contamination by swallowed substances and/or regurgitated stomach contents. Alcohol and drugs also interfere with the normal cough reflex. This further decreases the chance of clearing unwanted debris from the respiratory tract.

Viruses may interfere with ciliary function, allowing themselves or other microorganism invaders (such as bacteria) access to the lower respiratory tract. One of the most important viruses is HIV (Human Immunodeficiency virus), the causative virus in AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). In recent years this virus has resulted in a huge increase in the incidence of pneumonia. Because AIDS results in a general decreased effectiveness of many aspects of the host's immune system, a patient with AIDS is susceptible to all kinds of pneumonia. This includes some previously rare parasitic types which would be unable to cause illness in an individual possessing a normal immune system.

The elderly have a less effective mucociliary escalator, as well as changes in their immune system. This causes this age group to be more at risk for the development of pneumonia.

Various chronic conditions predispose a person to infection with pneumonia. These include asthma, cystic fibrosis, and neuromuscular diseases which may interfere with the seal of the epiglottis. Esophageal disorders may result in stomach contents passing upwards into the esophagus. This increases the risk of aspiration into the lungs of those stomach contents with their resident bacteria. Diabetes, sickle cell anemia, lymphoma, leukemia, and emphysema also predispose a person to pneumonia.

Genetic factors also appear to be involved in susceptibility to pneumonia. Certain changes in DNA appear to affect some patients' risk of developing such complications of pneumonia as septic shock.

Pneumonia is also one of the most frequent infectious complications of all types of surgery. Many drugs used during and after surgery may increase the risk of aspiration, impair the cough reflex, and cause a patient to underfill their lungs with air. Pain after surgery also discourages a patient from breathing deeply enough, and from coughing effectively.

Radiation treatment for breast cancer increases the risk of pneumonia in some patients by weakening lung tissue.

Causes and symptoms

The list of organisms which can cause pneumonia is very large, and includes nearly every class of infecting organism: viruses, bacteria, bacteria-like organisms, fungi, and parasites (including certain worms). Different organisms are more frequently encountered by different age groups. Further, other characteristics of an individual may place him or her at greater risk for infection by particular types of organisms:

• Viruses cause the majority of pneumonias in young children (especially respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza and influenza viruses, and adenovirus).
• Adults are more frequently infected with bacteria (such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus).
• Pneumonia in older children and young adults is often caused by the bacteria-like Mycoplasma pneumoniae (the cause of what is often referred to as "walking" pneumonia).
• Pneumocystis carinii is an extremely important cause of pneumonia in patients with immune problems (such as patients being treated for cancer with chemotherapy, or patients with AIDS. Classically considered a parasite, it appears to be more related to fungi.
• People who have reason to come into contact with bird droppings, such as poultry workers, are at risk for pneumonia caused by the organism Chlamydia psittaci.
• A very large, serious outbreak of pneumonia occurred in 1976, when many people attending an American Legion convention were infected by a previously unknown organism. Subsequently named Legionella pneumophila, it causes what is now called "Legionnaire's disease." The organism was traced to air conditioning units in the convention's hotel.

Pneumonia is suspected in any patient who has fever, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, and increased respirations (number of breaths per minute). Fever with a shaking chill is even more suspicious. Many patients cough up clumps of sputum, commonly known as spit. These secretions are produced in the alveoli during an infection or other inflammatory condition. They may appear streaked with pus or blood. Severe pneumonia results in the signs of oxygen deprivation. This includes blue appearance of the nail beds or lips (cyanosis).

The invading organism causes symptoms, in part, by provoking an overly-strong immune response in the lungs. In other words, the immune system, which should help fight off infections, kicks into such high gear, that it damages the lung tissue and makes it more susceptible to infection. The small blood vessels in the lungs (capillaries) become leaky, and protein-rich fluid seeps into the alveoli. This results in less functional area for oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange. The patient becomes relatively oxygen deprived, while retaining potentially damaging carbon dioxide. The patient breathes faster and faster, in an effort to bring in more oxygen and blow off more carbon dioxide.

Mucus production is increased, and the leaky capillaries may tinge the mucus with blood. Mucus plugs actually further decrease the efficiency of gas exchange in the lung. The alveoli fill further with fluid and debris from the large number of white blood cells being produced to fight the infection.

Consolidation, a feature of bacterial pneumonias, occurrs when the alveoli, which are normally hollow air spaces within the lung, instead become solid, due to quantities of fluid and debris.

Viral pneumonias and mycoplasma pneumonias do not result in consolidation. These types of pneumonia primarily infect the walls of the alveoli and the stroma of the lung.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (sars)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, is a contagious and potentially fatal disease that first appeared in the form of a multi-country outbreak in early February 2003. Later that month, the CDC began to work with the World Health Organization (WHO) to investigate the cause(s) of SARS and to develop guidelines for infection control. SARS has been described as an "atypical pneumonia of unknown etiology;" by the end of March 2003, the disease agent was identified as a previously unknown coronavirus.

The early symptoms of SARS include a high fever with chills, headache, muscle cramps, and weakness. This early phase is followed by respiratory symptoms, usually a dry cough and painful or difficult breathing. Some patients require mechanical ventilation. The mortality rate of SARS is thought to be about 3%.

As of the end of March 2003, the CDC did not have clearly defined recommendations for treating SARS. Treatments that have been used include antibiotics known to be effective against bacterial pneumonia; ribavirin and other antiviral drugs; and steroids.

Diagnosis

For the most part, diagnosis is based on the patient's report of symptoms, combined with examination of the chest. Listening with a stethoscope will reveal abnormal sounds, and tapping on the patient's back (which should yield a resonant sound due to air filling the alveoli) may instead yield a dull thump if the alveoli are filled with fluid and debris.

Laboratory diagnosis can be made of some bacterial pneumonias by staining sputum with special chemicals and looking at it under a microscope. Identification of the specific type of bacteria may require culturing the sputum (using the sputum sample to grow greater numbers of the bacteria in a lab dish.).

X-ray examination of the chest may reveal certain abnormal changes associated with pneumonia. Localized shadows obscuring areas of the lung may indicate a bacterial pneumonia, while streaky or patchy appearing changes in the x-ray picture may indicate viral or mycoplasma pneumonia. These changes on x ray, however, are known to lag in time behind the patient's actual symptoms.

Treatment

Prior to the discovery of penicillin antibiotics, bacterial pneumonia was almost always fatal. Today, antibiotics, especially given early in the course of the disease, are very effective against bacterial causes of pneumonia. Erythromycin and tetracycline improve recovery time for symptoms of mycoplasma pneumonia. They, do not, however, eradicate the organisms. Amantadine and acyclovir may be helpful against certain viral pneumonias.

A newer antibiotic named linezolid (Zyvox) is being used to treat penicillin-resistant organisms that cause pneumonia. Linezolid is the first of a new line of antibiotics known as oxazolidinones. Another new drug known as ertapenem (Invanz) is reported to be effective in treating bacterial pneumonia.

Prognosis

Prognosis varies according to the type of organism causing the infection. Recovery following pneumonia with Mycoplasma pneumoniae is nearly 100%. Staphylococcus pneumoniae has a death rate of 30-40%. Similarly, infections with a number of gram negative bacteria (such as those in the gastrointestinal tract which can cause infection following aspiration) have a death rate of 25-50%. Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most common organism causing pneumonia, produces a death rate of about 5%. More complications occur in the very young or very old individuals who have multiple areas of the lung infected simultaneously. Individuals with other chronic illnesses (including cirrhosis of the liver, congestive heart failure, individuals without a functioning spleen, and individuals who have other diseases that result in a weakened immune system, experience complications. Patients with immune disorders, various types of cancer, transplant patients, and AIDS patients also experience complications.

Prevention

Because many bacterial pneumonias occur in patients who are first infected with the influenza virus (the flu), yearly vaccination against influenza can decrease the risk of pneumonia for certain patients. This is particularly true of the elderly and people with chronic diseases (such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, other lung or heart diseases, sickle cell disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and forms of cancer).

A specific vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae is very protective, and should also be administered to patients with chronic illnesses.

Patients who have decreased immune resistance are at higher risk for infection with Pneumocystis carinii. They are frequently put on a regular drug regimen of trimethoprim sulfa and/or inhaled pentamidine to avoid pneumocystis pneumonia.

Key terms

Alveoli — The little air sacs clustered at the ends of the bronchioles, in which oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange takes place.

Aspiration — A situation in which solids or liquids which should be swallowed into the stomach are instead breathed into the respiratory system.

Cilia — Hair-like projections from certain types of cells.

Consolidation — A condition in which lung tissue becomes firm and solid rather than elastic and air-filled because it has accumulated fluids and tissue debris.

Coronavirus — One of a family of RNA-containing viruses known to cause severe respiratory illnesses. In March 2003, a previously unknown coronavirus was identified as the causative agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.

Cyanosis — A bluish tinge to the skin that can occur when the blood oxygen level drops too low.

Sputum — Material produced within the alveoli in response to an infectious or inflammatory process.

Stroma — A term used to describe the supportive tissue surrounding a particular structure. An example is that tissue which surrounds and supports the actually functional lung tissue.

Resources

Books

Beers, Mark H., MD, and Robert Berkow, MD., editors. "Pneumonia." In The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories, 2004.

Periodicals

Arias, E., and B. L. Smith. "Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2001." National Vital Statistics Reports 51 (March 14, 2003): 1-44.

Birnbaum, Howard G., Melissa Morley, Paul E. Greenberg, et al. "Economic Burden of Pneumonia in an Employed Population." Archives of Internal Medicine 161 (December 10, 2001): 2725-2732.

Curran, M., D. Simpson, and C. Perry. "Ertapenem: A Review of Its Use in the Management of Bacterial Infections." Drugs 63 (2003): 1855-1878.

Lyseng-Williamson, K. A., and K. L. Goa. "Linezolid: In Infants and Children with Severe Gram-Positive Infections." Paediatric Drugs 5 (2003): 419-429.

"New Research Shows That Pneumonia, Septic Shock Run in Families." Genomics & Genetics Weekly November 16, 2001: 13.

"Outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome—Worldwide, 2003." Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 52 (March 21, 2003): 226-228.

"Update: Outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome—Worldwide, 2003." Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 52 (March 28, 2003): 241-246, 248.

Worcester, Sharon. "Ventilator-Linked Pneumonia." Internal Medicine News 34 (October 15, 2001): 32.

Wunderink, R. G., S. K. Cammarata, T. H. Oliphant, et al. "Continuation of a Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter Study of Linezolid Versus Vancomycin in the Treatment of Patients with Nosocomial Pneumonia." Clinical Therapeutics 25 (March 2003): 980-992.

Organizations

American Lung Association. 1740 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. (800) 586-4872. http://www.lungusa.org.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1600 Clifton Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30333. (800) 311-3435, (404) 639-3311. http://www.cdc.gov.

---

pneumonia /pneu·mo·nia/ (noo-mo´ne-ah) inflammation of the lungs with exudation and consolidation.

---

pneumonia al´ba  a fatal desquamative pneumonia of the newborn due to congenital syphilis, with fatty degeneration of the lungs.

aspiration pneumonia  that due to aspiration of foreign material into the lungs.

atypical pneumonia  primary atypical p.

bacterial pneumonia  that due to bacteria, usually species of Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella, and Mycoplasma.

bronchial pneumonia  bronchopneumonia.

interstitial pneumonia, desquamative  chronic pneumonia with desquamation of large alveolar cells and thickening of the walls of distal air passages; marked by dyspnea and nonproductive cough.

double pneumonia  that affecting both lungs.

Friedländer's pneumonia , Friedländer's bacillus pneumonia Klebsiella p.

hypostatic pneumonia  a type seen in the weak or elderly, due to excessive lying on the back.

influenzal pneumonia , influenza virus pneumonia an acute, usually fatal type due to influenza virus, with high fever, prostration, sore throat, aching pains, dyspnea, massive edema, and consolidation. It may be complicated by bacterial pneumonia.

inhalation pneumonia 

1. aspiration p.

2. bronchopneumonia due to inhalation of irritating vapors.

interstitial pneumonia 

1. any of various types of pneumonia characterized by thickening of the interstitial tissue.

2. idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

interstitial plasma cell pneumonia  pneumonia; a form caused by Pneumocystis carinii, seen in infants and debilitated or immunocompromised persons; cellular detritus containing plasma cells appears in lung tissue.

Klebsiella pneumonia  Friedländer's pneumonia; a form with massive mucoid inflammatory exudates in a lobe of the lung, due to Klebsiella pneumoniae.

lipid pneumonia , lipoid pneumonia aspiration pneumonia due to aspiration of oil.

lobar pneumonia 

1. acute bacterial pneumonia with edema, usually in one lung; the most common type is pneumococcal p.

2. pneumococcal p.

lobular pneumonia  bronchopneumonia.

mycoplasmal pneumonia  primary atypical pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Pittsburgh pneumonia  a type resembling legionnaires' disease, caused by Legionella micdadei, seen in immunocompromised patients.

pneumococcal pneumonia  the most common type of lobar pneumonia, caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

pneumocystis pneumonia , Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia interstitial plasma cell p.

primary atypical pneumonia  any of numerous types of acute pneumonia, caused by bacteria such as species of Mycoplasma, Rickettsia, or Chlamydia, or viruses such as adenoviruses or parainfluenza virus.

rheumatic pneumonia  a rare, usually fatal complication of acute rheumatic fever, with extensive pulmonary consolidation and rapidly progressive functional deterioration, alveolar exudate, interstitial infiltrates, and necrotizing arteritis.

varicella pneumonia  that developing after the skin eruption in varicella (chickenpox), apparently due to the same virus; symptoms may be severe, with violent cough, hemoptysis, and severe chest pain.

viral pneumonia  that due to a virus, e.g., adenovirus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, or varicella virus.

white pneumonia  p. alba.

---

pneu·mo·nia (n-mny)

n.

An acute or chronic disease marked by inflammation of the lungs and caused by viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms and sometimes by physical and chemical irritants.

---

pneumonia

[no̅o̅mō′nē·ə]

Etymology: Gk, pneumon, lung

an acute inflammation of the lungs, often caused by inhaled pneumococci of the species Streptococcus pneumoniae. The alveoli and bronchioles of the lungs become plugged with a fibrous exudate. Pneumonia may also be caused by other bacteria, as well as by viruses, rickettsiae, and fungi. Kinds of pneumonia are aspiration pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, eosinophilic pneumonia, interstitial pneumonia, lobar pneumonia, mycoplasma pneumonia, and viral pneumonia. See also acute lobar pneumonia, atypical pneumonia.

---

pneumonia (n·mōnˑ·y),

n infection of the alveoli most often caused by
Streptococcus pneumoniae, but other infectious agents can be responsible.

Pneumonia.

Type	Percentage
Viral	20
(influenza)	(3)
Mycoplasmal	10–20
Bacterial	12
Bacterial superimposed on viral	6
Chlamydia	10
Unknown cause (legionnaires', toxic)	38

---

pneumonia (nmōn´y),

n an acute inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by inhaled microorganisms. The alveoli and bronchioles of the lungs become plugged with a fibrous exudate, seriously interfering with oxygen exchange.

---

pneumonia

inflammation of the parenchyma of the lung. It is often accompanied by inflammation of the airways and sometimes of the adjoining pleura. Clinically it is manifested by an increase in the rate and depth of respiration at all degrees of severity up to dyspnea. There is also cough, and abnormality of the breath sounds on auscultation. In bacterial pneumonia there is usually a severe toxemia, in viral pneumonia it is usually minor. See also bronchopneumonia, pleuropneumonia.

---

Arabian foal pneumonia

an inexorably progressive pneumonia of certain Arabian foals born with primary severe combined immunodeficiency in which adenovirus plays a dominant role but is complicated by other microorganisms, particularly Pneumocystis carinii.

aspiration pneumonia

see aspiration pneumonia.

atypical pneumonia

histologically the pneumonia is atypical in that there are no signs of acute inflammation and it is characterized by an exudation of eosinophilic, protein-rich fluid in the alveoli which may become organized to form a hyaline membrane. In animals that survive for several days there is epithelialization of the alveolar walls. In humans there is a primary atypical pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. In animals the best known example is atypical interstitial pneumonia of cattle.

bronchointerstitial pneumonia

the lesions are centered on the bronchioles and a prominent feature is the accumulation of lymphocytes in interstitial tissue; typical of pneumonias caused by aerogenous virus infections, especially myxoviruses.

brooder pneumonia

see brooder pneumonia.

chronic undifferentiated pneumonia of sheep

see enzootic pneumonia.

corynebacterial pneumonia of foals

see corynebacterial pneumonia.

cuffing pneumonia

chronic undifferentiated pneumonia of sheep in which lymphofollicular sheaths around the bronchioles are a feature.

equine cryptococcal pneumonia

see epizootic lymphangitis.

desquamative pneumonia

a chronic pneumonia associated with Mycoplasma spp. and characterized by organization of the exudate within bronchioles and bronchi, and proliferation of the interstitial tissue and epithelium.

desquamative interstitial pneumonia

chronic pneumonia with desquamation of large alveolar cells and thickening of the walls of distal air passages; marked by dyspnea and nonproductive cough.

embolic pneumonia

results from hematogenous spread from an intravascular lesion elsewhere in the body. The best known example is caudal vena caval thrombosis.

endogenous-lipid pneumonia

focal alveolar accumulations of foamy, lipid-filled macrophages which may impede alveolar clearance. Usually an incidental postmortem finding in laboratory rodents, fur-bearing animals and uncommonly cats and dogs.

enzootic pneumonia

see enzootic pneumonia.

fibrinous pneumonia

an acute fulminating pneumonia, often lobar in distribution, characterized by a fibrinous exudate. Fibrinous describes the exudate, not the anatomical distribution so that the term fibrinous pneumonia should not be used interchangeably with lobar pneumonia.

foreign body pneumonia

see aspiration pneumonia.

gangrenous pneumonia

usually an accompaniment of aspiration pneumonia.

giant-cell pneumonia

a secondary lesion in dermatosis vegetans in pigs; lesions marked by the presence of a proliferative giant-cell type of diffuse interstitial pneumonia.

granulomatous pneumonia

has a slow course characterized by granulomatous, not exudative, lesions. Sporadic cases occur in immunodeficient animals. It is a characteristic of tuberculosis and systemic fungal infections, e.g. coccidioidomycosis.

hypostatic pneumonia

caused by pooling of blood and some decrease in viability of the dependent lung in an old, sick or debilitated animal that is in lateral recumbency for a long period. The infection is secondary to hypostasis.

inhalation pneumonia

see aspiration pneumonia.

interstitial pneumonia

pneumonia in which there is diffuse or patchy damage to alveolar septa widely distributed through the lungs. There is an early intra-alveolar exudative phase followed by significant proliferation and enlargement of the alveolar epithelial cells and a thickening of the interstitial tissue. Most interstitial pneumonias in animals are infectious including viral, bacterial, fungal and protozoal causes, but may be caused by chemical injury, acute pancreatitis or shock, as in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

lipid pneumonia

a specific type of aspiration pneumonia caused by the inhalation of oil droplets; most commonly associated with the forced administration of paraffin oil or cod-liver oil to cats. Called also medication pneumonia, lipoid pneumonia. See also aspiration pneumonia.

lobar pneumonia

a fulminating bronchopneumonia in which entire pulmonary lobes are diffusively inflamed and then consolidated. Pneumonic pasteurellosis in cattle is the type disease. The animal is critically ill with anoxia and toxemia.

lobular pneumonia

an oldfashioned term for bronchopneumonia.

lymphoid interstitial pneumonia

see maedi.

ovine progressive pneumonia

see maedi.

parasitic pneumonia

see lungworm disease.

stable pneumonia

see equine influenza.

suppurative pneumonia of foals

see corynebacterial pneumonia.

uremic pneumonia

occurs in dogs with terminal uremia; lesions characterized by absence of inflammatory cells.

---

pneumonia

A viral or bacterial infection of lungs–bronchoalveolar unit characterized by inflammation and the oozing of exudate from the bronchial or bronchiolar mucosa and alveoli Clinical ↑ Sputum, dyspnea, fever/chills, night sweats, pleural pain, ↓ breath sounds, dull percussion, wheezing, ↑ tactile fremitus CXR Lobar consolidation, patchy infiltrates DiffDx Aspiration–gastric, foreign body, atelectasis, congenital malformations–eg, pulmonary sequestration, CHF, COPD, tumors, infarction, collagen vascular disease Management Antibiotics. See Aspiration pneumonia, Atypical pneumonia, BOOP pneumonia, Bronchopneumonia, Chemical pneumonia, CMV pneumonia, Community-acquired pneumonia, Cytomegalovirus pneumonia, Diffuse interstitial pneumonia, Double pneumonia, Eosinophilic pneumonia, Giant cell pneumonia, Giant interstitial pneumonia, Hydrocarbon pneumonia, Lipoid pneumonia, Lobar pneumonia, Lobular pneumonia, Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia, Necrotizing pneumonia,  Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, Nosocomial pneumonia, Post-operative pneumonia, Spherical pneumonia, Usual interstitial pneumonia, Ventilator pneumonia, Viral pneumonia, Walking pneumonia

---

Patient discussion about desquamative pneumonia.

Q. Can I catch pneumonia, if I go outside with wet hair? My Mother used to tell me when I was a kid that if I go outside with wet hair, I will catch pneumonia. Is this true?

A. IF YOUR WET WATER REMOVES MORE HEAT FROM THE BODY FASTER THAN WHEN YOUR DRY ALSO CONSIDER THAT HEAT RISES WE LOSE MOST OF THE TOP OF OUR HEADS WHEN YOU ADD WATER YOU DRAMATICLY LOWER YOUR TEMPERATURE ON YOUR HEAD AND ALSO CONSIDER THAT IF YOUR MOVING FROM A COLD PLACE TO A WARM PLACE SEVERAL TIMES A DAY LIKE A FREEZER ON A HOT SUMMER DAY OR INDOORS TO OUT DOORS IN THE WINTER TIME 20 MINUTE INTERVALS I WILL SAY YES YOU CAN CATCH COLD AN GET THE SNIFFLES, COUGH AND OR SORE THROUGHT BUT I DO AGREE THAT YOU WON'T NECISARLY GET PENOMNIA FROM JUST WET HAIR ALONE THERES MANY MORE FACTORS FOR THAT.

Q. Do I have Bronchitis? I had a cold and since then I have a severe cough which I can't seem to get rid of. Is this bronchitis? Does it need to be treated or will it go away by itself?

A. Bronchitis most commonly occurs after an upper respiratory infection such as the common cold or a sinus infection. You may see symptoms such as fever with chills, muscle aches, nasal congestion, and sore throat. Most cases of bronchitis clear up on their own, however if you have complications, go see your doctor. If the cough is very severe and interrupts your sleep, if you are wheezing or have a fever for longer than a few days, then you should see your Doctor.

Q. PNEUMONIA is it viral or bacterial

A. Pneumonia Information

Pneumonia is an inflammation and consolidation f lung tissue to due to an infectious agent- typically a bacteria or a virus, and is usually acquired in a community setting. Bacterial pneumonia occurs more often by a microbe called S. Pneumo. Half of all people infected with this bacteria show no symptoms. Compared with viral pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia has a shorter duration and is also more severe in the damage the bacteria can do to the patient. If left untreated, pneumonia can lead to the critical diseases of meningitis or sepsis.
Approximately 2 to 5 million people acquire pneumonia every year. 40 to 60 thousand people die due to pneumonia every year, and pneumonia is the most common infectious cause of death that exists. More men get pneumonia than women. About 20 percent of CAP cases are viral rather than bacterial. So most of the time, an antibiotic will be needed for the pneumonia patient. Also, about 10 million doctor visits are due to CA