Question

Mrs. Yarborough, age 47, who smokes a pack of cigarettes per day, develops fever, chill, dyspnea, and cough productive of yellow-green sputum. Her body temperature is 38.5 C (103.3 F). She has tachypnea, tachycardia, and inspiratory crackles auscultated over her right upper and lower lung. Sputum stain reveals numerous white blood cells and bacteria. Normal Radiograph (x-ray) Mrs. Yarborough's Radiograph 1. Does the patient have bacterial or viral pneumonia? Explain your answer 2. What is the pathophysiology of the patient's illness? 3. Wh y is smoking cessation important for this patient to help prevent another episode of pncumonia?

Answer 1

ANSWERS :

1. The patient is having bacterial pneumonia. As the symptoms of bacterial pneumonia exhibiting in the patient indicates the presence of bacterial pneumonia.

2. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF PNEUMONIA : Bacteria enters into the upper airway tract and enters into alveoli through gaseous exchanges. It makes the immune system to respond and release of white blood cells against bacteria rises in the lungs. WBC kills the bacteria and releases cytokines. Developing of cytokines in the immune system leads to developing of fever, chills, weakness. The produces neutrophils and bacteria along with fluid leakage fills the alveoli which reduces oxygen transportation. The bacteria enters into the blood stream which leads to infecting of blood with bacteria, called as bacteremia. It leads to damage of the lung parenchyma, space between the lungs and chest wall gets filled with pleural fluid containing bacteria which leads to developing of dyspnea and other symptoms of pneumonia.