Question

Microbiology Disease

Disease name: pneumonia

Topics for each disease must include:

Name of disease and a brief history

Signs and symptoms

Pathogenesis and virulence factors (what makes that bacteria/virus cause disease, etc.)

Transmission and epidemiology (includes morbidity, mortality and prevalence rates for the diseases)

Culture and diagnosis

Prevention and treatment

Something interesting about the disease (ex. How common is it, what is the likelihood of survival, did anyone famous die of it, do you have a personal story about it?........)

Answer 1

Name of disease and a brief history

1] Name of the disease is pneumonia. It is an infection in one or both lungs.

2] It can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi.

3] Bacterial pneumonia is the most common type neumonia in adults.

4] pneumonia causes inflammation in the air sacs of the lungs which are called alveoli.

5] The alveoli fill with fluid or pus making it difficult to brethe.

6] There are four types of pneumonia based on germ or pathogen,

a] Bacterial pneumonia $=$ caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Legionella pneumop

b] Viral pneumonia $=$ caused by respiratory viruses especially in children and older people.

c] Mycoplasma pneumonia $=$ These are not bacteria or viruses but the organisms which have triats common to both.

d] Fungal pneumonia $=$ Fungi from soil or bird droppings can cause pneumonia.

Signs and symptoms

1] Coughing that may produce mucus.

2] fever, sweating and chills

3] shortness of breath

4] chest pain

5] fast heartbeats

6] feeling very tired

7] Nausea and vomitting

8] Diarrhea

Pathogenesis and virulence factors

1] The virulence factors include the polysaccharide capsule, surface vroteins and enzymes, toxin pneumolysin.

2] The distribution of virulence factors among strains allow the associations to be made between these factors and ability to cause different types of disease.

Transmission and epidemiology

1] Pneumonia can be spread infrom person to person.

2] They may also spread via air borne droplets from coughing or sneezing.

3] The viruses and bacteria that are commonly found in a child's nose or throat, can infect the lungs if they are inhaled.

4] Outbreaks occur mostly in crowded settings like schools, college dormitories, military barracks, nursing homes and hospitals.

5] Mortality rate is more in adults who aged more than 50 years. The incidence of mortality increases with increasing age.

6] The prevalence rate for aged 18-39 years, is 6 cases in 1000 people whereas for those over 75 years of age, it rises to 75 in 1000 people.

Culture and diagnosis

The diagnosis is made by

1] the culture of the organism with two thirds diagnosed by CIE of the sputum i.e. sputum test.

2] A chest X-ray which is done to check for changes in the lungs.

3] A physical examination of patient.

4] The patient's medical history.

Prevention and treatment

Pneumonia can be prevented by

1] Vaccination

2] Good hygiene

3] Avoid smoking

4] Keeping your immune system strong.

Pneumonia can be treated by

1] Antibiotics such as Levofloxacin

2] cough medicines

3] Fever reducers/pain relievers