Pneumonia - Disorder Affecting the Human Respiratory System - Essay Example

According to The American Lung Association (2007), pneumonia is a serious infection and/or inflammation of the lungs. The air sacs in the lungs fill with pus and other liquid. Oxygen has trouble reaching the blood. If there is too little oxygen in the blood, the body cells can't work properly. Because of this and spreading infection through the body pneumonia can cause death. Different causes of pneumonia manifest different signs and symptoms. In patients with pneumonia caused by bacteria (streptococcus pneumonia), the temperature may rise as high as 105º F.

The patient sweats profusely, and breathing and pulse rate increase rapidly. Lips and nailbeds may have a bluish color due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. A patient's mental state may be confused or delirious. If caused by a virus (influenza), there is a fever, dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. Within 12 to 36 hours, there is increasing breathlessness; the cough becomes worse and produces a small amount of mucus. There is a high fever and there may be blueness of the lips.

In mycoplasma (are the smallest free-living agents of disease in humankind, unclassified as to whether bacteria or viruses, but having characteristics of both) pneumonia, there is a cough that tends to come in violent attacks but produces only sparse whitish mucus. Chills and fever are early symptoms, and some patients experience nausea or vomiting. Patients may experience profound weakness that lasts for a long time. Other causes of pneumonia are fungi and other chemicals. Some types of pneumonia develop when the immune system is weakened. Pneumonia can be acquired from community, hospital, and thru aspiration when foreign bodies enter the lungs (The Patient Education Institute, Inc., 2008).

According to MayoClinic.com (2008), pneumonia treatments vary, depending on the severity of symptoms and the type of pneumonia that the patient has. Bacterial and mycoplasma pneumonia is treated with antibiotics, viral pneumonia is treated generally the same as flu including rest and plenty of fluids, while fungal pneumonia is treated with antifungal medication. Hospital treatment includes IV (intravenous) antibiotics that are delivered thru a needle inserted into a vein and respiratory therapy that helps the patient breathe.

While still negative of the disease, it is wise to pay attention to the prevention of the disease thru following good hygiene habits such as washing the hands frequently with warm soapy water, using separate drinking glasses and eating utensils, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue. Stay healthy and boost the immune system by eating healthy foods, sleeping well, avoiding smoking, exercising, reducing stress, and not drinking excessive alcohol (The Patient Education Institute, Inc., 2008).