Respiratory conditions encompass a wide array of disorders affecting the lungs and respiratory system, often causing difficulty breathing and impacting overall health and well-being. These conditions can range from mild, such as the common cold, to severe, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or lung cancer.
A common respiratory condition is asthma, characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Triggers for asthma can vary from allergens like pollen or pet dander to exercise or stress.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, often caused by long-term exposure to irritants like cigarette smoke. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, which worsen over time and can significantly impair daily activities.
Pneumonia is an infection that inflames air sacs in one or both lungs, commonly caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Symptoms may include fever, chills, cough, and difficulty breathing, and severe cases can be life-threatening, especially in vulnerable populations like the elderly or those with weakened immune systems.
Another significant respiratory condition is chronic bronchitis, characterized by inflammation of the bronchial tubes, leading to increased mucus production and coughing. It is often associated with smoking and can result in breathing difficulties and reduced lung function.
Emphysema is a type of COPD where the air sacs in the lungs are gradually destroyed, impairing the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. It is typically caused by long-term exposure to cigarette smoke or other lung irritants and leads to shortness of breath and reduced exercise tolerance.
Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs, usually due to smoking or exposure to carcinogens like asbestos or radon. Symptoms may include coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing, and treatment options vary depending on the stage and type of cancer.
Other respiratory conditions include bronchiolitis, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and sleep apnea, each with its own set of symptoms, causes, and treatments. Proper diagnosis and management are essential for improving quality of life and preventing complications associated with respiratory conditions.
2. ASTHMA
▪ DEFINITION
Asthma is a condition in which airways narrow and swell and may produce extra
mucus.
SYMPTOMS :
▪ SOB
▪ Chest tightness
▪ Wheezing
▪ Breathing through mouth
▪ Anxiety
13. EMPYEMA
Empyema is the collection of pus In the space between the lung and the inner surface
of the chest wall
Also known as pyothorax or purulent pleuritis
15. STAGES OF EMPYEMA
▪ ACUTE (exudative) STAGE
1. Approximately in 7 days
2. Pleura fills with thin serous fluid that shows relatively low white cell count
3. Visceral pluera and underlying lung remains mobile
16. ▪ TRANSITIONAL ( fibrino purulent) STAGE
1. From day 7 to day 21
2. Higher white cell count
3. Lung movement becomes increasingly restricted
4. Empyema fluid now becomes more thicker and turbid
17. ▪ ORGANIZING (Chronic) STAGE
1. After 21 days (usually 4 to 6 weeks)
2. Inner layer shows inflammatory cells
3. Draws the ribs together producing chest deformity later leads to fibrothorax
RISK FACTORS
▪ Neoplasm
▪ Drug use
▪ HIV infection
18. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
▪ Fever
▪ Cough and expectorations
▪ Pleuritic chest pain
▪ Dyspnea
▪ Loss of weight
▪ Night sweating
19. COMPLICATIONS
▪ Rupture into the lungs : bronchopleural fistula
▪ Septicaemia and spetic shock
▪ Spread to the subcutaneous tissue
20. DIAGNOSIS
▪ LRTI –Possibility of complicating empyema
▪ History and physical findings may be suggestive
▪ CXR, CT, USG
21. GOALS OF TREATMENT
▪ Treat the infection
▪ Drain the purulent effusion adequately and completely
▪ Re-expand lung to refill the plueral space
▪ Anti-microbial : Clyndamycin + penicillin
▪ Pneumococcus
▪ Antibiotics are chosen based on culture results
22. PLUERAL EFFUSION
▪ Pleural effusion is the excess fluid that accumulates in the pleural cavity, the fluid-
filled space that surrounds the lungs
ETIOLOGY
▪ Viral infection (such as flu)
▪ Fungal infection
▪ Lung cancer near plueral space
▪ Bacterial infection (such as pneumonia)
▪ Autoimmune disease (rhumatoid arthritis)
26. EXUDATIVE EFFUSIONS
They arise from
▪ Tuberculosis
▪ Empyema
▪ Bacterial and fungal pneumonia
▪ Pancreatitis
Characteristics :
▪ Often turbid or purulent
▪ pH< 7.30
▪ High protein fluid
27. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
▪ Pleuritic chest pain
▪ Fever, chills
▪ Dyspnea and coughing
▪ Decreased or absent breath sounds
