61. Pneumonia and tbc
If tuberculosis is suspected-get Infectious
Diseases involved immediately. The public
health and infection control implications are
gigantic!Insist on performing tuberculosis stains as
early as possible, the cost and bother are
always justifiable.
A day or two of excessive respiratory
isolation is far preferable to unnecessary
exposure of scores of people to tuberculosis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuberculosis_management
Editor's Notes
Productive mucoid cough and fever. Elderly often do not present with fever> bad immune response. Congestive heart failure and kidney failure patients also do no present with fever.
Elderly are a high risk group for pneumonia.
Pleuritic chest pain> one sided. Pleura rubs against each other> need surfactant. “hurts when I breathe”
Pneumonia> productive cough. Mycoplasma> fever and infiltrated dry cough. Common in people between 15 and 40.
To dx pneumonia: need to see infiltrates on CXR. Pneumonia might be present for a couple weeks before infiltrates are seen on X-ray. (Atypical pneumonia)
Atypical pneumonia: mycoplasma is most common (late appearance of infiltrates)
Lists are from most common infectious agent to least.
Children most often get viral pneumonia.
Adults: streptococcus is typical. Everything else is atypical.
Adenovirus causes colds. Some strains are potent and can cause viral pneumonia. Occurs in “mini outbreaks” within dorms, military barracks etc.