Pa Tho Physiology Of Pneumonia

Pathophysiology Of Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of lungs in which the lung tissue of an infected person is filled with fluid or pus. People suffering from this condition tend to experience some symptoms and these include rapid breathing, fever, chills, chest and abdominal pain, presence of brown, yellow or green colored mucous and cough. To understand this condition the pathophysiology of pneumonia needs to be understood. This condition may be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and other parasites and in this infection afflicting the lungs the lungs may get inflamed. Where a person suffers from lung injury due to chemical irritants or physical factors the condition may be referred to as pneumonitis and this can be differentiated from the condition of infectious pneumonia. In understanding the pathophysiology of pneumonia it can be understood that this condition affects individuals of all ages. The incidence of pneumonia is however higher among young children and elderly individuals along with those individuals who have a compromised immune system. The pathophysiology of pneumonia indicates that the development of this condition depends of number of factors like the presence of pathogens along with the state of a person’s immune system and some other factors. The organism invading the immune system causes the symptoms in this condition as it provokes the immune system to respond. As a result of the invading organisms the blood vessels within the lungs leak and this causes the protein rich fluid to seep into alveoli. This results in less area for exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. As the patient is deprived of oxygen the breathing becomes faster so as to bring more oxygen and release the carbon dioxide. The pathophysiology of pneumonia indicates that the mucous production increases and the leaking of the capillaries may cause the mucous to get a tinge of blood. Mucous further decreases the gas exchange within the lung. Fluid continues to fill in the alveoli and the debris resulting from the white blood cells fighting the infection also fill the alveoli. Alveoli are actually air spaces that are hollow however these tend to become solid because of the debris and fluid collection. This is called consolidation and is a classical feature seen in bacterial pneumonia cases. In mycoplasma pneumonia cases along with viral pneumonia the alveoli walls are infected and consolidation does not occur in these cases.

PAHOHYSIOLOGY OF PNEUMONIA Entry of microorganism