Posted by Hunter McDonald
Don Larson
Steam Project
17 April 2022
Pnemonuia and the effects
Pneumonia is a condition in the lungs’ air sacs caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. Pneumonia can affect people of all ages, but children, geriatric, and those with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to severe cases. The respiratory system takes in oxygen and expells carbon dioxide from the body, comprising several organs such as the nose, mouth, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. Inhaling draws air through the nose or mouth into the trachea, which divides into bronchi leading to the lungs, ultimately reaching tiny air sacs called alveoli, where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange occurs.
Pneumonia can hinder the respiratory system by filling air sacs with fluid, making it challenging for the lungs to function correctly, causing coughing, fever, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Pneumonia can also lead to complications such as sepsis, lung abscesses, and respiratory failure, posing life-threatening risks. The extent of damage to the respiratory system depends on how severe and how long an individual has had the infection. Mild cases may allow the lungs to recover without any long-term harm, while severe ones may lead to lung scarring, impeding breathing ability.
Pneumonia can also cause pleural effusion, a fluid build-up between the lungs and chest wall, further impairing breathing. Therefore, seeking medical attention immediately when experiencing symptoms is crucial to prevent severe outcomes and improve the chances of recovery. Pneumonia can affect the structure of the respiratory system by causing inflammation and damage to the tissues and organs involved in breathing. The lungs are especially vulnerable to the effects of pneumonia, as they are responsible for the exchange of gases between the body and the environment.
One of the primary effects of pneumonia on the structure of the respiratory system is the accumulation of fluid and pus in the alveoli of the lungs. This can lead to a condition called consolidation, in which the affected lung tissue becomes more solid and less able to expand and contract as air is breathed in and out. Consolidation can cause a decrease in lung function, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and coughing. Other potential effects of pneumonia on the structure of the respiratory system include the formation of pleural effusions (accumulations of fluid around the lungs) and the development of bronchiectasis (enlargement and damage to the bronchial tubes that carry air into the lungs). These complications can further impair lung function and increase the risk of long-term respiratory problems.
In conclusion, pneumonia is a medical condition caused by inflammation in the lungs’ air sacs due to bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. The respiratory system comprises several organs, including the nose, mouth, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, which are responsible for taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide from the body. Pneumonia can hinder respiratory function by filling air sacs with fluid, leading to coughing, fever, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Severe cases of pneumonia can cause complications such as sepsis, lung abscesses, and respiratory failure, posing life-threatening risks. In addition, the effects of pneumonia on the structure of the respiratory system can include the accumulation of fluid and pus in the alveoli of the lungs, consolidation, abscesses, scarring of the lung tissue, pleural effusions, and bronchiectasis.
Works Cited
Metlay, Joshua P, et al. “Diagnosis and Treatment of Adults with Community-Acquired Pneumonia. an Official Clinical Practice Guideline of the American Thoracic Society and Infectious Diseases Society of America.” American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Oct. 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6812437/.
Mandell LA;Wunderink RG;Anzueto A;Bartlett JG;Campbell GD;Dean NC;Dowell SF;File TM;Musher DM;Niederman MS;Torres A;Whitney CG; ; ; “Infectious Diseases Society of America/American Thoracic Society Consensus Guidelines on the Management of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adults.” Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2007, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17278083/.
“Respiratory System: Functions, Facts, Organs & Anatomy.” Cleveland Clinic, 2022, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21205-respiratory-system. “What Is Pneumonia?” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022, https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/pneumonia#:~:text=Pneumonia%20is%20an%20infection%20that,or%20fungi%20may%20cause%20pneumonia.
Unaffected lung
Pneumonia is a condition in the lungs’ air sacs caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, that can usually affect anyone of all ages, including those with an immunocompromised disease. There are so many complications with pneumonia; such as sepsis, lung abscesses, and respiratory failure, posing life-threatening risks. The damage can be very severe to the respiratory system and can depend on how long the infection can be on someone. Usually the mild cases of pneumonia can recover without any long term effect, but the more severe cases can lead to scarring of the lungs and can affect breathing. Usually pneumonia can cause pleural effusion which is a buildup of fluid in between the lungs and the chest wall, which can impair breathing. Those with pleural effusion, should seek medical attention right away with symptoms that show signs of critical condition. Even though pneumonia can affect the lungs, it can also affect other organs which can cause organ failure. Another big effect on pneumonia is of course fluid build up in the lungs, but it can cause pus within the alveoli in the lungs. Consolidation is a condition where it causes the lungs to decrease in function, the symptoms being shortness of breath, chest pain, and coughing. Some other effects of pneumonia on the respiratory system are such; formation of pleural effusions which is the buildup of fluid in the lungs, and the development of bronchiectasis which is the enlargement and damage of the bronchial tubes that carry are into the lungs. Of these complications it can cause damage to the lungs, causing the increase of long term respiratory problems.