The respiratory system comprises of both upper and lower airways. The upper airways include the larynx, pharynx, nose, while the lower tract comprises of the bronchi and bronchioles, trachea, and alveoli (Kumar& Clark, 2012). These components are critical in supplying air to the lungs. The primary function of this system is to provide oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the body through the lungs.
Pneumonia is a common acute infection that affects the respiratory system (Kumar& Clark, 2012). It can be caused by either bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Notably, the disease presents with diverse symptoms such as cough, fever, purulent sputum production, pleuritic chest pain, and difficulty in breathing (Kumar& Clark, 2012). However, with the right medication intervention, the infection responds well to antibiotics. Mild cases are addressed using oral antibiotics, while severe cases have to be treated as inpatients with intravenous medications.
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A battery of tests is usually needed to come up with a diagnosis of pneumonia. First, a full blood count blood sample is drawn and sent to the laboratory to check for elevated white blood cells. In addition to that, a chest x-ray is also a vital diagnostic tool. It usually confirms the area of infection, which appears as consolidation on the x-ray (Kumar& Clark, 2012). This feature should have cleared up six weeks after the date of discharge on a repeat of the imaging.
According to Allied Respiratory Professionals (2020), the respiratory department is a multidisciplinary team involving people such as respiratory doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nutritionists, psychologists, and technologists. These workers usually diagnose and manage patients as well as coming up with ways of preventing the spread of this disease in the community. In addition to that, they play an imperative role in seeing patients of all ages and illnesses regardless of the disease’s stage.
References
Allied Respiratory Professionals. (2020). European Lung White Book , 382-391. https://www.erswhitebook.org/chapters/allied-respiratory-professionals/
Kumar, P., & Clark, M. L. (2012). Kumar and Clark's Clinical Medicine E-book . Elsevier Health Sciences.
