Part I
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Mycoplasma pneumonia |
Pneumococcal pneumonia |
| This type of pneumonia is caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Bono, 2018),which is also known to cause tracheobronchitis, sore throats and ear infections. | These infections are caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus found in the upper respiratory tract (Nieves, 2018) . |
| Young adults face the highest risk factor as compared to children. Older adults and people with weak immune systems are also at an increased risk of getting infected with the disease (Bono, 2018). It spreads slower as compared to other respiratory infections hence can unknowingly affect a whole household. The bacterium is mostly spread through air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. | The hospitalization risk for Pneumococcal Pneumonia increases with age since the older people get, the weaker their immune systems get. Individuals who are 65 and older are at more risk (Nieves, 2018). Moreover, people with chronic conditions are more susceptible to the disease. Smokers are also vulnerable due to the damaged lung tissue. |
| Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic organism which unlike other bacterium lacks a cell wall hence does not need a host for survival. It has specialized tip organelles that allow it to dig into the cilia in the respiratory epithelium (Bono, 2018). The bacterium has two main properties that allow it to survive in the human body. The first one is the affinity for respiratory epithelial cells and the second one is its ability to produce hydrogen peroxide that affects the erythrocyte membranes. | The recent release of complete DNA sequences shows the various capabilities of the bacteria. The pneumococci reach the nasopharynx of an uncolonised host via nasal secretions after they breathe in the bacterium from an infected person (Nieves, 2018). Transmission can also be through sharing of bottles, caring for small children or touching objects handled by an infected person such as door handles. |
| Most patients infected with the bacterium are not considered clinically ill, since the disease is allowed to run through its course until it comes to pass (Bono, 2018). Antibiotics such as Macrolide and doxycycline may be used in households where members may be living with a person with the underlying condition. | The treatment option commonly used is the use of antibiotics for both children and adults. Children are given erythromycin, clarithromycin and roxithromycin, while adults take doxycycline and tetracycline prescriptions (Nieves, 2018). Other treatment options include Corticosteroids and Immunomodulatory therapy. |
Part II
Asthma is a concoction of clinical symptoms which include wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughs. The main feature of asthma in children is inflammatory cell infiltration due to neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, mass cell activation and epithelial cell injury. The airway inflammation leads to the hyper-responsiveness of the airway leading to the limitation of airflow, wheezing and disease chronicity (Pope & Husney, 2018). Asthma triggers vary from child to child. The most common ones include viral infections such as common cold, exposure to air pollutants such as passive tobacco smoke, allergies to pollen, mold, dust and pet dander, excessive physical activity and weather changes such as onset of cold air. Other less common triggers include use of some medicines, crying and gastroesophageal reflux.
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Classification |
Symptoms and Manifestations |
| Intermittent asthma | This level of severity is considered intermittent if the patient has symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, wheezing and chest tightness which occur on less than 2 days in a week (Pope & Husney, 2018). Nighttime infections occur in fewer than 2 days in a month. Lung function tests are also normal. |
| Mild persistent asthma | It is considered mild when symptoms occur on more than 2 days in a week but not on a daily basis. The attacks disrupt daily activities (Pope & Husney, 2018). Nighttime attacks occur 3 to 4 times a month. Lung functions tests are between 60% - 80%. |
| Mild persistent asthma | Symptoms occur daily and interfere with daily activities. Nighttime attacks occur once a week. |
| Severe persistent asthma | It is considered persistent if it occurs throughout each day and limit physical activities (Pope & Husney, 2018). Nighttime symptoms occur more frequently. |
Short term medications for asthma include the use of bronchodilators which act as a quick relieving medication for asthma. They help in relieving acute asthma by clearing the airways. Rescue inhalers are the best intervention during sudden attacks (Khatri, 2019). Most of them last for a short period of time spanning between 2 to 4 hours. Overuse of short acting bronchodilators is a sign of uncontrolled asthma which requires better treatment. Long term control medications are taken over a long period of time to try and maintain control over persistent asthma. Medications include corticosteroids and immunodilators (Khatri, 2019). Quick acting medication can be used by a school-going child who may face the risk of an attack while playing and require immediate intervention. Long term medication may be used for patients whose asthma is uncontainable via quick acting medications.
References
Bono, M. J. (2018). Mycoplasmal Pneumonia Treatment & Management. Medscape.
Khatri, M. (2019). Bronchodilators (Rescue Inhalers): Short-Acting and Long-Acting Types. WebMD.
Nieves, C. A. (2018). Pneumococcal Infections (Streptococcus pneumoniae). Medscape.
Pope, J., & Husney, A. (2018, September). Classification of Asthma . Retrieved from Healthwise: https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw161158
