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2 pages/β‰ˆ550 words
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4 Sources
Style:
APA
Subject:
Health, Medicine, Nursing
Type:
Research Paper
Language:
English (U.S.)
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MS Word
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Topic:

The Differences in the Pathophysiology for Asthma vs. Pneumonia

Research Paper Instructions:

Module 5: Discussion
Brian is a 7-year-old boy who presents to the primary care office with his mother. His mom has noticed that Brian has been coughing frequently and seems to have shortness of breath at times. She reports that Brian had a “cold” with a low grade fever and runny nose about 2 weeks ago and the symptoms seem to appear after the cold.
In Module 5 we will review the normal physiology and pathophysiology of the respiratory system in adults and children. This Module will focus on common respiratory disorders in adults and children.
The primary function of the respiratory system is the exchange of gases between the environmental air and the blood. Diseases of the lung are important problems and major public health concerns. The most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. is cancer of the lung. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is also responsible for numerous deaths per year. Respiratory infections, such as SARS, drug-resistant TB, and pandemic influenza are a growing public health concern worldwide.
The pulmonary system changes with age. The elasticity of the chest wall, respiratory muscle strength and elastic recoil decreases or diminishes. Maximum PaO2 decreases to 0.3 times age minus 100 (at sea level). Pulmonary capillary networks decrease. The surface area for gas exchange decreases. Decreased PaO2 and ventilatory reserve lead to decreased exercise tolerance. Early airway closure inhibits expiratory flow. Changes depend on activity and fitness levels in earlier life. However, decreased respiratory muscle strength and endurance can still be enhanced by exercise.
Objectives
Discuss pulmonary and bronchial circulation.
Describe the function of the pulmonary system.
Identify signs and symptoms of pulmonary disease.
Discuss Pathophysiology of the Common Adult and Childhood Disorders of the Respiratory System.
Identify Clinical Manifestations of Common Adult and Childhood Disorders of the Respiratory System.
Review Current Treatment Options for Various Common Adult and Childhood Disorders of the Respiratory System
On physical examination, Brian appears in moderate respiratory distress, with suprasternal and intercostal retractions. His vital signs include a temperature of 100 A°F, a respiratory rate of 32 breaths per minute, heart rate of 120 beats per minute, and pulse oximetry of 95% on room air. Lung exam is notable for diffuse symmetrical expiratory wheezes. His nasal mucosa is erythematous with boggy turbinates and clear mucus. The remainder of the exam is unremarkable.
1. Based on this case, discuss the differences in the pathophysiology for asthma vs pneumonia. Include your thougths as to the diagnosis for this case.

Research Paper Sample Content Preview:

Module 5: The Respiratory System
Name
Department
Course
Instructor
Due Date
Module 5: The Respiratory System
Asthma
Airway narrowing is the final common pathway leading to the symptoms and changes of asthma. The main anatomical-functional alterations of asthma are airway inflammation, airflow obstruction, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) (Clemm et al., 2018). Inflammation is the main feature of asthma, and the inflammatory patterns depend on viral infections, allergies, and environmental pollution. The thickening of the bronchial wall favors the obstruction of the airway. Chronic and persistent inflammation of the airway, which increases mucus production and secondary bronchoconstriction. Anti-inflammatory medications are used regardless of asthma severity, but the factors that can trigger the onset of asthmatic attacks vary from person to person. And can be triggered by allergens or non-allergenic factors.
In people with asthma, airways show an increased mass of bronchial smooth muscles. Bronchospasm, which is the narrowing of the airway, causes decreased flow. BHR increases sensitivity to various airway narrowing stimuli such as pollutants and exercise. Neurotransmitters can also induce or increase the degree of inflammation. The chronic inflammatory process affects the functioning of the airways, and there is an exaggerated response to a triggering factor because of bronchial hyperreactivity.
The decrease in the airway diameter depends on the spasm of the bronchial smooth muscle and the increase in the permeability of the capillaries of the bronchial mucosa because of edema. There is also an increase in bronchial secretions with blockage of the small airways causing an asthmatic crisis.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract or lung caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, or parasites. When pathogens or microorganisms reach the respiratory tract, they can weaken the body’s immunity. Still, there can be other causes of weakened body defense, such as chronic lung diseases and alcoholism. The presence of microorganisms in the respiratory tract and host defenses overwhelmed by the microorganisms is associated with a higher risk of pneumonia. 
Depending on the initial colonization site, there can be nasal or lower airway colonization. Pneumonia can be categorized as community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), or hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) (McCance & Huether, 2018). Infections can overwhelm macrophages, causing exudate production that mainly fills the infected space and the neighboring alveolar spaces. 
Inflammation response in the respiratory tract due to inflections causes complications such as a reduced gaseous exchange. Colonization of the lower respiratory tract reduces normal flora, and germs multiply in the lungs. Among the risk factors of pneumonia are age (very old or young), smoking, compromised pulmonary di...
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