RESPIRATORY
decreases ventilation, thus causing air trapping. Air trapping is the cause of the barrel chest appearance in patients with emphysema because the air is still trapped in the lung.
Treatment There is currently no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but treatment can help slow the progression of the condition and control the symptoms.
Treatments include: stopping smoking. For patients with COPD, this is the most important and effective action that they can take. Inhalers and tablets can help to make breathing easier, while pulmonary rehabilitation – a specialised programme of exercise and education – can relieve some of the symptoms. In patients, who are very badly affected by COPD, surgery or a lung transplant may be the only option.
Asthma Asthma is the most common respiratory condition, and is generally characterised by: airflow obstruction, inflammation and bronchial hyper- responsiveness. The most common symptoms of asthma are:
• Coughing, particularly at night, during exercise or when laughing
• Chest tightness • shortness of breath • Wheezing
There are various types of asthma.
Allergic asthma Allergens such as pollen, dust and pet dander can trigger asthma symptoms in certain people. Not everyone who has asthma, however, will be affected by allergies. This type of asthma can be exacerbated by factors that cause non-allergic asthma, such as viral respiratory infections, exercise, irritants in the air, stress, drugs and certain food additives.
Non-allergic asthma People affected by non-allergic asthma will not experience a worsening of symptoms by coming into contact with allergens, but may find that their symptoms flare up in extreme weather, such as excessive heat in summer or extreme cold in winter.
Exercise-induced asthma exercise-induced asthma is now better known as exercise-induced
bronchoconstriction, or eIB. symptoms of eIB tend to develop when airways narrow as a result of physical activity. It is estimated that as many as 90 per cent of people with asthma also have eIB.
eIB is basically caused by the loss of heat, water or both from the airways during exercise, when a person quickly breathes in air that is drier than what is already in the body. symptoms tend to appear a few minutes after starting to exercise and may continue for some time after the workout is finished.
Triggers for eIB can include airborne irritants that are linked to particular sports. Chlorine in swimming pools, for example, can act as a trigger, as can cold, dry air during ice skating or icy hockey.
For many years, it was thought that breathing cold air was a trigger for eIB, but recent studies indicate that it is the dryness of the air rather than the temperature of it that is more likely to act as a trigger.
Occupational asthma People, who only experience asthma symptoms such as wheezing or shortness of breath at work, may have occupational asthma. This is particularly prevalent in people who work with chemical fumes, dust or other irritants in the air.
Treatment There are two main types of medications used to treat asthma: • Long-term control medications such as inhaled corticosteroids are the main medications used to keep asthma under control. These preventive medications treat the airway inflammation that leads to asthma symptoms. If they are used on a daily basis, these medications can reduce or eliminate asthma flare-ups.
• quick-relief inhalers contain a fast- acting medication such as albuterol. sometimes referred to as ‘rescue inhalers’, these medications are used as and when needed to quickly open the airways and make breathing easier.
Pneumonia Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs, and can be caused by either a bacterium, virus or fungi. In
pneumonia, the air sacs may become filled with fluid or pus, causing the patient to cough and to produce phlegm or pus. The cough may be accompanied by fever, chills and difficulty breathing.
signs and symptoms include: malaise, confusion, fever and chills, rigor, tachycardia, dyspnoea and a productive cough. The most common causative agents are: strep. pneumoniae, influenza and the respiratory syncytial virus (RsV). Fungal pneumonia is uncommon and is mainly seen in patients who are immunocompromised. People with existing respiratory conditions are more likely to suffer from pneumonia.
Pneumonia can range in seriousness - from mild to life-threatening – but it tends to be most serious in infants and young children, people older than age 65, and people who have existing health problems or weakened immune systems.
Causes The germs that most commonly cause pneumonia are bacteria and airborne viruses. While on most occasions the body usually prevents these germs from infecting the lungs, sometimes the germs overpower the immune system.
Pneumonia is classified according to the types of germs that cause it. Community-acquired pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia and occurs outside of hospitals or other health care facilities. It may be caused by:
• Bacteria: The most common cause of bacterial pneumonia is streptococcus pneumoniae: a type of pneumonia that can occur on its own or following a cold or flu.
• Bacteria-like organisms: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a type of pneumonia that typically produces milder symptoms than other forms of pneumonia. This type is often referred to as ‘walking pneumonia’ as it usually isn’t severe enough to require bed rest.
• Fungi: This type of pneumonia is most common in people with chronic health problems or weakened immune systems. The fungi that cause it can be found in soil or bird droppings and vary depending upon geographic location.
• Viruses: some viruses that cause colds and the flu can also cause pneumonia. Viruses are the most common cause of pneumonia in children under five years of age. While viral pneumonia is usually mild, it can become very serious in certain patients.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia This is, as the name implies, a form of pneumonia that is caught by some patients, who may be in hospital for a different illness. This form of pneumonia can be particularly serious because it occurs in patients, who are already ill and because it can prove more resistant to antibiotics.
Healthcare-acquired pneumonia Healthcare-acquired pneumonia is a bacterial infection that occurs in people who live in long-term care facilities, or who receive care in outpatient clinics, including kidney dialysis centres. As with hospital- acquired pneumonia, this type can be caused by bacteria that are more resistant to antibiotics.
Aspiration pneumonia Aspiration pneumonia occurs when a patient inhales food, drink, vomit or saliva into their lungs. It is more likely to occur if something affects the normal gag reflex, such as a swallowing problem or excessive alcohol intake.
Treatment Mild pneumonia can usually be treated at home with rest, antibiotics and by drinking plenty of fluids. More severe cases may need hospital treatment. Once treatment is commenced, symptoms should steadily improve. The speed at which they improve will depend on how severe the pneumonia is.
symptoms may not improve if: • the bacteria causing the infection is resistant to antibiotics. If this occurs then a different antibiotic may be prescribed, or a second antibiotic may be prescribed to be taken in conjunction with the first one
• a virus is causing the infection, rather than bacteria. Antibiotics have no effect on viruses, and the body's immune system will have to fight the viral infection by creating antibodies.
PHARMACY IN FOCUs - 55
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
