Question

Discuss Community acquired pneumonia, etiology, drug of choice to be prescribed and why, parameters for monitoring success of the medication therapy. If patient has history of hypertension, what would be the choice for a second line therapy.

Answer 1

CAP is defined as the type of pneumonia which is acquired in the community but not in hospital, it is most common occuring pneumonia. Risk factors for cap are previous flu Or cold, weak immunity, copd etc . Signs and symptoms are difficulty in breathing, tachycardia, fever, sweating and shivering, loss of appetite, pain in chest, hemoptysis, headache fatigue nausea vomiting .

Etiology = the cap is caused by infection with viruses Or bacteria certain drugs most commonly caused by STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIA

Diagnosis for cap = auscultation reveals coarse crackles rhonchi, chest x ray and sputum culture

Treatment = drug of choice is azithromycin which comes under the class of macrolids family of antibiotics this drug is used because it has good efficacy against the gram positive bacteria like streptococcus pneumonae . Parameters for success of medicine therapy includes long term use, right dose of drug, therapeutic index (high or low ), pts body function etc

Lisinopril can be used in the second line rx of the hypertension in cap pt others antihypertensive drugs have aggrevated effect on pneumonia