Question

2. Respiratory Tract

(A) Discuss what your patient Martha means by " l have upper respiratory tract infection."

(B) Explain the lower respiratory tract and its function

(C) Present a brief discussion of bacterial pneumonia in an older patient

(D) Present a brief discussion of lung cancer

Answer 1

Answer:

A: Upper respiratory tract infection:

   The upper respiratory tract consist of following parts they are nose, nasal passage, paranasal sinus, pharynx and part of larynx which is above the vocal cord. If any infection occurs in these parts is considered as upper respiratory tract infection. It may bacterial or viral infection. The bacteria or virus enters into the respiratory tract while breathing and leads to infection

If the patient has upper respiratory tract infection the patient may have the following symptoms they are runny nose, nasal discharge, chest congestion, pain in the paranasal sinus, coughing and sneezing. First discuss with the patient about the symptoms and proper treatment is to given if they needed some diagnostic procedure is used to assess the patient. Sputum culture is mainly used. Some upper respiratory tract infections are Rhinitis, Sinusitis etc. Common treatment for this infection is administration of antibiotics.

B: Lower respiratory tract infection:

The lower respiratory tract consists of following parts they are part of larynx below the pharynx, trachea,bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli. Any infection occurs in these parts causes lower respiratory tract infection.

Causes: These infection is mainly caused due to bacterial or viral infection in the lower respiratory tract. It is also caused due to inhalation of toxic gases, chronic smoking etc.

Symptoms:The symptoms associated with the lower respiratory tract infections are mild fever, wheezing, head ache, chest pain, difficulty in breathing etc. There main lower respiratory tract infections some of them are bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis etc.

Function of lower respiratory tract: The main function of the lower respiratory tract is absorb the air from the upper respiratory tract and the oxygen in the air get absorbed and the carbon dioxide get released.

C. Bacterial pneumonia in an older patient:

  It is the condition that the lung air sacs get inflammed and it get filled with fluids. The air sacs plays a major role in the exchange of oxygen from the lungs to blood. If it is affected the oxygen in the blood get decreased. Bacterial pneumonia is mainly caused due to bacterial infection. It is mainly occurs in the elderly peoples because the elderly people's has weak immune system.

Symptoms: The most common symptoms associated with bacterial pneumonia are pain in the ribs and chest, shortness of breath, cough with phlegm, fever etc

Diagnosis: Blood test, chest X-RAY, CT scan is to be used

Treatment: Antibiotics is to be given to destroy the bacteria. If the person has breathing difficulty oxygen therapy is to be given.

D. Lung cancer: Lung cancer is defined as abnormal cells get grow in a the lungs. These abnormal cells are formed as tumours in the lungs and it affects the functions of the lungs.These tumours can spread to other parts of the body.

Symptoms: There are various symptoms associated with lung cancer. Some of them are

1.Production of harsh sound during breathing

2. Cough with sputum

3. Cough with blood

4. Chest pain

5. Fatigue etc

Diagnosis: Lung cancer is diagnosed by CT scan, MRI, Chest X Ray, bronchoscopy, needle biopsy is to be done. This biopsy is nothing but the removal of small piece of cancer cell from the lungs and tested in the laboratory.

Treatment: Radiation therapy is given. The radiation is given to the body to destroy the cancer cells.Surgery such as lobectomy and pneumenoctomy is to be done. It is the procedure the removal of affected lobe is called lobectomy. The removal one lung is called pneumonectomy. Chemotherapy is also given.