Bronchopneumonia pathophysiology - Signs, Symptoms and Treatment of Bronchopneumonia

What is bronchopneumonia?

Bronchopneumonia is a illness of lung which is caused by different organism like bacteria, viruses, and fungi and characterized by acute inflammation of the walls of the bronchioles. It is also known as pneumonia. It is common in women and causes to the 6% deaths. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae both are the common bacterium which which causes bronchopneumonia in the adults and children.

Causes of bronchopneumonia

Bacterial pneumonias tend to be the most serious and, in adults, the most common cause of pneumonia. The most common pneumonia-causing bacterium in adults is Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).

Symptoms of bronchopneumonia

• Cough with greenish or yellow mucus
• Fever
• chest pain
• Rapid, shallow breathing 
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• fatigue

Treatment of bronchopneumonia

If the cause is bacterial, the goal is to cure the infection with antibiotics. If the cause is viral, antibiotics will NOT be effective. In some cases it is difficult to distinguish between viral and bacterial pneumonia, so antibiotics may be prescribed. Pneumococcal vaccinations are recommended for individuals in high-risk groups and provide up to 80 percent effectiveness in staving off pneumococcal pneumonia. Influenza vaccinations are also frequently of use in decreasing one’s susceptibility to pneumonia, since the flu precedes pneumonia development in many cases.