Can A Fall Cause Pneumonia

Consequences Of Falls In The Elderly

The seriousness of a fall often depends on the nature of the accident. For example, how a senior lands when they fall could mean the difference between a broken hip, a traumatic brain injury , or a few bumps and scrapes. Fractured bones and soft tissue injuries are the most common fall-related injuries. Unfortunately for seniors, even minor trauma can require hospitalization, and many never regain the level of functionality and confidence they enjoyed before falling.

Where Can You Acquire Pneumonia

You can get pneumonia from a variety of different places, which include:

• Community-acquired pneumonia . This is pneumonia that you get outside of a hospital or healthcare facility. Its estimated that CAP is the third most common cause of hospitalization in people ages 65 years and older.
• Healthcare-associated pneumonia. This is pneumonia that you acquire while in a healthcare facility. Older adults who are hospitalized or in a long-term care facility may be at an increased risk for this type of pneumonia.
• Aspiration pneumonia. This happens when you inhale things like food, saliva, or vomit into your lungs. Older individuals with swallowing disorders can be at higher risk for developing this type of pneumonia.

Pets: Are You Aware Of The Risks To Human Health

There is no doubt America is a nation of animal lovers. In 2012, more than 62% of American households included at least one pet. But while most of us are aware of the numerous benefits of pet ownership, are you aware of its risks to human health?

Those of you who have a cat, dog, bird or any other animal in your household will likely consider that pet to be member of your family, and rightly so.

Pets offer comfort and companionship, and we cant help but love them. In fact, when it comes to dogs, a recent study found the famous puppy dog eyes glare triggers a whopping 300% increase in owners oxytocin levels the love hormone involved in maternal bonding.

What is more, pets offer a number of benefits to human health. In December 2014, Medical News Today reported on a study that associated household pets with stronger social skills in children with autism. And in May 2013, a study published in the journal Circulation linked pet ownership to reduced risk of heart disease.

But while pets can benefit our health in a number of ways, they also have the potential to spread infection and cause human illness. In this Spotlight, we take a look at the some of the health risks associated with ownership of many of the nations most-loved animals.

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Ask Your Doctor For More Details About The Availability Of The Vaccine And Its Recommendation Based On Your Situation

Since 2004, the Quebec Ministry of Public Health has added the pneumococcal vaccine to its vaccination schedule. Young children, therefore, receive a dose at 2, 4 and 12 months of age to ensure good protection against pneumococcal infections. These vaccines not only protect children but also reduce the transmission of these infections to people at risk.

When Would I Need To Be Hospitalized For Pneumonia

If your case of pneumonia is more severe, you may need tostay in the hospital for treatment. Hospital treatments may include:

• Oxygen
• Fluids, antibiotics and other medicines given through an IV
• Breathing treatments and exercises to help loosen mucus

People most likely to be hospitalized are those who are most frail and/or at increased risk, including:

• Babies and young children
• People with weakened immune systems
• People with health conditions that affect the heart and lungs

It may take six to eight weeks to return to a normal level of functioning and well-being if youve been hospitalized with pneumonia.

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Why Do Animals And Pets Trigger Asthma Symptoms

People often think their asthma is triggered by animal hair, but if pets are a trigger for you, youre probably allergic to proteins found in the animals flakes of skin , saliva, urine or even fine particles from bird feathers known as feather dust.

Touching or inhaling these allergens causes your immune system to overreact, leading to your asthma symptoms getting worse.

Lots of pets can trigger allergic asthma symptoms, from cats, dogs and horses, to rabbits, hamsters, mice and gerbils, and birds. You might be allergic to just one type of animal or more than one.

Animal allergies can develop at any stage of life. Even if you had a pet when you were younger and didnt react to it, you could be allergic to the same type of animal now.

What Are Risk Factors For Developing Covid

Factors that can increase the risk of developing COVID-19 pneumonia include:

• Disease severity: More severe cases are more likely to cause lung complications.
• Treatment: Prompt, quality treatment of COVID-19 can help minimize the risk of lung damage.
• Medical conditions: People with certain medical conditions are at higher risk of developing pneumonia with COVID-19:

Although anyone can get COVID-19, people with the following risk factors have a greater chance of developing pneumonia as a complication:

• Age over 65
• Conditions that compromise the immune system such as AIDS and cancers
• Taking cancer medications or steroids

Even if you do not have the risk factors listed above, it is important to exercise caution and practice safety measures to protect yourself against COVID-19.

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Petting Zoos And Farms

Some people are allergic to farm animals like cows, sheep and chickens, as well as small animals that are often found in petting zoos, like guinea pigs and rabbits.

This could be a problem for children in particular, who might go on a school trip or to a party at a petting zoo or farm, but schools have to make sure that pupils with medical conditions like asthma are able to take part in school trips.

If your child is visiting a farm or petting zoo, make sure the adults who are going with them know about their asthma.

Its essential for your child to take their reliever inhaler with them, and if the school has a spare inhaler for emergency use, an adult accompanying the trip should take that with them, too.

Your child might need to take an antihistamine beforehand. They should avoid contact with the animals as much as possible, and always wash their hands after touching an animal.

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Diagnosis Of Pulmonary Contusion

• Chest x-ray

Doctors suspect a pulmonary contusion when people become short of breath after a chest injury, especially if shortness of breath develops gradually.

A chest x-ray X-Rays of the Chest Anyone thought to have a heart disorder has chest x-rays taken from the front and the side. Typically, the person is standing upright, but chest x-rays can be done with people lying in bed if… read more is taken. However, because a contusion may develop gradually, doctors may take more than one x-ray over a period of many hours to detect a contusion.

Doctors also measure the amount of oxygen in the blood by attaching a device to a finger or toe . This information can help doctors determine how well the lungs are functioning.

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How Did The Patient Develop Chronic Pneumonia What Was The Primary Source From Which The Infection Spread

Most cases of chronic pneumonia due to an infectious etiology result from inhalation of aerosolized organisms or aspiration of oral contents. As it relates to noninfectious causes of the chronic pneumonia syndrome, the lungs may be the primary target of disease , or the lungs may simply be innocent bystanders of a systemic disease .

Knowledge of the demographics and relevant epidemiology is key in trying to narrow ones focus to the potential etiologic agents in determining the specific cause of chronic pneumonia. Age, gender, and race may play important roles in the development of chronic pneumonias.

Occupation and hobbies are also important in the evaluation of these patients. For instance, tuberculosis is an important consideration among healthcare workers, incarcerated individuals, and recent immigrants from high incidence regions. Coccidioidomycosis is an important consideration among rock collectors, laboratory technicians, archeologists conducting excavations, and construction workers exposed to desert dust in endemic areas histoplasmosis is an important consideration in persons exposed to pigeon, starling, or bat roosts, or among those who clean old chicken houses with dirt floors and blastomycosis is an important consideration in forestry workers, heavy equipment operators, and campers and hunters from endemic areas.

Pneumonia Nursing Care Plan 5

Deficient Knowledge

Nursing diagnosis: Deficient knowledge about the disease process and treatment of pneumonia related to lack of information as evidenced by failure to comply with treatment.

Desired Outcome: At the end of the span of care, the patient will be able to understand the transmission, disease process, and available treatments for pneumonia.

The patient will also be able to demonstrate and verbalize understanding about the desired therapeutic regimen. He or she will also comply and participate in the special treatment program designed for his or her condition. The patient will also be able to fully understand how pneumonia is being transmitted to avoid having the disease transfer from other family members.

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Are Cat Hair Dangerous For Humans

Not only can pet dander cause itchy eyes and a runny nose, but pet dander can potentially be harmful to your respiratory system. According to the American Lung Association this can lead to a decline in the ability of the lungs to function. Make sure that you and your loved ones are safe lets start at the basics.

Can You Catch Pneumonia More Than Once

Yes. Pneumonia is caused by many different microbes, and so getting it once does not protect you from getting it again. If you get pneumonia more than once you may need to have more investigations to understand why this has happened. It could be due to a problem in your chest or your immune system, and you may be referred to a specialist.

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What Is The Outlook For Pneumonia

People who are otherwise healthy often recover quickly when given prompt and proper care. However, pneumonia is a serious condition and can be life-threatening if left untreated and especially for those individuals at increased risk for pneumonia.

Even patients who have been successfully treated and have fully recovered may face long-term health issues. Children who have recovered from pneumonia have an increased risk of chronic lung diseases. Adults may experience:

• General decline in quality of life for months or years

What Causes Pneumonia

Pneumonia is usually the result of a bacterial infection.

As well as bacterial pneumonia, other types include:

• viral pneumonia caused by a virus, such as coronavirus
• aspiration pneumonia caused by breathing in vomit, a foreign object, such as a peanut, or a harmful substance, such as smoke or a chemical
• fungal pneumonia rare in the UK and more likely to affect people with a weakened immune system
• hospital-acquired pneumonia pneumonia that develops in hospital while being treated for another condition or having an operation people in intensive care on breathing machines are particularly at risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia

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Can Cat Hair Kill Me

First off, cat fur is not dangerous to humans. If you are allergic, like seriously allergic, then you are allergic to their saliva. Of course, it gets on their fur, their fur gets loose and it gets all over the house, aggravating your allergies. So, dont keep a cat, get shots, or take an allergy pill.

Is Groomers Lung Real

The human lungs are not capable of processing this material, which can lead to a health condition known as groomers lung. This pet groomers lung disease is a chronic condition that can affect your lung function. The tiny, sharp fragments of hair get deep into the lungs, leaving inflammation and scar tissue behind.

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How Is Pneumonia Diagnosed

Pneumonia in older adults can be difficult to diagnose. Your doctor will first request your medical history in which you may be asked things such as:

• your symptoms
• medications or supplements that youre taking
• your smoking history
• whether youve received your pneumococcal or influenza vaccinations

Your doctor will then perform a physical examination. Theyll check vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels. They may also use a stethoscope to listen for crackling sounds in your lungs.

In order to make a diagnosis, your doctor may also order the following:

• Blood tests. These tests involve taking a blood sample from a vein in your arm. The results can help indicate the presence of an infection.
• Imaging. Your doctor order imaging technology such as X-ray or CT scan to visualize your chest and lungs.
• Culture. Cultures can be taken from sputum or pleural fluid to help determine what type of germ may be causing your infection.
• Pulse oximetry. Pneumonia can affect the amount of oxygen that you can take in. This test measures the amount of oxygen in your blood.

Beware: There Are Other Diseases That Can Mimic Chronic Pneumonia:

Strictly speaking, many cases of chronic pneumonia are not due to an infectious agent. Accordingly, when one encounters a patient in whom chronic pneumonia seems likely, the differential diagnosis is necessarily broad and should include both infectious and noninfectious etiologies. Diseases that can mimic infectious causes of chronic pneumonia are diverse. Among the most common conditions are primary or metastatic carcinoma, lymphoma, sarcoidosis, amyloidosis, systemic vasculitis syndromes, chemicals, pharmaceutical agents, radiation, recurrent pulmonary emboli, bronchial obstruction with atelectasis, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Other causes include idiopathic chronic organizing pneumonia/bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia , chronic interstitial pneumonia, including fibrosing alveolitis and various forms of diffuse interstitial pneumonia, alveolar proteinosis, Goodpastures syndrome, and lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

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More Severe Cases May Also Cause:

• quick breathing
• rapid heartbeat
• nausea and vomiting

Some people get a sharp pain in their chest when they breathe in and out. This may be because the thin lining between the lung and ribcage, called the pleura, is infected and inflamed. This inflammation, called pleurisy, stops your lungs moving smoothly as you breathe.

The symptoms of pneumonia are often very similar to those of other chest infections, such as bronchitis, COPD flare-ups or bronchiectasis flare-ups. To get a proper diagnosis youll need to visit your GP.

If you feel unwell with these symptoms, see your GP or call 111. If you have chest pain, a rapid heartbeat, quick breathing, shivers or confusion, get urgent advice from your GP or call 999. Take extra care if youre over 65.

Dog Dander Allergy: Symptoms Risks And Management

According to Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA, up to 30 percent of people with allergies are allergic to cats, dogs, and pets in general.

As we all know, we cant deny the loyalty and affection that our pets give freely to our families.

It can be disturbing to learn that you or your kids are allergic to your family dog despite the love you may have towards it.

Contrary to common belief, it is not the pet hair that results to allergies, but rather the proteins found in their saliva, urine, and dander.

Below, we will explore pet dander allergy and explore the common dander allergy symptoms.

NOTE: This article is NOT intended as medical advice, and is provided for informational purposes only. ALWAYS see a qualified medical practitioner for advice on dealing with allergy symptoms.

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How Can We Reduce The Number Of People Dying From Pneumonia

When we understand what risks can lead to pneumonia, we can find ways to reduce them. Furthermore, because a number of risks factors for pneumonia overlap with risk factors for other diseases, especially diarrheal diseases, interventions that target pneumonia have the additional benefit of helping to limit other diseases and saving more lives.

Vaccines against pneumonia

There are several versions of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine , which target different serotypes of S. pneumoniae the bacterium responsible for most cases of pneumonia.

The PCV vaccine is given to children younger than 24 months. According to a study by Cheryl Cohen et al. , PVC13 the currently recommended PCV vaccine version has 85% effectiveness against invasive infections caused by the specific strains the pneumococcal strainsincluded in the vaccine formulation.13

It has been estimated that if PCV13 coverage in low income countries would reach the coverage of the DTP3 vaccine, then PCV13 could prevent 399,000 child deaths and 54.6 million pneumonia episodes annually when compared with a world in which no pneumococcal vaccination was available.14 India which has the highest number of child deaths from pneumonia only introduced PCV13 in 2017 and the coverage is still very low clearly the pneumococcal vaccine still has a lot of potential.15

Another vaccine widely used to protect children against both pneumonia is the Hib vaccine.

Promoting breastfeeding

Reducing air pollution

Oxygen therapy

How Do The Lungs Work

Your lungs main job is to get oxygen into your blood and remove carbon dioxide. This happens during breathing. You breathe 12 to 20 times per minute when you are not sick. When you breathe in, air travels down the back of your throat and passes through your voice box and into your windpipe . Your trachea splits into two air passages . One bronchial tube leads to the left lung, the other to the right lung. For the lungs to perform their best, the airways need to be open as you breathe in and out. Swelling and mucus can make it harder to move air through the airways, making it harder to breathe. This leads to shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and feeling more tired than normal.

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