Lung infections in humans arise when a pathogenic bacteria invades the lungs. The bacteria can then replicate and spread to other parts of the body, in serious cases. The bacterial replication results in inflammation of the alveoli in the lungs,...
The respiratory system can be divided into two compartments--the upper and lower respiratory tracts. The upper respiratory tract consists of the nose, nasal cavity and sinuses, pharynx, larynx and trachea. Infectious processes that cause...
Alpha hemolytic streptococcus, or alpha strep, is a spherical bacteria that can cause breakdown of blood cells on growth-medium plates that contain blood-based gels to promote the growth of bacteria. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common...
Lung infections are one of the most common infections that patients acquire, according to the Washington Manual of Surgery. Lung infections often start with viral disease such as influenza or the common cold. Respiratory tract viruses are common...
Smoking can damage the lungs and lead to respiratory conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. If you develop a chronic lung condition, it makes you much more susceptible to lung infections. Even if you don't have a chronic lung...
Anything that would bring damage to the lungs, says the American Lung Association (ALA), can increase the risk of fungal lung infections of immuno-compromised individuals, such as those with cancer or AIDS. To prevent fungal lung infections, it...
Primary ciliary dyskinesia, or PCD, is a relatively rare condition of the lungs. It causes cough and wheezing in children. Breathing problems often begin to occur right after birth without an evident cause. PCD is an inherited condition that...
The lungs are prone to infections because lung tissue is designed to interact with the outside world (via breathing) but is fragile enough that it can be damaged easily. Lung infections, also known as infectious pneumonia, can range from fairly...
The ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide through the lungs is critical to life. The lungs are a common sight, however, for infections because the natural environment of the lungs is moist and well oxygenated--a perfect breeding ground...
The continuity of the lung airways with the external environment exacts a high level of risk for infection compared to other body organs. Bacteria, fungi and viruses can infect the upper and lower airways or the air sacs. Similar symptoms may...
A biopsy of the lungs is a diagnostic procedure during which a doctor removes a small portion of the lung tissue for further evaluation. Typically, this test is performed on patients with suspected lung disease or infection, such as lung cancer or...
Pneumonia is a type of lung infection that can be caused by a number of bacterial or viral pathogens. Babies most often develop pneumonia symptoms as a result of a viral infection, explains MedlinePlus, an online medical resource provided by the...
Say you're in the woods on a hike and you find a piece of interesting wood. As you lean down to inspect it closer, a blast of wind kicks dirt up your nose. You might think this is harmless, but sometimes getting a face full of soil can have...
The lungs are a pair of organs in the chest responsible for respiration, a process that involves breathing in air and adding fresh oxygen to the blood, which then carries the oxygen to the cells. Many factors and conditions can alter how the lungs...
Smoking produces effects on the body that can lead to poor health including cancer, heart disease, and frequent lung infections. Other effects of smoking on the body include changes in skin health that include premature wrinkles and skin dullness....
Contact your toddler's pediatrician immediately if you suspect he has pneumonia. Pneumonia symptoms include fever, cough, chills, rapid breathing, nasal flaring, chest pain, wheezing and nasal congestion. In severe cases, your toddler's...
Viral pathogens are responsible for approximately 50 percent of all pneumonia cases, according to health experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Viral pneumonia symptoms initially mimic common cold or flu symptoms, but progressively become more severe...
The lungs are two organs within the chest that take in oxygen from the air, pass it into the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide out of the body. Injury to the chest, marijuana use and hiking at high altitudes can cause a collapsed lung in...
Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that can affect people of all ages. In infants and in the elderly, pneumonia can be severe and even fatal in some cases. In many cases, the patient will have a cold that moves into the chest after several...
Bronchiolitis is swelling and excess mucus in the bronchioles, which lead into your baby's lungs. Pneumonia is an infection inside the lungs. The only way to be certain of your child's illness is by making a doctor's appointment. Always consult...
While some people use an inhaler to treat asthma or the side effects of a lung infection, a nebulizer is the preferred method for treating young children. And some people simply prefer this method to the use of an inhaler if the breathing incident...
Lung disease is the third leading cause of death in the United States, the American Lung Foundation reports. To maintain healthy lungs, eat a healthy balanced diet, achieve a healthy body weight and exercise regularly. Additionally, consider...
Bacterial pneumonia is an infection caused by the presence of bacteria within the lungs. The most common cause of this type of infection is a bacterium called streptococcus pneumoniae, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Anyone who develops...
Chest wall pain can occur for a number of reasons that range from minor to life-threatening. Pain in this area will also vary between individuals and may be described as a dull ache, a generalized tenderness, points of stabbing pain or sharp pains...
Approximately 70,000 different species of fungus have been recognized by scientists, notes Oxford University's Professor Robert May in the text "Biodiversity: Measurement and Estimation." A number of those are considered medically important fungi,...
Chest pain is always scary, especially when it occurs upon taking a deep breath. This can be caused by one of several conditions, some benign and others dangerous. If you are running and your chest hurts, stop what you are doing. If it does not...
The mucous membranes that line the nose and pharynx, and the white blood cells in the lungs, should normally trap any fungal spores. Antibodies also respond to fungal infections. But there are times when fungi can overcome the immune response of...
In 1964, the U.S. Surgeon General announced that smoking has irrefutable harmful effects on health. MedlinePlus reports that smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, and is associated with multiple health problems. Besides lung disease,...
Avelox is the brand name for the generic drug moxifloxacin. This medication is a type of fluoroquinolone antibiotic that interferes with bacterial replication and growth within the body. Patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, under the age of...
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