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Influenza Influenza is a specific acute viral respiratory disease characterized by fever, coryza,  cough, headache, and malaise, and inflamed respiratory mucous membranes. It usually  occurs as an epidemic in rainy seasons. Etiology : It is caused by influenza viruses, which are classified as orthomyxovirus. There are  types A, B & C Epidemiology: • Influenza type A virus is the most frequent single cause of clinical influenza; other  causes include influenza B, paramyxovirus, pneumonia-virus, and (rarely in adults) rhino  and echoviruses. • Spread is by person - to - person contact; airborne droplets spray infects people and  contaminates articles with viruses that can transmit infection. • Persons of all ages are affected, but prevalence is highest in school children. • Persons at highest risk of developing severe disease are those with chronic pulmonary  disease and those with valvular heart disease, pregnant women, the elderly, th...

The Common Cold (Acute coryza) It is an acute, usually afebrile, viral infection of the respiratory tract, with inflammation in any or  all airways, including the nose, paranasal sinuses, throat, larynx, and often trachea and bronchi. Etiology - Many viruses cause the common cold including Picornavirus (rhinoVirus), Influenza  and parainfluenza viruses, Respiratory syncytial virus, Corona- and adenovirus group. Infections may be facilitated by excessive fatigue, emotional distress, or allergic naso pharyngeal disorders and during the mid-phase of the menstrual cycle. Symptoms and signs - onset is abrupt after a short (1 to 3 days) incubation period. Illness  generally begins with nasal or throat discomfort followed by sneezing, rhinorrhea, and malaise. The disease is afebrile and pharyngitis is usually present. Nasal secretions, watery and profuse  during 1st or 2nd day of symptoms, become more mucous and purulent. Hacking cough  associated with sc...

Common Symptoms of the Respiratory System Cough Cough is an explosive expiration that provides a protective mechanism for clearing the  tracheobronchial tree of secretions and foreign material. However, when excessive, it is one of  the commonest presentations (complaint). As a protective mechanism against foreign or noxious material, cough can be initiated by a  variety of airway irritants, which enter the tracheobronchial tree by inhalation (smoke, dust,  fumes) or by aspiration (upper airway secretions, gastric contents, foreign bodies). Any disorder resulting in inflammation, constriction, infiltration, or compression of airways can  be associated with cough. Inflammation commonly results from airway infections, ranging from. Some causes of cough are: • Inflammation-infection (viral ,bacterial etc ) , bronchitis , bronchiectasis, asthma etc • Constriction - asthma (it is reversible) • Infiltration – tuberculosis, neoplasm, granuloma, or sar...

What is high blood pressure? High blood pressure or hypertension is when our body bold pressure rises up to abnormal levels. It is calculated by how much blood has passed through our blood vessels and the amount of resistance our blood goes through while being pumped by the heart. One of the causes of high resistance can be narrowed or inelastic arteries.  Hypertension is one of the most common diagnoses in the adult population. Hypertension has a longer course than other diseases. It might not have any symptoms at first but still damage our vessels and major organs like heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes. So early diagnosis is very important to prevent damages to our bodies. Having regular checkups is advised for adults especially those over the age of 45. What are the symptoms of hypertension? Hypertension usually doesn't have many symptoms for many years. It may take many years for the symptoms to be noticeable by us. Even if we notice any symptoms those symptoms can b...

What is Pneumonia? Pneumonia is an acute infection of lung parenchyma including alveolar spaces and interstitial  tissue.  maybe confined to an entire lobe- Lobar pneumonia • A segment of a lobe-Segmental or lobular pneumonia • Alveoli contiguous to bronchi - Bronchopneumonia • Interstitial tissue - Interstitial pneumonia These distinctions are generally based on x-ray observations. This Predisposing factors that can cause pneumonia  • Preceding respiratory viral infections • Alcoholism • Cigarette smoking • Underlying diseases such as Heart failure, COPD • Age extremes • Immunosuppressive therapy and disorders • Decreased consciousness, coma, seizure, etc • Surgery and aspiration of secretions Microbial Pathogen that causes Pneumonia: depend on the setting in which pneumonia is  acquired 1. Community-acquired pneumonia o Streptococcus pneumoniae ( pneumococcal pneumonia ) commonest cause o Mycoplasma pneumoniae o Chlamydia pneumoniae o H...