Pneumonia Overview and Symptoms

Pneumonia Definition and Types

• Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lungs caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections.
• It's a serious condition where air sacs (alveoli) fill with pus and fluid.
• Types of pneumonia include:
  • Lobar pneumonia: affects a single lobe of the lung.
  • Interstitial pneumonia: involves the areas between alveoli.
  • Bronchopneumonia: infects terminal bronchioles, spreading to surrounding alveoli, causing patchy lung consolidation.

Pneumonia Signs and Symptoms

• Symptoms include cough, difficulty breathing, fever, rapid breathing (tachypnea), rapid heart rate (tachycardia), bluish discoloration of lips and fingernails (cyanosis), sweating, loss of energy, and shaking chills.
• Severity can be mild (92% or above SpO2), moderate (83-91% SpO2), or severe (less than 80% SpO2) - SpO2 is an important indicator of oxygen levels in the blood measured.
• Infection of the lungs causes inflammation, fluid buildup (edema), and accumulation of blood cells, fibrin, and bacteria in the alveoli.

Pneumonia Care Plan

• Nursing diagnosis: ineffective airway clearance due to tracheobronchial secretions, evidenced by tachypnea, dyspnea, cyanosis, abnormal chest sounds, and use of accessory muscles.
• Subjective data: patient verbalized being tired and having chest pain.
• Goals: Maintain patent airway, improve ventilation, and oxygenation.
• Assessments: include body temperature, lung sounds, chest movement, sputum assessment, monitoring of ABG (arterial blood gases), pulse oximetry, heart rate (HR), and pulse rate (PR).

Pneumonia Interventions

• Interventions include elevating the head of the bed, changing positions frequently, using oxygen with humidifiers (nebulizers) or suction if needed, administering prescribed medications, maintaining oral hygiene, and applying cold compresses to relieve fever.
• Health teaching: promoting rest, deep breathing exercises, and assisting the patient with these activities is a crucial element of care.
• Diagnoses: consider consolidation, manifest symptoms, vital signs, such as WBC, ABG, pulse oximetry, and CRP.
• Treatment: appropriate treatment with bronchodilators, fluids, supplemental oxygen, and antipyretics as directed by medical professionals. Treatment type depends on severity.

Nursing Care Plan for a Child with Pneumonia

• Problem 1 (Ineffective airway clearance): The child experiences inflammation and increased secretions, evidenced by secretions, a productive cough, tachypnea, and elevated work of breathing.
• Problem 2 (Ineffective breathing pattern): Inflammation or infection causes tachypnea and increased work of breathing leading to nasal flaring. Adequate ventilation is compromised.
• Goals: Maintain a patent airway, adequate ventilation, and a respiratory rate within normal parameters for the child's age. Assess and address oxygen saturation.
• Implementation: involves positioning, humidified oxygen, suctioning, chest physiotherapy, respiratory rate assessment, and pulse oximetry monitoring.
• Rationale: These interventions promote adequate ventilation and oxygenation.
• Evaluation: Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions by monitoring symptoms, vital signs, and oxygen saturation. Observe for improved breathing patterns and absence of respiratory distress.