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## Mometrix ### Altered Consciousness Altered consciousness and cough productive of rusty or green-tinged mucus. Treatment may include: - Antipyretics - Analgesics - Respiratory support - Antibiotics: penicillins or others ### Haemophilus Influenzae Haemophilus influenzae frequently colonizes t...

## Mometrix ### Altered Consciousness Altered consciousness and cough productive of rusty or green-tinged mucus. Treatment may include: - Antipyretics - Analgesics - Respiratory support - Antibiotics: penicillins or others ### Haemophilus Influenzae Haemophilus influenzae frequently colonizes the upper respiratory tracts in children < 5 and can lead to pneumonia. However, in 1990, the conjugated polysaccharide H. influenzae type b vaccine was introduced, and this had greatly decreased the incidence of pneumonia in small children. Non-type B and nontypeable cases of H. influenzae pneumonia do occur. This pneumonia is similar in symptoms to other bacterial forms, but the onset is often slow and insidious, appearing 2-6 weeks after an upper respiratory tract infection. Symptoms include fever, chills, and productive cough. The disease may occur as lobar or bronchial pneumonia or with areas of consolidation where the alveoli have collapsed and the tissue hardened. Complications may include bacteremia, lung abscesses, pleural effusions, epiglottitis, and pericarditis. Treatment is symptomatic and may include: - Antipyretics, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen - Analgesics - Respiratory support - Antibiotics: Ampicillin, 3rd generation cephalosporin, macrolides ### Viral Pneumonias Viral pneumonia is more common in adults than children although the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes upper respiratory infections and bronchiolitis, can progress to pneumonia and is most commonly found in children younger than 5. A number of other viruses, such as adenoviruses, parainfluenza, cytomegalovirus, and coronavirus, may be implicated. The viruses invade the cells that line the airways and alveoli, causing death of the cells. Symptoms related to viral pneumonia are similar to those of bacterial pneumonia although the onset is often slow with pneumonia preceded by a respiratory infection that progressively worsens, with increasing cough, fever, dyspnea, cyanosis, and respiratory distress. There are few effective treatments for viral pneumonia, and one danger is that a viral pneumonia increases susceptibility to bacterial infection of the lungs. Treatment may include: - Rest and adequate fluids and nutrition - Antipyretics, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen - Oxygen therapy with intubation and mechanical ventilation may be required in the presence of severe disease and respiratory compromise - Ribavirin aerosol is used for severe RSV disease and pneumonia ### Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Mycoplasma pneumoniae is caused by pleomorphic (variously shaped) microorganisms that interfere with the function of the cilia and produce hydrogen peroxide, which disrupts cell functions. The organisms also activate an inflammatory response. Only about 3% of those infected develop pneumonia, affecting primarily children and young adults between the ages of 4 and 20. Mycoplasma pneumoniae occurs seasonally in the fall in a regular 4 to 8 year cycle of epidemics. The onset is usually gradual, and children tend to be less obviously ill than with other types of pneumonia. Symptoms may include a paroxysmal cough, low-grade fever, myalgia, diarrhea,