photo.jpg

# Mometrix ## Common Respiratory Symptoms - Cough: A common symptom that may only occur during the acute phase of the respiratory infection or may persist for months after initial infection. - Respiratory sounds: May include wheezing and/or hoarseness in addition to cough. On auscultation, abnor...

# Mometrix ## Common Respiratory Symptoms - Cough: A common symptom that may only occur during the acute phase of the respiratory infection or may persist for months after initial infection. - Respiratory sounds: May include wheezing and/or hoarseness in addition to cough. On auscultation, abnormal sounds may occur, such as hyperresonance, fine to coarse rales, wheezing, or absence of breath sounds in areas of the lungs. ## Gastrointestinal Symptoms - Poor appetite/feeding: Often the initial symptom and may persist throughout the febrile and convalescent period. It is a common symptom of acute infection in children. - Nausea & vomiting: May occur before other symptoms by several hours and usually subside fairly quickly, although it may persist with some children. It is most common in small children. - Diarrhea: Common with respiratory infections, especially those of viral origin. In most children, diarrhea is mild and short lasting, but in others it may be severe and increase dehydration. - Abdominal pain: May be related to muscle spasms from vomiting or lymphadenitis of the mesentery, especially if the child is very tense. The type of pain may be similar to or indistinguishable from pain associated with appendicitis. ## Pneumonia Pneumonia is inflammation of the lung parenchyma, filling the alveoli with exudate. It is common throughout childhood and adulthood but more frequent in infants and young children. Pneumonia may be the primary disease or can occur as a secondary infection or disease, such as lung cancer. Pneumonia may be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi. It may also be caused by chemical damage. Pneumonia is characterized by location: - **Lobar:** involves one or more lobes of the lungs. If lobes in both lungs are affected, it is referred to as "bilateral" or "double" pneumonia. - **Bronchial/lobular:** involves the terminal bronchioles and exudate can involve the adjacent lobules. Usually the pneumonia occurs in scattered patches throughout the lungs. - **Interstitial:** involves primarily the interstitium and alveoli where white blood cells and plasma fill the alveoli, generating inflammation and creating fibrotic tissue as the alveoli are destroyed. ## _Streptococcus pneumoniae_ _Streptococcus pneumoniae_ (a Gram-positive coccus) is part of the normal flora of the upper respiratory tract and is the most frequent cause of bacterial pneumonia, often secondary to an upper respiratory tract infection. The overall incidence has dropped since the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) was introduced in 2000, with the most significant effect on those under 2 years of age (78% drop in cases); however, a vaccinated infant that is febrile with toxic symptoms and a leukocyte count of ≥15,000 cells/ml. is at risk for pneumonia. The bacteria induce an acute inflammatory response causing the alveoli and interstitium to fill with protein-rich fluid. The infection spreads quickly, often to multiple lobes, causing consolidation. Pleural effusions, super infections, bacteremia (15-25%) and pericarditis may occur. Symptoms include an abrupt onset with high fever (≥105°), chills, diaphoresis, cyanosis, chest pain, tachypnea, tachycardia,