Dealing with Respiratory Diseases, Asthma, and Allergies

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Dealing with Respiratory Diseases, Asthma, and
Allergies
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Objectives

• Analyze the causes, symptoms, diagnoses, and
  treatments of communicable respiratory diseases.
• Analyze ways to prevent infection with
  communicable respiratory diseases.
• Discuss asthma and ways to prevent and manage
  asthma attacks.
• Describe common causes of allergies.
• Describe ways to prevent or treat allergies.

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Why its important

• At some time, almost everyone will be infected by
  a respiratory illness.
• Millions of people are affected by asthma or
  allergies

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What to know about communicable respiratory
diseases

• Communicable disease
• Can be spread from person to person.
• 6 communicable diseases
• The common cold
• Influenza
• Pneumonia
• Strep Throat
• Tuberculosis
• Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• The Common Cold
• A respiratory infection caused by more than 100
  different viruses.
• 1/3 of all colds are caused by rhinoviruses.
• A virus that infects the nose
• High levels of stress can increase a persons
  chances of catching a cold.
• Can last from 2-14 days.
• Myths
• Being exposed to cold weather.
• Getting chills

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• The Common Cold
• Relief
• OTC medication may help relieve some symptoms.
• Will not cure or shorten the length of a cold.
• Gargling with warm, salt water may bring relief
  to a sore throat.
• Apply petroleum jelly to the nose to relieve
  irritation.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• InfluenzaThe Flu
• A highly contagious viral infection of the
  respiratory tract.
• Most people recover within 1-2 weeks.
• Can be life-threatening for elderly people,
  newborn babies, and people with chronic diseases.
• Can lead to pneumonia
• Flu viruses are constantly changing.
• Difficult for the immune system to form
  antibodies to new variations of the flu virus.
• Can spread rapidly in crowded places.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• InfluenzaThe Flu
• People who are infected with the flu virus often
  do not show any symptoms, yet they can still
  spread the virus.
• Most contagious during first 3 days of infection.
• Diagnosis
• Physicians usually diagnose the flu by symptoms.
• Presence of flu in community.
• Flu tests

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• InfluenzaThe Flu
• Treatments
• Aspirin/Acetaminophen may relieve fever and
  discomfort.
• Aspirin should not be given to children and
  teens.
• Reyes Syndrome-disease that causes swelling of
  the brain and deterioration of liver function.
• Antibiotics are not effective against the flu
  viruses, but may prevent pneumoniasometimes
  follows the flu.
• Flu shots
• Updated each year

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Celebrity Swine Flu Fatality....... and we ALL
know who gave it to him.
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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Pneumonia
• An infection in the lungs caused by bacteria,
  viruses, or other pathogens.
• Bacterial and viral
• Can be spread by direct contact with an infected
  person or with contaminated objects.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Pneumonia
• Diagnosis
• Lab tests
• Chest X-rays
• Physical examinations

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Treatments
• Antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia.
• Viral bacteria is much more difficult to treat.
• Resistant to antibiotics.
• Hospitalization may be needed.
• Vaccine is available for pneumococcal pneumonia.
• Kills more people than all other
  vaccine-preventable diseases.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Strep Throat
• A bacterial infection of the throat.
• Rheumatic fever can develop if not treated
  quickly.
• An autoimmune disease in the heart that can cause
  fever, weakness, and damage to heart valves.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Symptoms
• Fever
• Throat may be painful.
• Throat will appear red.
• Small patches of pus may be visible
• Diagnosis
• Throat culture.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Diagnosis
• Throat Culture

• Treatment
• Antibiotics will kill bacteria and prevent spread
  of infection.
• Rest
• Fluids

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Tuberculosis
• A bacterial infection of the lungs.
• Affects people with a weakened immune system.
• HIV, elderly, homeless, IV drug users.
• Airborne through coughing and sneezing by
  infected person.
• Only contagious if you have active
  tuberculosis.
• Not spread through touch.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Diagnosis
• Skin test
• Inject a protein substance under the skin in the
  forearm.
• Within two days, if a red welt forms around the
  injection site, the person has been exposed to
  tuberculosis.
• Chest X-ray must be done to confirm.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Treatment
• Antibiotics
• Some tuberculosis pathogens have become resistant
  to them.
• Drugs are available to prevent tuberculosis in
  people who are in close contact with infected
  people.
• Rooms with good ventilation and air flow will
  help reduce the risk of the spread of
  tuberculosis.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• SARS-Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
• A contagious respiratory illness caused by a new
  type of coronavirus.
• Surfaced in early 2003 in some Asian countries.
• Caused outbreaks in other countries, including
  the US.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Symptoms
• Very typical for many other respiratory
  illnesses.
• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Diagnosis
• Travel to specific Asian countries.
• Close contact with a person infected with SARS.
• SARS is now under control.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Asthma
• A chronic disease that cannot be cured.
• Symptoms
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• People with asthma have sensitive lungs that
  react to certain triggers.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Triggers
• Substances that cause the airways to tighten,
  swell, and fill with mucus.
• Airways become narrow and blocked.
• Difficult to breathe.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Triggers
• Pollen from trees
• Grasses
• Weeds
• Dust and mold
• Dog, cat, or other animal dander
• Cigarette smoke
• Air pollution
• Having a cold or the flu.
• Aspirin or other OTC drugs

• Perfumes or other fragrances
• Odors from sprays and paints
• Insecticides
• Certain foods
• Smoke from burning wood, paper, or other items
• Emotional stress
• Especially during childhood and adolescence.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Asthma Attack
• Episode of coughing, wheezing, shortness of
  breath and tightness in the chest.
• May cause extreme sickness.
• Hospitalization
• Death
• Symptoms usually decrease with age.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Exercise Induced Asthma
• A condition in which a person has difficulty
  breathing during or shortly after strenuous
  physical activity.
• Symptoms
• Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath,
  tightness in the chest.
• Can be reduced and prevented by improving
  physical fitness.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Allergies
• Airborne allergens
• The most common are animal dander, feathers,
  pollens, and mites.
• Symptoms of allergies
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Skin rash
• Drops in blood pressure
• Difficulty in breathing

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Hay Fever
• Common term for seasonal respiratory allergies
  that typically occur in the spring or fall.
• Symptoms
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes
• Treatments
• Medicine
• shots

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Allergies
• Pollen-yellowish powder produced by flowers,
  trees, and grass.
• Mites-tiny, eight-legged animals that resemble
  spiders.
• Animal Dander-Flakes of dead skin from an animal.

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Allergies
• Not all allergies are airborne.
• Medication
• Latex
• Insect stings
• Foods
• Symptoms
• Difficulty breathing
• Rapid pulse
• Sudden drop in blood pressure
• Skin rash
• Respiratory irritation
• shock

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Communicable respiratory diseases

• Diagnosis
• Skin tests
• Skin patch test
• Wheal-a round skin lump that indicates
  sensitivity to a particular allergen.