Pneumo Health Dictionary

Inflammation of lung tissue... pneumonia

Inflammation of the lungs, from whatever cause. It may be concurrent with pneumonia or pleurisy...or the result of a defensive lineman knocking the air out of the quarterback...two days later.... pneumonitis

A type of streptococcal bacterium (see STREPTOCOCCUS) which can cause otitis media (see EAR, DISEASES OF – Diseases of the middle ear), TONSILLITIS, PNEUMONIA, MENINGITIS and SEPTICAEMIA. It is usually sensitive to PENICILLIN.... pneumococcus

The general name applied to a chronic form of in?ammation of the LUNGS which is liable to affect people who constantly inhale irritating particles at work. It has been de?ned by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council as: ‘Permanent alteration of lung structure due to the inhalation of mineral dust and the tissue reactions of the lung to its presence, but does not include bronchitis and emphysema.’ Some of the tradespeople liable to suffer are stonemasons, potters, steel-grinders, coal-miners, millers, and workers in cotton, ?ax, or wool mills. (See also OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, MEDICINE AND DISEASES; TUBERCULOSIS.)... pneumoconiosis

The operation of removing an entire lung (see LUNGS) in such diseases as BRONCHIECTASIS, TUBERCULOSIS, and cancer of the lung.... pneumonectomy

A collection of air in the pleural cavity, into which it has gained entrance by a defect in the lung or a wound in the chest wall. When air enters the chest, the lung immediately collapses towards the centre of the chest; but, air being absorbed from the pleural cavity, the lung expands again within a short time. (See LUNGS, DISEASES OF.)

Tension pneumothorax is a life-threatening condition in which the air in the hemithorax is under such pressure that it forces the heart to the other side and compresses the still-in?ated lung on the other side. It must be promptly relieved by inserting a hollow tube into the pleural cavity – a chest drain.

Arti?cial pneumothorax was an operation often performed in the pre-antibiotic days to treat pulmonary tuberculosis. Air was run into the pleural cavity to cause collapse of one lung, which rested it and allowed cavities in it to heal.... pneumothorax

PNEUMONIA caused by a species of the genus of PROTOZOA, a parasitic micro-organism. Pneumocystis carinii causes an opportunistic infection in the lung which is dangerous to people whose immune system is impaired (see IMMUNITY), thus reducing their resistance to infections. People with AIDS/HIV or LEUKAEMIA have impaired immune systems and P. carinii is a major cause of death in the former. Fever, dry cough and breathlessness are among the symptoms; treatment is with high doses of antibiotic drugs such as CO-TRIMOXAZOLE or PENTAMIDINE.... pneumocystis pneumonia

A collection of air in the peritoneal cavity (see PERITONEUM). Air introduced into the peritoneal cavity collects under the diaphragm which is thus raised and collapses the lungs. This procedure was sometimes carried out in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in the pre-antibiotic days as an alternative to arti?cial PNEUMOTHORAX.... pneumoperitoneum

Infection of the lung tissue by a VIRUS. Causes of this type of pneumonia include ADENOVIRUSES, COXSACKIE VIRUSES and in?uenza virus. Viral infections do not respond to ANTIBIOTICS and treatment is symptomatic, with antibiotics used only if the patient develops secondary bacterial infection. In a previously healthy individual the viral infection is usually self-limiting, but in vulnerable patients – the elderly or those with pre-existing disease – it can be fatal.... viral pneumonia

See PNEUMONIA.... broncho-pneumonia

A fungus, formally believed to be a protozoan, which may cause an atypical pneumonia in severely malnourished or immunologically compromised patients, e.g. AIDS patients.... pneumocystis carinii

Any disease of the lungs... pneumonopathy

Any lung disorder... pneumonosis

A severe haemoptysis... pneumorrhagia

any one of a group of community-acquired *pneumonias that do not respond to penicillin but do respond to such antibiotics as tetracycline and erythromycin. They include infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia psittaci (see psittacosis), and Coxiella burnetii (see Q fever).... atypical pneumonia

(BOOP) a disease entity characterized clinically by a flulike illness with cough, fever, shortness of breath, and late inspiratory crackles; there are specific histological features and patchy infiltrates on X-ray. It is sometimes the result of a viral infection, but may follow medication with certain drugs or be associated with connective-tissue disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis. The condition usually responds to oral corticosteroids; however, if a drug is implicated, it must be withdrawn.... bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia

a lung disease caused by coal dust. It affects mainly coal miners but also other exposed workers, such as lightermen, if the lungs’ capacity to accommodate and remove the particles is exceeded. See pneumoconiosis.... coal-worker’s pneumoconiosis

(CAP) see pneumonia.... community-acquired pneumonia

(interstitial pneumonitis) an alternative name for *idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis used by lung pathologists to classify the different cellular types of the disease. The most common cellular pattern is usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). A differing cellular pattern is seen in patients with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), who have a better prognosis than those with UIP. There are two variants of NSIP: cellular and fibrosing. The former has chronic inflammatory cells with minimal collagen deposition, while the latter consists of diffuse interstitial fibrosis with fewer inflammatory cells. It is believed that corticosteroid therapy can slow the progression of cellular to fibrosing NSIP.... interstitial pneumonia

(NSIP) see interstitial pneumonia.... nonspecific interstitial pneumonia

(pneumocele) n. the presence of air within the skull, usually resulting from a fracture passing through one of the air sinuses. There may be a leak of cerebrospinal fluid at the site of the fracture, manifested as a watery discharge from the nose. Pneumocephalus can be detected by plain X-rays of the skull, which show air and a fluid level inside a cavity, or by CT and MRI scanning.... pneumocephalus

a vaccine that protects against infection by the bacterium *Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can cause serious diseases, including pneumonia, septicaemia, and *meningitis. Children under 2 years of age and adults over 65 years are at particular risk. Since September 2006, the pneumococcal vaccine has become part of the childhood *immunization programme. It is also offered to people over the age of 65 as a single vaccination that will protect for life.... pneumococcal vaccine

n. a genus of protozoans. The species P. jiroveci (formerly carinii) causes pneumonia in immunosuppressed patients, usually following intensive chemotherapy. Pneumocystis jiroveci (carinii) pneumonia (PCP) is fatal in 10–30% of cases if untreated, but it can be overcome with high doses of *co-trimoxazole or *pentamidine.... pneumocystis

n. a type of cell that lines the walls separating the air sacs (see alveolus) in the lungs. Type I pneumocytes are flat and inconspicuous. Type II pneumocytes are cuboidal and secrete *surfactant.... pneumocyte

n. a technique used in the X-ray diagnosis of disease within the skull. Air is introduced into the cavities (ventricles) of the brain to displace the cerebrospinal fluid, thus acting as a *contrast medium. X-ray photographs show the size and disposition of the ventricles and the subarachnoid spaces. The technique has largely been superseded by CT and MRI scanning.... pneumoencephalography

n. an instrument used to record the movements made during respiration.... pneumograph

n. see pleurolysis.... pneumolysis

n. air in the mediastinum visible on chest X-ray. It can be a complication of surgical *emphysema due to pneumothorax, but the air can originate from the upper airways or the upper gastrointestinal tract. A rare cause is gas-forming organisms. See Hamman’s sign.... pneumomediastinum

(pneumono-) combining form denoting the lung(s). Example: pneumonopexy (surgical fixation to the chest wall).... pneumon

n. the presence of air within the membranous sac surrounding the heart. See hydropneumopericardium.... pneumopericardium

n. a surgical technique in which an inert gas bubble is injected into the eye to press and seal breaks in the retina. When the retina is flat, a laser beam or *cryoretinopexy is applied to cause scarring and permanently seal the tear.... pneumoretinopexy

(noncontact tonometer) n. an instrument that blows a puff of air at the cornea to cause flattening and hence measure intraocular pressure. It is commonly used by optometrists in tests for glaucoma.... pneumotonometer

(UIP) see interstitial pneumonia; idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.... usual interstitial pneumonia