nurse's notes

Pneumonia-

• an inflammation of the lungs
• a complication arises due to inability to cough out secretions
  
• classified according to causative agent like bacterial, viral, or chemical

Factors or circumstances that predisposes to develop pneumonia are the following:

• Aged individuals- who cannot cough effectively to expectorate secretions
• patient with chronic bronchitis or emphysema
• patient with cardiac failure
• patient with pulmonary congestion
• individuals who are intoxicated chemically
• patient who are bedridden for prolonged period in bed- relatively immobile and breath shallowly
• patient unable to cough effectively because of disability- shock or result of sedation with cough suppressing drug
• aspiration of foreign material into the lungs during period of unconsciousness like for example during anesthesia