Conditions Predisposing To Pneumonia
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| Conditions Predisposing To Pneumonia | |
| Disease or condition: | Comments: |
| upper respiratory infections | bacterial superinfections are common |
| cigarette smoking | leads to chronic bronchitis/infection |
| alcoholism | weakens immune system |
| chronic obstructive airway disease and chronic asthma | lining of chronically irritated airways more susceptible to infections |
| chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus and kidney failure | immune system is weakened |
| extreme ages (premature baby and nursing home resident) | weak immune systems |
| congestive heart failure | tissues edematous, infection prone |
| unconsciousness | protective cough reflex missing |
| swallowing problems | debilitated patients; neurological disorders in end stage often have reflux esophagitis in their sleep |
| institutionalization | crowded prisons, nursing homes, military barracks, schools, colleges. Leads to easier transmission |
| compromised immune system | AIDS; cancer patients; patients with burns; corticosteroids treatment of asthma; arthritis (autoimmune disease) treated with chemotherapy agents |
[edit] Conditions Predisposing To Pneumonia
All of these conditions mentioned in the table above have in common that the immune system is in some way weakened, either through age, another infection or a debilitating condition. In the unconscious or in a person with an end stage neurological disease (e.g. multiple sclerosis or Lou-Gehrig disease, for instance) the protective cough reflex is missing facilitating aspiration pneumonia.
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