The Differences And Similarities Of Pneumonia And Tuberculosis

The Differences and Similarities of Pneumonia and Tuberculosis


     Pneumonia and tuberculosis have been plaguing the citizens of the world

for centuries causing millions of deaths.  This occurred until the creation and

use of antibiotics become more widely available.  These two respiratory

infections have many differences, which include their etiology, incidence and

prevalence, and many similarities in their objective and subject indicators,

medical interventions, course, rehabilitation and effects.


     To explore the relationship between pneumonia and tuberculosis we will

examine a case study.  Joan is a 35 year old women who was feeling fine up till

a few weeks ago when she develop a sore throat.  Since her sore throat she had

been experiencing chest pain, a  loss of appetite, coughing and a low fever so

she went to visit her doctor.  Her doctor admitted her to the hospital with

bacterial pneumonia and after three days of unsuccessful treatment it was

discovered that she actually had active tuberculosis. This misdiagnosis shows

the similarities between the two diseases and how easily they can be confused.


Pneumonia


        Pneumonia is a serious infection or inflammation of the lungs with

exudation and consolidation.  Pneumonia can be one of two types: lobar pneumonia

or bronchial pneumonia.  Lobar pneumonia affects one lobe of a lung while

bronchial pneumonia affects the areas closest to the bronchi (O'Toole, 1992).

In the United States over three million people are infected with pneumonia each

year; five percent of which die.


Etiology


     There are over 30 causes for pneumonia however there are 4 main causes

which are bacterial, viral, mycoplasma and fungal (American Lung Association,

1996).  Bacterial pneumonia attacks everyone from young to old, however

"alcoholics, the debilitated, post-operative patients, people with respiratory

disease or viral infections and people who have weakened immune systems are at

greater risk" (American Lung Association, 1996).  The Pneumococcusis bacteria,

which is classified as Streptococcus pneumoniae, causes bacterial pneumonia and

can be prevented by a vaccine.  In 20 - 30% of the cases the infection spreads

to the blood stream (MedicineNet, 1997) which can lead to secondary infections.


     Viral pneumonia accounts for half of all pneumonia cases (American Lung

Association, 1996) unfortunately there is no effective treatment because

antibiotics do not affect viruses.  Many viral pneumonia cases are a result of

an influenza infection and commonly affect children, however they are not

usually serious and last only a short time (American Lung Association, 1996).

The "virus invades the lungs and multiplies, but there are almost no physical

signs of lung tissue becoming filled with fluid.  It finds many of its victims

among those who have pre-existing heart or lung disease or are pregnant"

(American Lung Association, 1996).  In the more severe cases it can be

complicated with the invasion of bacteria that may result in symptoms of

bacterial pneumonia (American Lung Association, 1996).


     During World War II mycoplasma were identified as the "smallest free-

living agents of disease in humankind, unclassified as to whether bacteria or

viruses, but having characteristics of both" (American Lung Association, 1996).

Mycoplasma pneumonia is "often a slowly developing infection" (MedicineNet,

1997) that often affects older children and young adults (American Lung

Association, 1996).


     The other main cause of pneumonia is fungal pneumonia.  This is caused

by a fungus that causes pneumocystic carinii pneumonia (PCP) and is often "the

first sign of illness in many persons with AIDS and … can be successfully

treated in many cases" (American Lung Association, 1996).


        In Joan's case bacterial pneumonia was suspected because her immune

system was weakened by her sore throat and her signs and symptoms correlated

with pneumonia.


Tuberculosis (TB)


     Tuberculosis was discovered 100 years ago but still kills 
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