Community-acquired pneumonia overview
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Community-acquired pneumonia is a disease in which individuals who have not recently been hospitalized develop an infection of the lungs. CAP is a common illness and can affect people of all ages. It often causes problems like breathing difficulties, fever, chest pains, and a cough. CAP occurs when alveoli become filled with fluid and cannot work effectively. It occurs throughout the world and is a leading cause of illness and death. Causes of CAP include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. CAP can be diagnosed by symptoms and physical examination alone, though x-rays, examination of the sputum, and other tests are often used. CAP is primarily treated with antibiotic medication. Some forms of CAP can be prevented by vaccination.
Risk factors
The risk factors for pneumonia include: smoking, age, immuno-suppression, exposure to chemicals, underlying lung disease, and exposure to chemicals.
Diagnosis
CURB-65 Clinical Prediction Rule
CURB-65 is a clinical prediction rule that has been validated for predicting mortality in community-acquired pneumonia[1] and infection of any site[2]. The CURB-65 is based on the earlier CURB score[3] and is recommended by the British Thoracic Society for the assessment of severity of pneumonia.[4]
References
- ↑ Lim WS, van der Eerden MM, Laing R; et al. (2003). "Defining community acquired pneumonia severity on presentation to hospital: an international derivation and validation study". Thorax. 58 (5): 377–82. PMID 12728155.
- ↑ Howell MD, Donnino MW, Talmor D, Clardy P, Ngo L, Shapiro NI (2007). "Performance of severity of illness scoring systems in emergency department patients with infection". Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. 14 (8): 709–14. doi:10.1197/j.aem.2007.02.036. PMID 17576773.
- ↑ Lim WS, Macfarlane JT, Boswell TC; et al. (2001). "Study of community acquired pneumonia aetiology (SCAPA) in adults admitted to hospital: implications for management guidelines". Thorax. 56 (4): 296–301. PMID 11254821.
- ↑ "BTS Guidelines for the Management of Community Acquired Pneumonia in Adults". Thorax. 56 Suppl 4: IV1–64. 2001. PMID 11713364.