a. Signs/Symptoms. The onset of viral pneumonia is usually slow and occurs
after an upper respiratory infection. The disease is similar to mycoplasmal pneumonia
except that the illness is shorter and cold agglutinins and lymphocytosis are negative.
The disease, however, is dangerous to two groups of people: debilitated persons with
chronic pulmonary or cardiac disease and infants under six months. For these patients,
the disease is rapid and often fatal. The signs of the disease are much like those for
pneumococcal pneumonia. Other signs and symptoms for persons not in these two
high risk groups include:
(1)
Mild rales.
(2)
Nonproductive cough.
(3)
Mild illness.
(4)
Abnormal chest x-ray, rarely.
b. Treatment. Treatment is supportive in that the symptoms should be treated.
No antibiotics are given.
3-15. BRONCHIAL PNEUMONIA
Bronchial pneumonia is an infection of the alveolar spaces of the respiratory
bronchiole.
a. Signs/Symptoms. Bronchial pneumonia begins slowly, often after a person
has had an upper respiratory infection. The patient may cough and spit out greenish,
yellowish sputum. The patient's chest may be congested and feel tight, yet a
percussion examination will be normal. Auscultation indicates the patient has scattered
rhonchi, usually on both sides of the chest. His respiration, pulse, and temperature will
be above normal.
b. Treatment. Treat the symptoms of the disease. Specific problems can be
treated with drugs. A patient with mycoplasmal pneumonia can be given tetracycline.
Administer penicillin to patients with either pneumococcal or streptoccal pneumonia. If
the patient has gram-negative rods, administer streptomycin.
MD0568
3-13