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- Respiratory system infections
- Anatomy and normal microbiota
- What are some pathogenic bacteria that are part of the normal microbiota of the respiratory tract?
- What virulence factors are used by pathogens to overcome the immune protection of the respiratory tract?
Signs and symptoms of respiratory infection
Microbial diseases of the respiratory system typically result in an acute inflammatory response. These infections can be grouped by the location affected and have names ending in “itis”, which literally means
inflammation of . For instance,
rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal cavities, often characteristic of the common cold. Rhinitis may also be associated with hay fever allergies or other irritants. Inflammation of the sinuses is called
sinusitis inflammation of the ear is called
otitis . Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear. A variety of microbes can cause
pharyngitis , commonly known as a sore throat. An inflammation of the larynx is called
laryngitis . The resulting inflammation may interfere with vocal cord function, causing voice loss. When tonsils are inflamed, it is called
tonsillitis . Chronic cases of tonsillitis may be treated surgically with tonsillectomy. More rarely, the epiglottis can be infected, a condition called
epiglottitis . In the lower respiratory system, the inflammation of the bronchial tubes results in
bronchitis . Most serious of all is
pneumonia , in which the
alveoli in the lungs are infected and become inflamed. Pus and edema accumulate and fill the alveoli with fluids (called consolidations). This reduces the lungs’ ability to exchange gases and often results in a productive cough expelling phlegm and mucus. Cases of pneumonia can range from mild to life-threatening, and remain an important cause of mortality in the very young and very old.
- Describe the typical symptoms of rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, and laryngitis.
Smoking-associated pneumonia
Camila is a 22-year-old student who has been a chronic smoker for 5 years. Recently, she developed a persistent cough that has not responded to over-the-counter treatments. Her doctor ordered a chest radiograph to investigate. The radiological results were consistent with pneumonia. In addition,
Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from Camila’s sputum.
Smokers are at a greater risk of developing pneumonia than the general population. Several components of tobacco smoke have been demonstrated to impair the lungs’ immune defenses. These effects include disrupting the function of the ciliated epithelial cells, inhibiting phagocytosis, and blocking the action of antimicrobial peptides. Together, these lead to a dysfunction of the mucociliary escalator effect. The organisms trapped in the mucus are therefore able to colonize the lungs and cause infections rather than being expelled or swallowed.
Key concepts and summary
- The respiratory tract is divided into upper and lower regions at the
epiglottis .
- Air enters the upper respiratory tract through the
nasal cavity and mouth, which both lead to the
pharynx . The lower respiratory tract extends from the
larynx into the
trachea before branching into the
bronchi , which divide further to form the
bronchioles , which terminate in
alveoli , where gas exchange occurs.
- The upper respiratory tract is colonized by an extensive and diverse normal microbiota, many of which are potential pathogens. Few microbial inhabitants have been found in the lower respiratory tract, and these may be transients.
- Members of the normal microbiota may cause opportunistic infections, using a variety of strategies to overcome the innate nonspecific defenses (including the mucociliary escalator) and adaptive specific defenses of the respiratory system.
- Effective vaccines are available for many common respiratory pathogens, both bacterial and viral.
- Most respiratory infections result in inflammation of the infected tissues; these conditions are given names ending in
-itis , such as
rhinitis ,
sinusitis ,
otitis ,
pharyngitis , and
bronchitis .
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Questions & Answers
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Source:
OpenStax, Microbiology. OpenStax CNX. Nov 01, 2016 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col12087/1.4
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