Community-Acquired Pneumonia (Case Study Sample)

Running Head: PATIENT EDUCATION ABOUT community-acquired pneumonia
PATIENT EDUCATION ABOUT Community-Acquired Pneumonia
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PATIENT EDUCATION ABOUT community-acquired pneumonia
1- Impaired Gas Exchange
From the result, the patient presented impaired gas exchange on the rationale that upon examination of the lungs, there was a decreased breath sounds and her right lower lobe was dull to percussion. She presented with an end expiratory wheeze in her right lower lobe. There were no rales or rhonchi. Her anterior-posterior diameter to chest wall also increased. The patient indicates that she has been suffering from shortness of breath for the past two weeks following any kind of activity mainly because of the dry cough. She thinks it’s possible that there’s some problem with her "heart." She is also complaining of slight sore throat, especially in the morning and feels she may have lung cancer.
2- Hyperthermia
There is enough evidence of hyperthermia for the patient. From the physical examination results, the patient had a blood pressure of 130/72. From her history, the patient indicates having a low grade fever (acute rise of temperature). A low grade fever ranges between 100 and 101F. The most severe symptom of Hyperthermia is heat stroke that occur when the body cannot regulate its internal temperature; causing a medical emergency. The temperature of the body may rise to over 105 F, a level that is harmful to the brain and other organs. The other symptoms of hyperthermia include muscle cramps, dizziness, fatigue, vomiting, headache, nausea, and general body weakness. The heart rate may possibly be high, and reddening of the skin occurs (Fauci, 2008). Most of these signs and symptoms have been indicated in both the patient history and the obtained results.
3- Risk for infection
Persons who are at risk for infection are those whose natural defense mechanism is not sufficient to protect them from the unavoidable exposures and injuries that come about during their course of living. An infection will take place when an organism, this could be a fungus, virus, bacterium or other parasites, attacks a predisposed host. Break in the integument, the first line of defense of the body, and the mucous membranes allow the pathogen to invade the body. If the immune system of the patient cannot be able to adequately fight the invading organism, an infection will take place. Kidneys and lungs are the most body organs that can act as sites for infection. Patients who are over the age of 50 years, are in nursing home, are recovering from a severe illness, and have a chronic illness have a greater risk of getting pneumonia. In elderly people, an infection may be present without an increase of white blood cells.
4- Imbalanced nutrition: more than body requirements.
A balanced diet plays a critical role in managing an infection. A balanced diet should be encouraged, placing more emphasis on proteins to feed the immune system. Immune function is affected by intake of protein (particularly arginine); the balance between the intake of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid; and sufficient amounts of the minerals zinc and iron, and vitamins A, C, and E. A deficiency of these nutrients puts the patient at a high level of infection. As indicated from her diet habits, the patient claims to have a healthy diet and her dietary intake is adequate. The patient has positive health beliefs and knows that she should be doing more to maintain a healthy lifestyle. She does not get adequate exercise because of her shortness of breath. She enjoys visiting her physician. However, from the results, the patient seem not to have a balanced diet on the basis of her body mass index which is calculated based on her weight and height.
5- Ineffective self-health management
Self-health management can be described as the behaviors and decisions that patients presenting chronic illness employ, that have an effect on their health.  Self-health management support is the encouragement and care given to patients with chronic conditions and their members of family to assist them appreciate their vital role in managing their ill health, engage in healthy behaviors, and make informed decisions about care. The patient shows a degree of ineffective self-health management. She has been prescribed inhalers in the past; they have been helpful but she does not use them on a routine basis. She does not exercise and remains a smoker even when she knows smoking affects her health (Kollack, 2006).