Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPV) is a deadly disease, with a 35% fatality rate, that comes from exposure to diseased rodents, their droppings, their urine, or their saliva. The infection attacks the lungs, making it difficult to breathe and, in a third of cases, leads to death by respiratory failure.
Symptoms develop 1-5 weeks after exposure to the rodent’s infection. Most individuals will not know, at first, that something is seriously wrong.
Emphysema, also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a chronic illness of the lungs. Dyspnea, or shortness of breath, is a principle indicator of the disease of emphysema. In the beginning of the illness, this shortness of breath occurs during physical activity.
Later, as the disease progresses, episodes of dyspnea can even occur when the individual is at rest. This shortness of breath occurs because emphysema involves damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs, making oxygenation of the body more difficult and taxing.
Research indicates that children who are diagnosed with cystic fibrosis early have better outcomes. Soon after birth, babies in many countries including the United States and Canada will have a simple blood test done to screen for cystic fibrosis (CF) and other diseases. [1] Early screening, detection and diagnosis lead to better outcomes for children with CF. [1]
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder which affects the lungs and digestive system—thick, sticky mucus is produced, impairing the function of the lungs and pancreas [2], an organ responsible for secreting enzymes responsible for proper digestion of food. Symptoms that arise from CF are due to this mucus.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) is characterized by two lung diseases, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Both illnesses make the process of breathing more difficult and less efficient.
With chronic bronchitis, inflamed bronchioles are the main problem. The inflammation causes excessive mucus production, leading to a productive cough, followed by eventual scarring and thickening of the bronchial airway.
Most people who experience coccidioidomycosis (Cocci) have no noticeable symptoms. Of those who do, most have flu-like symptoms and never get diagnosed with Cocci.
Only 40% of people infected experience these flu-like symptoms. Some of the flu-like symptoms include achiness, cough, rash, chest pain, weakness, and fever.
Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include wheezing breath and a chronic cough. The cough is generally productive, producing mucus that is clear, yellow, or green. With chronic bronchitis, these episodes last close to a month or longer, at least three months out of the year, for at least two years in a row.
Treatment for bronchitis starts with bronchodilators, inhaled steroids that open up the bronchioles and relax and open the air passageways. It can calm the coughing and the tightness in the chest.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, or BPD, is a condition unique to newborn premature infants who were born before their lungs were fully developed. Because of the immaturity of the lungs, they struggle to get oxygen to their bodies and their lungs become inflamed and scarred from the effort.
BPD can cause coughing, wheezing, and rapid shallow breathing. All these signs indicate the child is struggling to maintain oxygen levels. Reduced oxygen levels will lead to blue coloring around the mouth and fingertips.
Bronchiolitis, often caused by RSV and seen more often in children and infants, can be confused at times with other problems of the lungs. Therefore, understanding the symptoms of bronchiolitis can be imperative to saving the life of someone who contracts it.
Wheezing is one of the initial signs of bronchiolitis, in addition to a wheezy cough. This condition is usually referred to by ER doctors as a “stridor.” The child will also likely be lethargic.
The symptoms of bronchiectasis are indicative of the condition of excess mucus buildup in the lungs, and infections caused by that buildup. Coughing is a common symptom that tends to get worse when the individual is lying down.
Chest pain is also experienced by many who have this condition, as well as abnormal sounds in the chest. Generally, people with bronchiectasis will cough up large amounts of phlegm. Shortness of breath is another sign.
The first requirement for the diagnosis of asbestosis is determining the amount of exposure to asbestos. Generally asbestosis results from more than just a one-time exposure. Symptoms are caused by the damage that the tiny asbestos fibers do to the lung tissue.
Some of the most common symptoms include shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, a crackling sound when breathing in, a persistent and productive cough, reduced appetite and chest pain.
