Respiratory

Diseases
By: Maria Fernanda Roldn, Ximena
Llamas, Giorgio Parolini and Adrian Ramirez
Asthma (AZ-ma) is a long-term lung disease that inflames
and narrows the airways. Asthma causes recurring periods
of wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and
coughing.
Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts
during childhood. In the United States, more than 25
million people are known to have asthma. About 7 million
of these people are children.

Asthma
Cough
Coughing is a reflex that keeps your throat and airways
clear. Even Though it can be very disturbing, coughing
helps your body heal or protect itself, because when the
virus enters your body, your immune system learns how to
beat that virus. Coughs can be either acute or chronic.
Acute coughs begin suddenly and usually last no more than
2 to 3 weeks.
Flu
The Flu is a contagious respiratory illness
caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose,
throat, and lungs. It can cause severe illness,
and at times causes death. The best way to
avoid the flu is by getting a flu vaccine every
year.
Influenza
Influenza is a viral infection of the respiratory
tract transmitted airborne. There are 2 types:
influenza A & influenza B.It spreads very
quickly.it affects a large group of people in a
very short amount of time.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes,
which carry air to and from your lungs. Often developing from a
cold or other respiratory infection, acute bronchitis is very common.
Chronic bronchitis, a more serious condition, is a constant irritation
or inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, often due to
smoking.
Acute bronchitis usually improves within a few days without lasting
effects, although you may continue to cough for weeks. However, if
you have repeated bouts of bronchitis, you may have chronic
bronchitis, which requires medical attention.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a general term that refers to an infection of the
lungs, which can be caused by a variety of microorganisms,
including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.
Most cases of pneumonia are caused by viruses, including
adenoviruses, rhinovirus, influenza virus (flu), respiratory
syncytial virus (RSV), and parainfluenza virus (which causes
croup).
Often, pneumonia begins after an upper respiratory tract
infection (an infection of the nose and throat), with symptoms of
pneumonia beginning after 2 or 3 days of a cold or sore throat.

Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by germs that are spread
from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the
lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the
brain, the kidneys, or the spine. A person with TB can die if they
do not get treatment. TB germs are put into the air when a
person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes,
speaks, or sings. These germs can stay in the air for several
hours, depending on the environment. Persons who breathe in
the air containing these TB germs can become infected; this is
called latent TB infection.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/bronchitis/basics/definition/con-20014956
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/pneumonia.html
http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/general/tb.pdf



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