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Pneumonia
Pneumonia
and other organisms. Pneumonia is usually triggered when a patient’s defense system is
weakened, most often by a simple viral upper respiratory tract infection or a case of
influenza. Such infections or other triggers do not cause pneumonia directly but they
alter the mucous blanket, thus encouraging bacterial growth. Other factors can also
make specific people susceptible to bacterial growth and pneumonia.
Bacteria are the most common causes of pneumonia, but these
infections can also be caused by other microbial organisms. It is
often impossible to identify the specific culprit. The most
common cause of pneumonia is the gram-positive bacterium
Streptococcus pneumoniae (also called S. pneumoniae or
pneumococcal pneumonia ). The most common gram-negative
species causing pneumonia is Haemophilus influenzae (generally
occurring in patients with chronic lung disease, older patients,
and alcoholics).
Atypical pneumonias are generally caused by tiny nonbacterial
organisms called Mycoplasma or Chlamydia pneumoniae and
produce mild symptoms with a dry cough. Viruses that can cause
or lead to pneumonia include influenza, respiratory syncytial
virus (RSV), herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster (the cause of
chickenpox), and adenovirus.
General Symptoms.
The symptoms of bacterial pneumonia develop abruptly and may
include chest pain, fever, shaking, chills, shortness of breath, and
rapid breathing and heart beat.
Symptoms of pneumonia indicating a medical emergency include
high fever, a rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, bluish-skin, and
mental confusion.
Vague pain under and around the breast bone may occur, but the
severe chest pain associated with typical bacterial pneumonia is
uncommon.
#Aconite. [Acon]
Probably no fact is more fully established in medicine, in any
school, than the beneficial action of Aconite action of Aconite in
pulmonary congestions. It is the remedy of remedies in the first
stage of pneumonia, because it corresponds more closely to the
symptoms usually found in that stage. It should not, however, be
used in this or any disease in the first or any stage unless the
symptoms call for it. The symptoms are these: High fever
preceded by a distinct chill; the pulse is full, hard and tense; a
history of exposure may also be taken into consideration; dry,
cold winds. The skin is hot and dry, without moisture upon it;
there is a hard, dry, teasing and painful cough; there may be some
expectoration present, if so it is watery, serous and frothy, may be
blood tinged, but not thick. Thick expectoration indicates that
exudation is commencing, and then Aconite is no longer the
remedy. There is pain also with Aconite, which is poorly borne.
With these symptoms there is great restlessness, tossing about,
anxiety and perhaps fear of death. It will strengthen confidence in
remedies to see Aconite act in these cases. Veratrum viride in
some is similar to Aconite in some particulars, but it is easily
distinguished; there is a full rapid pulse and a great deal of
arterial excitement; the eyes are glistening and there is a red
streak down through the centre of the tongue. It is, perhaps more
often indicated at the commencement of a pneumonia than is
Aconite. A great indication for Aconite in pulmonary congestions
is suddenness of onset, and especially so if it occurs in young and
plethoric persons who are full of life and vigour, for it is per-
eminently in such patients that congestions, when appearing at
all, appear suddenly. Gelsemium lacks the suddenness of
Aconite. Here apathy is marked, and the two drugs need never be
confounded.