What is bronchitis? Bronchitis occurs when the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air to the lungs, become irritated and inflamed. When they are inflamed, the lungs produce excess mucus and cause your child to cough. Acute bronchitis is sometimes called a chest cold. It can develop after your child has a cold or upper...
What is pneumonectomy? A pneumonectomy is a type of surgery to remove one of the lungs. Lungs are a part of the respiratory system that removes oxygen from the air and pass it into your blood. Every individual has two lungs; these lungs connect to mouth through a series of tubular structures. A pneumonectomy is...
What is a pulmonary function test? Four common types of lung tests are spirometry, lung volume test, gas diffusion test, and exercise stress test. Pulmonary function test or lung function test is a group of tests that check the workings of the lungs. They are noninvasive test which can determine the functional status of the...
In case of the usual asthma attacks, the pediatrician may ask you to use medicated inhalations delivered through a metered-dose inhaler, nebulizer, and dry powder inhalers. Treatment of a child’s asthma involves following an action plan developed in consultation with your child’s pediatrician. Severe asthmatic attacks require immediate medical attention and treatment at the hospital....
What is pneumonia? Woman With Contagious Viral Pneumonia. Because pneumonia is caused mainly by infectious microbes, pneumonia can be contagious. Pneumonia caused by chemical fumes or other poisons not made by infectious agents is not contagious Pneumonia is inflammation of the lung tissue usually but not exclusively caused by infection from bacteria, virus, or fungus. Pneumonia causes the...
What is pleural effusion? Chest X-rays can detect pleural effusions, which often appear as white areas at the lung base. A pleural effusion is a buildup of fluid in the pleural space, an area between the layers of tissue that line the lungs and the chest wall. It may also be referred to as effusion...
What facts should I know about pulmonary edema? Picture of the alveoli and lungs What is the medical definition of pulmonary edema? Pulmonary edema is typically caused by filling of alveoli in the lungs by fluid leaking out of the blood. What causes pulmonary edema? Pulmonary edema may be caused by a number of cardiac...
What is XDR TB? Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) is a relatively rare type of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB). It is resistant to almost all drugs used to treat TB, including the two best first-line drugs: isoniazid and rifampin. XDR TB is also resistant to the best second-line medications: fluoroquinolones and at least one of...
What should I know about medical abbreviations? What do they mean? Have you ever wondered why you can't read the doctor's note or the letters and numbers on a prescription? Health care professionals often quickly scribble notes with important medical information that they would like a patient to reference in regard to the type of...
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency definition and facts* *Facts medically reviewed by Charles P. Patrick, MD, PhD Alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD, antitrypsin deficiency, or alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency) is a disorder (disease) that causes the alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) protein to be reduced or missing from the blood. This protein is necessary for healthy lungs, and the body...