Question

A family brings their elderly father to emergency department. He has been exposed to pneumococcal pneumonia at his retirement home. Today, they noted a change in his mental status. They thought he might need some oxygen. Which of the other assessment findings would correlate with this diagnosis? Select all that apply.

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by an infection. It affects the respiratory system (lungs and throat) and causes minor injuries, which are the gateway to the pneumococcus. As a person's resistance is lower (which are in elderly people), the bacteria can multiply and end up causing an infection in the lungs.

The main symptoms are:  cough with phlegm;  high fever; shortness of breath;  chest pain;  accelerated breathing and feeling of weakness.  Older patients may not have a fever, but may have mental confusion.