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4.6: Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System

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    This section provides an overview of common respiratory disorders and diseases.

    Allergies

    Allergies (ĂL-ĕr-jēz) occur when a person’s immune system reacts to a substance and makes antibodies that identify that substance as harmful. Substances identified as allergens can cause inflammation of the skin, sinuses, nasal passages, airways, or digestive system. The severity of allergies varies from person to person and can range from minor irritation to a potentially life-threatening emergency called anaphylaxis (ăn-ă-fĭ-LĂK-sĭs). While most allergies can’t be cured, allergy medications can help relieve symptoms.[1]

    There are many types of allergies. Allergic rhinitis, commonly referred to as “hay fever,” can cause sneezing; pruritus (PRŪ-rī-tŭs), itching of the skin, as well as itching of the nose, eyes, or roof of the mouth; rhinorrhea; and watery, red, or swollen eyes. A food allergy can cause tingling in the mouth; swelling of the lips, tongue, face, or throat; hives; and anaphylaxis. Read more information about anaphylaxis in the following subsection. An insect sting allergy can cause swelling at the sting site, itching or hives all over the body, cough, chest tightness, wheezing, shortness of breath, and anaphylaxis. A drug allergy can cause hives, pruritus, rash, swelling in the respiratory tract, and anaphylaxis.

    Anaphylaxis

    Severe allergies, including allergies to foods, insect stings, medications, and blood transfusions, can trigger a severe reaction known as anaphylaxis. As a life-threatening medical emergency, anaphylaxis can cause a patient to go into anaphylactic shock, a potentially fatal condition. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis are as follows[2]:

    • View the following YouTube video[10] for additional information about asthma: How Does Asthma Work? – Christopher E. Gaw

      Bronchitis

      Often developing from a cold or other respiratory infection, acute bronchitis is very common. Acute bronchitis, also called a chest cold, usually improves within a week to ten days without lasting effects, although the cough may linger for weeks.

      Chronic bronchitis (KRŎN-ĭk brŏng-KĪ-tĭs), a more serious condition, is a constant irritation or inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, often due to smoking. Chronic bronchitis is one of the conditions included in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).[11] Read more about COPD in the following subsection.

      Symptoms for either acute bronchitis or chronic bronchitis may include the following:

      • Symptoms of a common cold usually appear one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus. Signs and symptoms, which can vary from person to person, are as follows[16]:

    This page titled 4.6: Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Open Resources for Nursing (OpenRN) .