Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Viral pneumonia pathophysiology
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology
Viruses
- Viruses must invade cells in order to reproduce.
- Typically, a virus will reach the lungs by traveling in droplets through the mouth and nose with inhalation.
- There, the virus invades the cells lining the airways and the alveoli.
- This invasion often leads to cell death either by directly killing the virus or by self-destruction through apoptosis.
- Further damage to the lungs occurs when the immune system responds to the infection. White blood cells, in particular lymphocytes, are responsible for activating a variety of chemicals (cytokines) which cause leaking of fluid into the alveoli.
- The combination of cellular destruction and fluid-filled alveoli interrupts the transportation of oxygen into the bloodstream.
- In addition to the effects on the lungs, many viruses affect other organs and can lead to illness affecting many different bodily functions.
- Viruses also make the body more susceptible to bacterial infection; for this reason, bacterial pneumonia often complicates viral CAP.
References
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]