Pneumonia Epidemiology

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Introduction

Pneumonia is a common infection in one or both of the lungs generally caused by bacteria or a virus. The symptoms of Pneumonia can vary from mild to severe where most healthy people recover from symptoms in one to three weeks, however, depending on the severity of pneumonia, it can be life threatening. [1]

This investigation is going to discuss the epidemiology and the frequency of the clinical presentations of the disease within Australia as well as investigate the financial burden the disease has on the Australian government. The aetiology and pathophysiology will be discussed and will identify the causal effects and the relevant underpinning disease processes involved in the patient’s clinical condition. To conclude this investigation,
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In 2010 The Australian Bureau of Statistics [2] found that pneumonia had a mortality rate of 2,322, where more females were affected than males. In 2007, a study conducted by Anthony T Newall, Professor Paul A Scuffham and Brent Hodgkinson regarding the cost of Influenza to the Australian Health System, found that over the past 5 years there was an annual average of 310,000 GP reported consultations and 18,000 admissions to hospital caused by influenza and pneumonia. [3] With an average GP consultation of $33.32 and admission to hospital of $5,245, annually the costs for these events range from $52 million up to $137 million. However, these costs don’t include the out of pocket costs to patients or to society. Those costs include the value of lost production from time off work due to illness and premature death, the costs of reduced productivity from working at lower levels of efficiency when at work with illness and the value of pain and suffering incurred by those infected with pneumonia. [3] The impact of the disease on the role of paramedics and the ambulance service within the health system are quite substantial. Correctly identifying the disease and effectively providing treatment to patients can keep a lot of people from being admitted into hospital, in turn resulting in more space and resources in our health care and hospital …show more content…
It also mentioned the financial burden the disease has on the Australian government using data taken from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The aetiology and pathophysiology of pneumonia were identified and discussed the effects and the relevant underpinning disease processes involved in the patient’s clinical condition. To conclude this investigation an overview of the pre-hospital management required for this illness was given. It is important to remember that if left untreated the severity of pneumonia can become life threatening so seek medical treatment and or prevention if symptoms

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