Respiratory tree infections

Respiratory tract infections remain the major cause of morbidity from acute illness in the United States and most likely represent the single most common reason patients seek medical attention. This chapter focuses on bacterial and viral infections involving the lower respiratory tract, which includes the tracheobronchial tree and lung parenchyma. 

Systemic administration of belladonna alkaloids or their derivatives for bronchial asthma or COPD carries the disadvantage of reducing bronchial secretions and inspissation of the residual secretions. This viscid material is difficult to remove from the respiratory tree, and its presence can dangerously obstruct airflow and predispose to infection. By contrast, ipratropium and tiotropium, administered by inhalation, do not produce adverse effects on mucocfliary clearance, and can be used safely in the treatment of airway disease see Chapter 27). 

Bronchitis refers to an inflammatory condition of the large elements of the tracheobronchial tree that is usually associated with a generalized respiratory infection. The inflammatory process does not extend to include the alveoli. The disease entity is frequently classified as either acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis occurs in all ages, whereas chronic bronchitis primarily affects adults. 

Such adjuvant therapy should be performed for several months after grass or tree pollen exposure and perennially for mite allergy patients nevertheless, clinical symptoms disappear after mattress and pillow encasing measures. It should be initiated before immunotherapy as well as be continued during immunotherapy, when therapy-related side effects or allergy-related symptoms appear or virus infections of the respiratory tract occur [16, 17],... 

Cannabis is often detected in the blood of drivers and is considered the major cause of road crashes after alcohol. It is often implicated in forensic cases and workplace accidents. A -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the major psychoactive constituent of Cannabis sativa, whose main metabolites formed in blood are 1 l-nor-9-carboxy-A -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) and ll-hydroxy-A -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-OH). Marijuana (also ganja, grass, herb, Mary Jane, pot, green, trees, smoke, sinsemilla, and weed) and hashish (or boom, gangster, hash, hemp) are made up of dried parts of the Cannabis sativa hemp plant they give euphoria and relaxation but also slowed reaction times, impaired coordination, anxiety, panic attack, and psychosis and cause respiratory infections, mental health decline, and addiction. 

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