what are the different diseases that COPD INCLUDES?

[2bNurse1024]

I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT THE DISEASES that copd includes i know some are emphysema, bronchitis....is pneumonia part of that too?

[perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN]

No... pneumonia is an acute infection. People with COPD are often more prone to getting pneumonia, because their lungs are already compromised and vulnerable to infection more so than the average person, and also because a simple upper respiratory infection can turn into pneumonia more easily with these patients. However, COPD is CHRONIC obstructive pulmonary disease, whereas pneumonia is ACUTE. Pneumonia can last a long time or be difficult to get rid of, but it is not a type of COPD. (Sorry if this is repetitive or confusing...)

[leslie :-D]

I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT THE DISEASES that copd includes i know some are emphysema, bronchitis....is pneumonia part of that too?

i was taught emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma.

but from what i've heard these days, they're only encompassing the emphysema and bronchitis, since asthma's obstruction of outward air flow, is reversible.

leslie

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

Medline's always an excellent resource for these types of questions. Here's the link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency/article/000066.htm

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

The following 4 conditions comprise COPD (page 145, Faye Brown's ICD-9-CM 2005 Coding Handbook):

• Chronic obstructive asthma
  
• Chronic obstructive bronchitis
  
• Emphysema
  
• Chronic bronchitis with emphysema
  

Please note the very specific names of these diseases. They are not just simple asthma or simple bronchitis. The words, called modifiers, of "chronic" and "obstructive" that are paired with them are an extremely important part of the diagnostic name.