Detailed information on antifungal drugs and their clinical use is available in Chapter 38 , Opportunistic Mycoses. Introduction Geographically restricted (or endemic) mycoses include histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, sporotrichosis, and…
Introduction Bronchiectasis is defined by dilation, or ectasia, of the airways or bronchus. The primary clinical manifestations of bronchiectasis are recurrent, chronic, or refractory infections. Other significant sequelae include hemoptysis,…
Introduction Catastrophic air pollution events in the Meuse Valley of Belgium (1930), Donora, PA (1948), and London (1952) arose when air stagnation caused high levels of ambient pollutants, especially sulfur…
Introduction This chapter focuses on the acute effects on the lung after exposure to toxic substances. As used in this chapter, acute indicates short-term exposures (minutes to hours), with the…
Introduction Viral infections are important causes of disease of the respiratory tract. The common cold is the most frequently encountered infectious syndrome of humans, while influenza continues to be a…
Introduction This first chapter in the section on respiratory physiology is devoted to the primary function of the lung: gas exchange. In addition, the principles of ventilation and blood flow…
Introduction Work-related asthma (WRA) is a major public health concern due to its high prevalence and societal burden. WRA is a broad term indicating that asthma is worsened by the…
Introduction Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), also known as extrinsic allergic alveolitis, constitutes a spectrum of granulomatous, interstitial, bronchiolar, and alveolar-filling lung diseases resulting from repeated inhalation of and sensitization to a…
Introduction Pulmonary edema—defined as excessive extravascular water in the lungs—is a common and serious clinical problem. Pulmonary edema can be life-threatening, but effective therapy is available to rescue patients from…
Introduction Positron emission tomography (PET) with 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is a noninvasive imaging technique with several important applications in respiratory medicine. PET has long been used to evaluate inflammatory conditions…
