Respiratory System Diseases, 195-WHY
Respiratory disease, any of the diseases and disorders of the airways and the lungs that affect human respiration. Diseases of the respiratory system may affect any of the structures and organs that have to do with breathing, including the nasal cavities, the pharynx (or throat), the larynx, the trachea (or windpipe), the bronchi and bronchioles, the tissues of the lungs, and the respiratory muscles of the chest cage.
Respiratory System Diseases Encyclopedia Articles By Title
1957 flu pandemic, outbreak of influenza that was first identified in February 1957 in East Asia and that subsequently......
1968 flu pandemic, global outbreak of influenza that originated in China in July 1968 and lasted until 1969–70.......
adenovirus infection, any of a group of illnesses caused by infection with an adenovirus. There are numerous different......
asbestosis, lung disease that is caused by the prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibres. A type of pneumoconiosis,......
asphyxia, the failure or disturbance of the respiratory process brought about by the lack or insufficiency of oxygen......
asthma, a chronic disorder of the lungs in which inflamed airways are prone to constrict, causing episodes of wheezing,......
atelectasis, derived from the Greek words atelēs and ektasis, literally meaning “incomplete expansion” in reference......
bird flu, a viral respiratory disease mainly of poultry and certain other bird species, including migratory waterbirds,......
black lung, respiratory disorder, a type of pneumoconiosis caused by repeated inhalation of coal dust over a period......
bronchiectasis, an abnormal expansion of the bronchial tubes in the lungs as a result of infection or obstruction.......
bronchitis, inflammation of all or part of the bronchial tree (the bronchi), through which air passes into the......
byssinosis, respiratory disorder caused by inhalation of an endotoxin produced by bacteria in the fibres of cotton.......
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), progressive respiratory disease characterized by the combination......
common cold, acute viral infection that starts in the upper respiratory tract, sometimes spreads to the lower respiratory......
cough, an expulsive reflex initiated when the respiratory tract is irritated by infection, noxious fumes, dust,......
COVID-19, highly contagious respiratory illness, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 was first detected......
These questions and answers have been provided to Britannica by the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, a......
COVID-19 has become a household term. But what does COVID-19 mean? And why does the virus that causes COVID-19......
croup, acute respiratory illness of young children characterized by a harsh cough, hoarseness, and difficulty breathing.......
drowning, suffocation by immersion in a liquid, usually water. Water closing over the victim’s mouth and nose cuts......
emphysema, condition characterized by widespread destruction of the gas-exchanging tissues of the lungs, resulting......
exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, disease condition in horses in which blood appears in the airways during......
farmer’s lung, a pulmonary disorder that results from the development of hypersensitivity to inhaled dust from......
hemothorax, collection of a bloody fluid in the pleural cavity, between the membrane lining the thoracic cage and......
October marks the start of cold and flu season in the Northern Hemisphere, where, in 2020, many countries also......
The influenza pandemic of 1918–19, also called the Spanish flu, lasted between one and two years. The pandemic......
influenza, an acute viral infection of the upper or lower respiratory tract that is marked by fever, chills, and......
influenza pandemic (H1N1) of 2009, the first major influenza outbreak in the 21st century, noted for its rapid......
influenza pandemic of 1918–19, the most severe influenza outbreak of the 20th century and, in terms of total numbers......
This infographic explains what influenza and pandemics are and how the influenza pandemic of 1918–19 spread. That......
When it comes to reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting student and teacher health is of utmost......
Legionnaire disease, form of pneumonia caused by the bacillus Legionella pneumophila. The name of the disease (and......
lung cancer, disease characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells in the lungs. Lung cancer was first described......
lung congestion, distention of blood vessels in the lungs and filling of the alveoli with blood as a result of......
lung infarction, death of one or more sections of lung tissue due to deprivation of an adequate blood supply. The......
MERS, acute viral respiratory illness that is characterized primarily by cough, fever, and shortness of breath......
mesothelioma, tumour that arises from the sheet of cells known as the mesothelium, which lines body cavities and......
paragonimiasis, infection caused by parasitic trematodes of the genus Paragonimus. Infection most commonly is with......
pleural effusion, accumulation of watery fluid in the pleural cavity, between the membrane lining the thoracic......
pleurisy, inflammation of the pleura, the membranes that line the thoracic cavity and fold in to cover the lungs.......
pneumoconiosis, any of many lung diseases caused by the inhalation of a variety of organic or inorganic dusts or......
pneumonia, inflammation and consolidation of the lung tissue as a result of infection, inhalation of foreign particles,......
pneumothorax, condition in which air accumulates in the pleural space, causing it to expand and thus compress the......
pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, respiratory disorder caused by the filling of large groups of alveoli with excessive......
pulmonary edema, buildup of excess fluid in the alveoli (air sacs) of the lungs. Alveoli are the sites of oxygen......
pulmonary fibrosis, end result of a variety of inflammatory diseases of the lungs in which dense fibrous connective......
pyothorax, presence of pus in the pleural cavity, between the membrane lining the thoracic cage and the membrane......
Through illness, community and national lockdowns, and economic downturn, the COVID-19 pandemic has upended the......
respiratory disease, any of the diseases and disorders of the airways and the lungs that affect human respiration.......
- Introduction
- Immunity, Pathogens, Defense
- Morphology, Pathology, Diagnosis
- Asthma, COPD, Pneumonia
- Legionnaires, Bacteria, Symptoms
- Asthma, Symptoms, Treatment
- Bronchi, Acute, Symptoms
- Chronic Bronchitis, Symptoms, Treatment
- Lung Cancer, Symptoms, Treatment
- Occupational Lung, Prevention, Treatment
- Industrial Chemicals, Toxicity, Symptoms
- Circulation, Symptoms, Treatment
respiratory distress syndrome of newborns, a common complication in infants, especially in premature newborns,......
SARS, highly contagious respiratory illness characterized by a persistent fever, headache, and bodily discomfort,......
silicosis, a chronic disease of the lungs that is caused by the inhalation of silica dust over long periods of......
sleep apnea, respiratory condition characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. The word apnea is derived......
suffocation, the stoppage or impeding of respiration, as by strangulation, choking on food, or other exclusion......
swine flu, a respiratory disease of pigs that is caused by an influenza virus. The first flu virus isolated from......
This special report has been provided to Britannica by NewsGuard, which offers the service HealthGuard to fight......
- Introduction
- MYTH: The mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 do not fit the CDC and FDA’s definitions of a vaccine, which state that vaccines have to both stimulate immunity and disrupt transmission of a virus.
- MYTH: The increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths in India between February and May 2021 was caused by COVID-19 vaccinations.
- MYTH: The CDC director said that COVID-19 vaccines fail to protect against the delta variant of the COVID-19 virus and that vaccinated individuals can be superspreaders of the virus, because they have higher viral loads than the unvaccinated.
tracheitis, inflammation and infection of the trachea (windpipe). Most conditions that affect the trachea are bacterial......
tuberculosis (TB), infectious disease that is caused by the tubercle bacillus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In most......
This article was originally published May 15, 2020, and updated October 15, 2020. When a global outbreak of disease......
Influenza and the coronavirus disease COVID-19 appear to be very similar. After all, both are respiratory diseases,......
On February 25, 2020, a top official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention decided it was time to level......
As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded in the United States and health experts have collected increasing amounts......
