Inflammation Classification in Respiratory Pathology

Location

  • Nasal cavity - rhinitis
  • Paranasal sinuses - sinusitis
  • Guttural pouch and eustachian tube - eustachitis
  • Pharynx - pharyngitis
  • Trachea - tracheitis
  • Bronchi - bronchitis
  • Bronchioles - bronchiolitis
  • Lungs - pneumonia/pneumonitis
  • Pleura - pleuritis/pleurisy

Type

Grossly many inflammatory processes (eg: response to viral or bacterial infection) in the URT will begin as a serous discharge, and then progress to a catarrhal exudate, and then to purulent/pseudomembranous/haemorrhagic as neutrophils are recruited

  • Serous - transparent fluid exudate (acute inflammation)
  • Catarrhal - mucous exudation (acute to subacute inflammation)
  • Pseudomembranaous - fibrin exudation
  • Purulent - pus
  • Ulcerative
  • Haemorrhagic
  • Granulomatous (chronic inflammation)
  • Polypoid (chronic inflammation)

Timecourse

  • Acute
  • Subacute
  • Chronic

Causes