Community Acquired Pneumonia And Iron Deficiency Anemia:Brittany Murphy's Death;Brittany Murphy's death was deemed accidental due to community acquired pneumonia, iron deficiency anemia and multiple drug intoxication. We were all shocked to find out Brittany Murphy Dead at just 32 years old. The L.A. County coroner's office revealed Brittany Murphy's death due to iron deficiency anemia and community acquired pneumonia rather than any other rumored causes.

Brittany Murphy's death was caused by sudden cardiac arrest at her home in Hollywood Hills. The Examiner reports Brittany Murphy took multiple prescription drugs including the painkiller Vicoprofen and antidepressant Fluoxetine to relieve severe menstrual cramps. The combined elements of multiple drug intoxication, community acquired pneumonia and iron deficiency anemia lead to Brittany Murphy's death. Here is YouTube video of Brittany Murphy in “Clueless”:

Community Acquired Pneumonia:Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a disease in which individuals who have not recently been hospitalized develop an infection of the lungs (pneumonia). CAP is a common illness and can affect people of all ages. CAP often causes problems like difficulty in breathing, fever, chest pains, and a cough. CAP occurs because the areas of the lung which absorb oxygen (alveoli) from the atmosphere become filled with fluid and cannot work effectively.

Community Acquired Pneumonia occurs throughout the world and is a leading cause of illness and death. Causes of CAP include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Community Acquired Pneumonia can be diagnosed by symptoms and physical examination alone, though x-rays, examination of the sputum, and other tests are often used. Individuals with CAP sometimes require treatment in a hospital. Community Acquired Pneumonia is primarily treated with antibiotic medication. Some forms of Community Acquired Pneumonia can be prevented by vaccination.

Diagnosis:

Individuals with symptoms ofCommunity Acquired Pneumonia require further evaluation. Physical examination by a health provider may reveal fever, an increased respiratory rate (tachypnea), low blood pressure (hypotension), a fast heart rate (tachycardia), and/or changes in the amount of oxygen in the blood. Feeling the way the chest expands (palpation) and tapping the chest wall (percussion) to identify dull areas which do not resonate can identify areas of the lung which are stiff and full of fluid (consolidated). Examination of the lungs with the aid of a stethoscope can reveal several things.

A lack of normal breath sounds or the presence of crackling sounds (rales) when the lungs are listened to (auscultated) can also indicate consolidation. Increased vibration of the chest when speaking (tactile fremitus) and increased volume of whispered speech during auscultation of the chest can also reveal consolidation.
Pneumonia. Chest x-ray showing increased shadowing in right lung (left side of image). (Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention.)

X-rays of the chest, examination of the blood and sputum for infectious microorganisms, and blood tests are commonly used to diagnose individuals with suspected Community Acquired Pneumonia based upon symptoms and physical examination. The use of each test depends on the severity of illness, local practices, and the concern for any complications resulting from the infection. All patients with Community Acquired Pneumonia should have the amount of oxygen in their blood monitored with a machine called a pulse oximeter. This helps determine how well the lungs are able to work despite infection. In some cases, analysis of arterial blood gas may be required to accurately determine the amount of oxygen in the blood. Complete blood count (CBC), a blood test, may reveal extra white blood cells, indicating an infection. Chest x-rays and chest computed tomography (CT) can reveal areas of opacity (seen as white) which represent consolidation. A normal chest x-ray makes CAP less likely; however, CAP is sometimes not seen on x-rays because the disease is either in its initial stages or involves a part of the lung not easily seen by x-ray. In some cases, chest CT can reveal a Community Acquired Pneumonia which is not present on chest x-ray. X-rays can often be misleading, as many other diseases can mimic CAP such as heart problems or other types of lung damage.
Main symptoms of infectious pneumonia

Several tests can be performed to identify the cause of an individual's CAP. Blood cultures can be drawn to isolate any bacteria or fungi in the blood stream. Sputum Gram's stain and culture can also reveal the causative microorganism. In more severe cases, a procedure wherein a flexible scope is passed through the mouth into the lungs (bronchoscopy) can be used collect fluid for culture. Special tests can be performed if an uncommon microorganism is suspected (such as testing the urine for Legionella antigen when Legionnaires' disease is a concern).

The Cause Of Brittany Murphy’s Death:Community Acquired Pneumonia:The coroner’s statement on Brittany Murphy death is out and it indicates community acquired pneumonia, iron deficiency anemia, and multiple drug intoxication as the main causes. As soon as the reports were out, frenzy has taken over the internet as surfers are frantically trying to find out information about “community acquired pneumonia.”

Community acquired pneumonia is an illness that is not limited to any age group. It often causes problems like difficulty in breathing, fever, chest pains, and a cough. The illness generally forms as ones lung gets filled with fluid causing it to fail in oxygen absorption and work inefficiently. Like a common man says, it’s basically an infection of the lungs.

Some CAP require hospitalization cases require hospitalization while others not. Pneumonia severity index and CURB-65 helps decide to hospitalize the patient or not.

Vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae in the first year of birth reduces the chances of CAP enormously.