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Pneumonia
Alternate Names : Bronchopneumonia, Community-Acquired Pneumonia, Pneumonitis
Definition
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs caused by an infection. Many different organisms can cause it, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Pneumonia is a common illness that affects millions of people each year in the United States.
Pneumonia can range from very mild to very severe, even fatal. The severity depends on the type of organism causing pneumonia as well as your age and underlying health.
Pictures & Images
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Bacterial pneumonias tend to be the most serious and, in adults, the most common cause, especially Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).
Respiratory viruses are the most common causes of pneumonia in young children, peaking between the ages of 2 and 3. By school age, the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae becomes more common.
In some people, particularly the elderly and those who are debilitated, bacterial pneumonia may follow influenza or even a common cold.
Many people contract pneumonia while staying in a hospital for other conditions. This tends to be more serious because the patient's immune system is often impaired due to the condition that initially required treatment. In addition, there is a greater possibility of infection with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.
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Jump to another section
• Definition
• Pneumonia Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Pneumonia Symptoms & Signs
• Pneumonia Prevention
• Pneumonia Diagnosis & Tests
• Pneumonia Treatment
• Pneumonia Prognosis
• Pneumonia Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Aspiration Pneumonia
• Atypical Pneumonia
• CMV - Pneumonia
• Empyema
• Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia
• Legionnaire's Disease
• Mycoplasma Pneumonia
• Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia
• Pneumonia in Immunocompromised Host
• The Flu
• Viral Pneumonia
Tests & Exams
• CBC
• Chest X-Ray
• Pleural Fluid Culture
• Pulmonary Ventilation/Perfusion Scan
• Routine Sputum Culture
• Thoracic CT
Other Topics
• Appetite - Decreased
• Breathing Difficulty
• Chest Pain
• Cough
• Coughing Up Blood
• Fever
• Headache
• Hib - Vaccine
• Influenza Immunization (Vaccine)
• Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine
Review Date : 11/10/2003
Reviewed By : Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Boston, Ma., and Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M., Inc. and Steven Angelo, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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