What is Pneumonia?

Answer:
Pneumonia is an infection that occurs in one

or both of the lungs. Pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi.

Before the discovery of antibiotics, one-third of those who caught pneumonia died from the infection. In the United States, over three million people develop pneumonia yearly. Over 500,000 of these people are admitted to the hospital to receive treatment for their pneumonia.

Most people who develop pneumonia have symptoms of a cold which are then followed by a high fever. This is accompanied by shaking, chills, and a cough with sputum production. Often times the sputum will be discolored or bloody. Shortness of breath is a symptom that is often experienced with pneumonia. Pneumonia can also cause pleuritis, or pleurisy. Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, which is the moist, double-layered membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the rib cage.

Today, the vast majority of people recover from pneumonia. However, approximately 5% of those infected will die from the infection. Pneumonia ranks as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.


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