Pneumonia
Definition
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs caused by bacteria, in which the air sacs (alveoli) become filled with inflammatory cells and the lung becomes solid.
Cause
As stated above, the cause of pneumonia is bacteria.
Pneumonia may be classified in different ways, such as
- according to X-ray appearance
- according to the infecting organism
- according to the clinical environmental circumstances under which the infection is acquired (e.g. 'community-acquired pneumonia', 'hospital-acquired (nosocomial) pneumonia').
Effect (Symptoms)
The symptoms of pneumonia can include those of any infection, such as:
- fever
- headaches
- malaise, etc.
together with coughs and chest pain.
Treatment
In most cases appropriate antibiotic therapy based on the clinical situation and on microbiological studies results in complete recovery.
See also a list of diseases and disorders of the respiratory system (info all on one page).
