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Summary
Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of the lungs. Many germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, can cause pneumonia. You can also get pneumonia by inhaling a liquid or chemical. People most at risk are older than 65 or younger than 2 years of age, or already have health problems.
Symptoms of pneumonia vary from mild to severe. See your doctor promptly if you
- Have a high fever
- Have shaking chills
- Have a cough with phlegm that doesn't improve or gets worse
- Develop shortness of breath with normal daily activities
- Have chest pain when you breathe or cough
- Feel suddenly worse after a cold or the flu
Your doctor will use your medical history, a physical exam, and lab tests to diagnose pneumonia. Treatment depends on what kind you have. If bacteria are the cause, antibiotics should help. If you have viral pneumonia, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine to treat it.
Preventing pneumonia is always better than treating it. Vaccines are available to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia and the flu. Other preventive measures include washing your hands frequently and not smoking.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Symptoms
- Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment of Pneumonia (American Lung Association)
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Pneumonia Can Be Prevented -- Vaccines Can Help (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Top 9 Ways to Reduce the Risk of Pneumonia If You or a Loved One Is Hospitalized (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology)
Related Issues
-
Cough Culprits: What's the Difference Between Bronchitis and Pneumonia?
(National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
- Petroleum Jelly: Safe for a Dry Nose? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Adenoviruses (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Bronchiolitis Obliterans with Organizing Pneumonia (BOOP) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Frequently Asked Questions about Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
-
Pneumococcal Infections: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine)
-
Pneumococcal Pneumonia
(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
-
Pneumocystis Infections: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- What Is Walking Pneumonia? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Statistics and Research
- FastStats: Pneumonia (National Center for Health Statistics)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Pneumonia
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Reference Desk
-
How the Lungs Work
(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Children
- Chlamydia Pneumoniae Infections (American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infections (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
- Pneumonia (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Pneumonia (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Aspiration pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Atypical pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Hospital-acquired pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Mycoplasma pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Pneumonia - adults - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Pneumonia - children - community acquired (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Pneumonia - children - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Viral pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish