View source for Pneumonia

{{Infobox disease
 | Name            = Pneumonia
 | Image           = Lobar pneumonia illustrated.jpg
 | Caption         = 
 | Alt             = 
 | DiseasesDB      = 10166
 | ICD10           = {{ICD10|J|12||j|09}}, {{ICD10|J|13||j|09}}, {{ICD10|J|14||j|09}}, {{ICD10|J|15||j|09}}, {{ICD10|J|16||j|09}}, {{ICD10|J|17||j|09}}, {{ICD10|J|18||j|09}}, {{ICD10|P|23||p|20}}
 | ICD9            = {{ICD9|480}}-{{ICD9|486}}, {{ICD9|770.0}}
 | ICDO            =
 | OMIM            =
 | MedlinePlus     = 000145
 | eMedicineSubj   = search
 | eMedicineTopic  = pneumonia
 | MeshID          = D011014
}}
'''Pneumonia''' is a [[disease]] of the [[lungs]] and the lower [[respiratory system]]. The lung contains many small bulbs, or sacs, called [[alveolus|alveoli]]. These help to take out [[oxygen]] from the [[air]]. In the case of pneumonia, these bulbs become [[inflammation|inflamed]]. The lungs fill up with a fluid which is called [[pus]], and can no longer absorb as much oxygen as before. This is called [[empyema]] or [[emphysema]] (emp-ee-eema). This makes it hard for the person with pneumonia to breathe. They may feel out of breath, or like they are drowning.  They may also feel pain when they breathe. Sometimes people die (30% of patients under 65) of pneumonia, even when they go to a hospital and take medicine (21% in-hospital [[Mortality rate|mortality]] rate all patients ages).  

==Background==
Pneumonia is an [[Contagious|infectious]] disease that can be caused by [[bacteria]], [[virus]]es, [[fungus|fungi]] or [[parasite]]s. It may be spread outside of hospitals (community-acquired pneumonia) and can both cause or be caused by other related disease present, including CA-[[MRSA]] (community acquired flu) or be hospital acquired (called nosocomical) if it happens 48 hours or less after visiting hospital.  It can also be caused by chemical or physical damage done to the lungs. Other illnesses, like [[alcohol]] abuse or [[lung cancer]], can also result in pneumonia. 

People with pneumonia usually have difficulty [[breathe|breathing]]. They may also [[cough]], or have pain in the [[chest]] area. The treatment of pneumonia depends on how the illness was caused. If it was caused by bacteria or fungi, [[antibiotics]] can be used to treat it.

People of all ages can have pneumonia. The disease is dangerous. Many people die from pneumonia, especially old people, or people or babies with a weak [[immune system]]. 

According to some research in 2010, in some parts of the world where people are very poor like [[India]], [[Nigeria]], [[Pakistan]], and [[Guinea]] pneumonia was the cause of death for more children under the age of five than any other disease.  Statistically, however, for every 2,000 children in the developing world who die of pneumonia, only one child in the developed world dies from the disease.  This is because of differences in health care.

== Treatment ==
Pneumonia can be treated with medications that target the specific source of the infection. This might be an antibiotic, an [[Antiviral drug|antiviral]], or an [[antifungal]] medication taken by mouth as a tablet or [[Intravenous therapy|intravenously]]. Other therapies support a patient by providing comfort. These may include oxygen given by nose or mouth, inhalers to breathe in and expand the lungs, or steroids to decrease swelling.

== Other types of pneumonia ==
[[File:PneumonisWedge09.JPG|thumb|left|The encircled region of the [[x-ray]] shows pneumonia; this one is caused by [[bacteria]].  In a healthy person, the lung should look black, but water in the lung makes it look white in an x-ray]]
; [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome]] (SARS)
:SARS is a highly [[contagious]] and deadly type of pneumonia which first occurred in [[2002]] after initial [[outbreak]]s in [[China]]. SARS is caused by the [[SARS coronavirus]], a [[pathogen]] (disease-causing organism) that was not known until then. New cases of SARS have not been seen since June 2003.
; ''Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia'' (BOOP)
:BOOP is caused by inflammation (swelling or irritation) of the small airways of the lungs. It is also known as ''cryptogenic organizing pneumonitis'' (COP).
; ''Eosinophilic pneumonia''
:Eosinophilic pneumonia is [[invasion]] of the lung by ''eosinophils''. Eosinophils are a particular kind of [[white blood cell]]s. Eosinophilic pneumonia often occurs in response to infection with a [[parasite]] or after exposure to certain types of environmental factors.
; ''Chemical pneumonia''
:Chemical pneumonia (usually called ''chemical pneumonitis'') is caused by chemical [[toxin]]s such as [[pesticide]]s, which may enter the body by [[inhalation]] (breathing in) or by [[skin]] contact. When the toxic (poisonous or harmful) substance is an oil, the pneumonia may be called ''lipoid pneumonia''.
; ''Aspiration pneumonia''
:Aspiration pneumonia (or aspiration pneumonitis) is caused by accidentally inhaling oral (mouth) or gastric (stomach) contents into the lungs, either while [[eat]]ing, or after reflux or [[vomit]]ing, and causing damage to the lungs.  The lung inflammation from these materials is not an infection but it can eventually cause one, since the material taken into the lungs may contain bacteria. Aspiration is a common cause of death among hospital and [[nursing home]] patients, since they sometimes cannot cough hard enough to protect their airways.

==Related pages==
*[[Severe acute respiratory syndrome]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Other websites ==
* [http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section6/chapter73/73a.jsp Merck Manual: Pneumonia]
* [http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmg/sec10/ch76/ch76a.jsp Merck Manual of Geriatrics: Pneumonia in the elderly]
* [http://www.lunguk.org/pneumonia.asp?dis=23 British Lung Foundation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008141753/http://www.lunguk.org/pneumonia.asp?dis=23 |date=2007-10-08 }}

{{Pneumonia}}

[[Category:Infectious diseases]]
[[Category:Pulmonology]]
[[Category:Breathing problems]]