Pneumonia is infection of the lungs. Specifically, it is infection of lung parenchymal tissue.
All sorts of microorganisms can cause pneumonia from various bacteria to viruses to fungi. Doctors classify pneumonias into community acquired pneumonia (both from typical and atypical organisms), nosocomial pneumonia, immune compromised pneumonia, chronic pneumonia and aspiration pneumonia.
The most common cause of community acquired pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as Pneumococcus.
The treatment is antibiotics and supportive management.
Pneumonia can be severe, even fatal. They are often found in dying patients - whether or not they were the reason why they originally presented to hospital ...