Pneumonia
Before the development of antibiotics pneumonia was the leading cause of
death in the United States. It still is a dangerous disease causing the
deaths of over 64,000 people each year.
Pneumonia is an acute infection of the lung parenchyma, alveolar spaces and
interstitial tissues causing consolidation. What this definition is saying
is that pneumonia is an infection of the functional parts of the lungs causing
the lung tissue to contract in on itself. The lung tissue that is infected
has a harder time transferring oxygen to the bloodstream causing the increased
shortness of breath associated with this condition. Other symptoms of pneumonia
include cough, fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, tachycardia
or an increase in the heart rate over what is normal, tachypnea or a rapid respiratory rate, a productive cough or a cough producing sputum and a feeling of malaise.
Different things may cause pneumonia. Virus, funguses, and parasites can
cause it. The major cause of pneumonia is bacteria.
Source - NCHS Faststats - Pneumonia