Pneumonia
George Schiffman, MD, FCCP
Dr. Schiffman received his B.S. degree with High Honors in biology from Hobart College in 1976. He then moved to Chicago where he studied biochemistry at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle. He attended Rush Medical College where he received his M.D. degree in 1982 and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed his Internal Medicine internship and residency at the University of California, Irvine.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
- Pneumonia facts
- What is pneumonia?
- How do people "catch pneumonia"?
- What are pneumonia symptoms and signs in adults and children?
- How is pneumonia diagnosed?
- What are some of the organisms that cause pneumonia? What is the treatment for pneumonia? Can pneumonia be prevented?
- What is the prognosis of pneumonia?
- Pneumonia FAQs
- Patient Comments: Pneumonia - Describe Your Experience
- Patient Comments: Pneumonia - Symptoms
- Patient Comments: Pneumonia - Treatment
- Patient Comments: Pneumonia - Diagnosis
- Find a local Internist in your town
Pneumonia facts
- Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by different types of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
- Symptoms of pneumonia may include cough with sputum production, fever, sharp chest pain on inspiration (breathing in), and shortness of breath.
- Children and babies who develop pneumonia often do not have any specific signs of a chest infection but develop a fever, appear quite ill, and can become lethargic.
- Pneumonia is suspected when a doctor hears abnormal sounds in the chest, and the diagnosis is confirmed by a chest X-ray.
- Bacteria and fungi causing pneumonia can be identified by sputum culture. In some cases, detection of bacteria causing pneumonia can be done with urine tests (for example, Legionella, Pneumococcus). In others, blood tests demonstrate the body's immune response to certain infections. The results of these blood tests often identify the organism after the patient has recovered.
- A pleural effusion is a fluid collection around the inflamed lung. This often results when the pneumonia is close to the chest wall and causes inflammation in the pleurae surrounding the lung.
- Bacterial and fungal (but not viral) pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics and antifungal agents, respectively.
Next: What is pneumonia?
Patient Comments
Viewers share their comments
- •
- Submit »
http://www.medicinenet.com/pneumonia/article.htm
Women's Health
Find out what women really need.
Updated & New
