Pneumonia is an illness characterized by the inflammation of the lungs caused by an infection. This infection can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. Pneumonia occurs commonly in people who have a chronic illness or a compromised...
Pneumonia can be deadly, if it is not caught and treated early on. According to the National Institutes of Health, it is one of the ten leading causes of death for persons over the age of 65. Therefore, it is important to recognize signs and...
Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs that can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and any other organisms that can cause illness. According the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death in...
If your child has been battling a flu-like illness, you may be concerned if it suddenly gets worse when you thought it was getting better. Pneumonia, which is a serious infection of the lungs, often begins after an upper respiratory infection such...
Pneumonia is a bacterial or viral infection that primarily affects the respiratory system. The infection causes fluid to build up in the air sacs of the lungs. Symptoms of pneumonia in toddlers may resemble a moderate to serious cold. Recovery is...
Pneumonia, a serious infection of the lung, is a common health condition among the elderly, and the Centers for Disease Control indicates that it is a leading cause of death for individuals over 65 years of age. The symptoms of pneumonia can vary...
Your newborn is likely exposed to several contaminants and germs. A mother's antibodies are still inside her newborn, actively working at fighting off infections and illness until his immune system is developed at around 6 months of age. One...
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. A variety of infectious agents cause this illness, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Kids Health, a consumer information website operated by the Nemours Foundation, explains that pneumonia...
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 1.2 million hospitalizations and more than 55,000 deaths occurred in 2006 due to pneumonia. Pneumonia is a specific type of lung infection. The lungs are made of the airways, which...
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that is more likely to occur in infants and babies who have compromised respiratory systems from either a chronic medical condition, such as cerebral palsy, or an illness, like an upper-respiratory infection....
When a doctor is suspicious of pneumonia, he may order a chest x-ray. A chest x-ray will show any signs of fluid in the lungs. However, a chest x-ray may not always be accurate. Sometimes, pneumonia can settle deep within the lung or be so minute...
Swine flu is the common name for the novel strain of influenza now known as H1N1/09. Although the name suggests otherwise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), swine flu does not affect animals. Symptoms of swine flu...
When the lungs become inflamed, pneumonia can result. Pneumonia is usually cased by an infection, although bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi also can cause the condition, according to the Mayo Clinic. Pneumonia is especially serious in older...
Shortness of breath, often described as suffocating or starving for air, is one of the most unpleasant sensations a person can experience. Mayo Clinic physicians list more than two dozen causes. In severe chest congestion, mucus plugs the air...
Influenza season begins in October and peaks in January, February or March in the United States, but can occur at any time during the year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population...
Mucus is a slippery and watery substance that is normally found throughout the body. Its function is to protect membranes and help the body fight infection. However, if the body produces too much mucus and it begins to accumulate in the lungs,...
Both the common cold and influenza may cause complications. Most healthy adults do not suffer from complications; however, young children, people with insufficient immune systems and the elderly remain most at risk. According to the National...
Avian flu caused immense public concern in 2009 when outbreaks in Asia, Africa and Europe prompted researchers to double their efforts to find a vaccine. The virus originates in birds, and is responsible for high levels of contagion and death...
Swine flu is the common name for the novel influenza virus now known as H1N1. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the effects of swine flu on infants may be particularly severe. Antiviral therapy administered within...
Minocin contains the active ingredient minocycline and helps to treat the same conditions as its active ingredient. You may be prescribed minocycline if you have a bacterial infection such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections or Rocky Mountain...
Chlamydia, among the most common sexually transmitted diseases, affects an estimated 100,000 pregnant women each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This disease not only poses substantial risks to women but also to...
Crackles in the lungs, most often described as a “popping” sound, originate in the airway. The crackling noise comes from a blocked airway that opens suddenly, which causes the sound to reverberate through the airway. Crackles are...
Pneumonia, a lung infection, is caused by several microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, states KidsHealth, a medical resource provided by the Nemours Foundation. Depending on the cause, infants with pneumonia may...
Your child's stuffy nose and mild cough can travel downwards through the respiratory system and transform into a chest cold in no time. The congestion and breathing difficulties that are often symptoms of a chest cold might be scary, but in most...
A Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, more commonly known as "walking pneumonia," is a mild form of pneumonia that can affect people of all ages, including toddlers. The disease is not common in children under 4, unless your toddler is in preschool...
When food or a liquid enters the lungs, it is called aspiration pneumonia. A common cause might come from inhaling stomach acid or vomit or if food, liquid or spit from your mouth accidentally gets into the airway and travels down into the lungs....
Pneumonia is a respiratory health problem involving lung infection. Pneumonia is a serious health problem and can lead to dire health consequences in children, elderly individuals and people who have compromised immune systems. The Centers for...
The lungs are made of delicate elastic tissue that inflates and deflates as air is inhaled and exhaled, respectively. Blood vessels that line tiny sacs in the lungs called alveoli absorb oxygen that then travels through the blood stream to the...
Pneumonia is an infection of the lung cavity. With pneumonia, the lungs become inflamed and fluid begins to build up causing several symptoms including shortness of breath and cough. If you have been diagnosed with pneumonia, your doctor will...
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs that's usually caused by infection with bacteria, viruses, fungi or other organisms. Pneumonia is a particular concern for older adults and people with chronic illnesses or impaired immune systems. Learn...
