The Most Common Causes of Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a common infection that causes the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs to fill with fluid or pus. With the proper treatment, most healthy people recover from pneumonia within a few weeks, but it can be life-threatening for some.

Tens of thousands of people in the U.S. die from pneumonia every year, most of them adults over the age of 65, according to the American Lung Association. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the symptoms of pneumonia and what type you may have, so you can get the proper treatment as soon as possible.

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Written by:

Brittany Doohan

Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.

Reviewed by:

Alexandra Schwarz, MD

Dr. Schwarz is board eligible Sleep Medicine and board certified Family Medicine physician. She is a member of the AASM and ABFM.

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