Pneumonia is a common infection that causes the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs to fill with fluid or pus. The symptoms and severity of pneumonia can vary, depending on the germ that caused it — bacteria, a virus, or fungi — as well as your age and your overall health.
If you even have a slight suspicion that you or someone you know has pneumonia, don’t wait to see if the condition gets worse. Call a doctor as soon as possible — especially if you or a loved one is at high-risk for severe pneumonia. Most cases can be treated successfully, but the sooner you get treatment, the better.
American Lung Association. (n.d.). Pneumonia.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Pneumonia.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2022). What is Pneumonia?