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?:definition
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Pneumonia is acute inflammation of the lungs caused by infection; is the most common fatal hospital-acquired infection and the most common overall cause of death in developing countries. Two to three million people in the U.S. develop pneumonia per year; about 60,000 die. Diagnosis and management depend on whether infection is bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic; whether acquired in the community, hospital, or other health-care-associated location; and whether develops in a patient who is immunocompetent or immunocompromised. Clinical manifestations vary: from indolent to fulminant in presentation; from mild to fatal in severity; patient may be febrile with tachycardia, or may have history of chills and/or sweats; nonproductive or productive cough; pleuritic chest pain may occur; other symptoms may include fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and gastrointestinal symptoms; complications of severe pneumonia include respiratory failure, septic shock and multiorgan failure, coagulopathy, and exacerbation of comorbid illnesses; may not be obvious in the elderly, who may initially display new-onset or worsening confusion with few other manifestations. Diagnostic modalities: chest x-ray; clinical signs; Gram\'s stain and culture of sputum; blood culture; urinary antigen tests for pneumococcal and legionella antigens; polymerase chain reaction tests for respiratory viral infection; specific IgM antibody titers; biomarkers. Treatment: antimicrobial agents and supportive measures.
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