Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection that affects the lungs. It is usually caused by bacteria or viruses.
Common symptoms
If you have pneumonia, you might experience:
- Coughing
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rapid breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Chills
- Chest pain
Who is at risk?
Some people are more likely to get pneumonia:
- People 65 and older
- Children under 5 years old
- People with an underlying health condition like diabetes or HIV/AIDS
- People who smoke
- People with asthma
Types of pneumonia
There are different types:
- Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP): Develops during or after a stay in a health care facility.
- Includes hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).
- Community-acquired pneumonia: When someone who hasn’t been in the hospital gets pneumonia.
Prevention
- You can prevent some types of pneumonia with vaccines.
- Good hygiene helps too:
- Wash your hands with soap and water regularly.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow.
- Avoid cigarette smoke.
- Treat and prevent conditions like diabetes and HIV/AIDS.
- Many types of pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics or antiviral drugs.
Take care of your health and practice good hygiene to help reduce the risk of pneumonia.
On This Page Jump Links
On
This page was last modified on 11/18/2025