Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a leading cause of death and hospitalization, costing health care systems billions of dollars and an estimated 600,000 adult deaths worldwide each year. Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and the term describes a group of illnesses, including invasive infections, such as bacteremia/sepsis and meningitis, as well as pneumonia and upper respiratory tract infections. Although all age groups may be affected, the highest rate of pneumococcal disease occurs in young children and older adults. In addition, persons suffering from a wide range of chronic conditions (eg, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) and immune deficiencies are at increased risk.

Viral vs Bacterial Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which affects alveoli. This article looks at the differences between bacterial and viral pneumonia.

Pneumonia Symptoms & Risk Factors

Pneumonia Classification

Pneumonia Cause

Pneumonia in Children

Pneumonia Diagnosis

Pneumonia Treatment

Pneumonia Epidemiology

Pneumonia History

Walking Pneumonia

Is Walking Pneumonia Contagious?

Walking Pneumonia versus Pneumonia

See more featured articles »

Walking Pneumonia Versus Common Cold

Walking Pneumonia Versus Bronchitis

Who Gets Walking Pneumonia?

Types of Atypical Pneumonia

How is Walking Pneumonia Treated?

Walking Pneumonia: When to See a Doctor?

Risk Factors and Walking Pneumonia Prevention

Is Sense of Smell Linked to Pneumonia?

Latest Pneumonia News and Research

Immunocompromised adults show weaker response to RSV vaccines

Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have shown that people 60 years or older with weakened immunity -; primarily organ transplant recipients who take immunosuppressive medications to reduce the risk of rejection and others with immune system disorders -; do not respond as strongly to vaccines against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as people in the same age group with normal immune function.

30 Dec 2024

RSV vaccine acceptance grows amidst rising flu concerns

A year after becoming available, vaccines to protect against RSV in newborns and older adults are being more widely accepted by the American public, according to a new Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) health survey conducted in November 2024.

23 Dec 2024

Study highlights geographical and hospital type trends in hospital-at-home participation

Hospitals that have adopted the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) "hospital-at-home" program, which serves as an alternative to admission to brick-and-mortar facilities, are concentrated in large, urban, not-for-profit, and academic hospitals, new research suggests.

23 Dec 2024

New insights into respiratory syncytial virus and prevention strategies

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory infections, particularly in infants, children under 5 years, and older adults. Its rapid spread makes RSV a serious public health concern. Currently, there are no effective medications for RSV, and current treatment focuses on providing supportive care and preventing its spread.

20 Dec 2024

Whooping cough cases on the rise, but public awareness of the disease still persists

Following a several-year lull during the pandemic, cases of whooping cough are increasing across the United States.

17 Dec 2024

Study reveals underuse of antivirals for children hospitalized with influenza

Despite national medical guidelines supporting the use of antiviral medications in young children diagnosed with influenza, a recent study reports an underuse of the treatment.

17 Dec 2024

Widening childhood vaccination inequality in England raises concerns

Inequalities in childhood vaccination are widening in England, with uptake rates of five key vaccines consistently lower in young children living in areas of higher deprivation from 2019 to 2023, finds a study published by The BMJ today.

11 Dec 2024

Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers may hinder neurological recovery in spinal cord injury patients

Research led by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine along with scientists at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Berlin, Germany, provides first evidence that hospital-acquired pressure ulcers are a potent risk factor for poor neurological recovery among patients with acute spinal cord injury (SCI).

9 Dec 2024

L-arginine shows potential in treating spinocerebellar ataxia type 6

A team led by Specially Appointed Associate Professor Tomohiko Ishihara and Professor Osamu Onodera at Niigata University, along with Professor Yoshitaka Nagai at Kindai University, conducted a randomized, double-blind trial on the efficacy and safety of L-arginine in treating Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6).

3 Dec 2024

Type 2 diabetes doubles infection-related mortality and exposes gaps in health reporting

People with type 2 diabetes face a significantly higher risk of infection-related deaths, particularly in younger age groups, with infections accounting for 13% of deaths compared to 1.2% in conventional records.

3 Dec 2024

Upcoding practices by hospitals lead to billions in extra payments

In five states over nearly a decade, hospitals have increased how frequently they document patients as needing the highest intensity care, which has led to hospitals receiving billions in extra payments from health plans and government programs, according to a new RAND study.

3 Dec 2024

Nanozyme breakthrough offers new hope for viral pneumonia treatment

A recent study in Nature Materials introduces an inhalable nanozyme treatment for viral pneumonia, showing promising results in reducing inflammation and viral load in various mouse models. The nanozyme, CeTA-K1tkP, demonstrates broad-spectrum effects and biocompatibility, offering a potential new approach to treating pneumonia and other inflammatory conditions.

3 Dec 2024

Polypurine hairpins found to effectively halt SARS-CoV-2 replication

A study led by the University of Barcelona and the Spanish National Research Council's Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC - CSIC) presents a new therapeutic tool capable of inhibiting the proliferation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

3 Dec 2024

Air pollution and cold temperatures drive bronchiectasis mortality in vulnerable populations

Researchers investigate how short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and temperature affects bronchiectasis mortality rates in China.

26 Nov 2024

A prospective study of antibiotic use and clinical factors in patients with suspected pneumonia

This study explored how chest X-ray results influence antibiotic initiation by general practitioners in France when managing patients with suspected pneumonia.

26 Nov 2024

New AI model tailors phage treatment for resistant bacterial infections

With the rapid development of antibiotics in the 1930s, phage therapy – using viruses known as bacteriophages or phages to tackle bacterial infections – fell into oblivion.

25 Nov 2024

New approach to stabilize RSV protein could lead to better vaccines

In most people, the lung-infecting pathogens known as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) trigger mild cold-like symptoms. But in infants and seniors, these viruses can cause severe pneumonia and even death.

20 Nov 2024

AI explanations in radiology can lead to over-reliance

When making diagnostic decisions, radiologists and other physicians may rely too much on artificial intelligence (AI) when it points out a specific area of interest in an X-ray, according to a study published today in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

19 Nov 2024

Study investigates impact of oxygen therapy on oxidative stress in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

Severe COVID-19 pneumonia often requires high concentrations of oxygen, which can potentially lead to oxidative stress and lung injury.

19 Nov 2024

Phase 2 study evaluates safety and efficacy of asunercept in COVID-19 patients

The ASUNCTIS trial evaluated asunercept's safety and efficacy in COVID-19, showing trends toward faster recovery despite not meeting statistical significance.

18 Nov 2024