Community-acquired pneumonia overview
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Community-Acquired Pneumonia Microchapters |
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Differentiating Community-acquired pneumonia from other Diseases |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Community-acquired pneumonia overview On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Community-acquired pneumonia overview |
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Community-acquired pneumonia |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Community-acquired pneumonia overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Community-acquired pneumonia is a disease in which individuals who have not recently been hospitalized develop an infection of the lungs. CAP is a common illness and can affect people of all ages. It often causes problems like breathing difficulties, fever, chest pains, and a cough. CAP occurs when alveoli become filled with fluid and cannot work effectively. It occurs throughout the world and is a leading cause of illness and death. Causes of CAP include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. CAP can be diagnosed by symptoms and physical examination alone, though x-rays, examination of the sputum, and other tests are often used. CAP is primarily treated with antibiotic medication. Some forms of CAP can be prevented by vaccination.
Risk factors
The risk factors for pneumonia include: smoking, age, immuno-suppression, exposure to chemicals, underlying lung disease, and exposure to chemicals.