What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus, causing symptoms such as coughing, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. Different organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, can cause pneumonia.
In simpler terms, think of your lungs like sponges that are meant to soak up air instead of water. When you have pneumonia, parts of these “air sponges” get filled with fluid or pus, making it hard for them to absorb air. This makes it tough to breathe and can make you feel very unwell, with symptoms like coughing, fever, and feeling very tired and cold.
Pneumonia can range from a mild to severe illness and can be especially dangerous for infants, young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions.