pneumonia

pneumonia
n.
inflammation of the lung caused by bacteria, in which the air sacs (alveoli) become filled with inflammatory cells and the lung becomes solid (see consolidation). The symptoms include those of any infection (fever, malaise, headaches, etc.), together with cough and chest pain. Pneumonias may be classified in different ways.
(1) According to the X-ray appearance. Lobar pneumonia affects whole lobes and is usually caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, while lobular pneumonia refers to multiple patchy shadows in a localized or segmental area. When these multiple shadows are widespread, the term bronchopneumonia is used. In bronchopneumonia, the infection starts in a number of small bronchi and spreads in a patchy manner into the alveoli. Interstitial pneumonia is the result of an inflammatory process centred within the alveolar walls rather than the alveolar airspaces. It may be due to a variety of factors, including certain infections, drugs, inhalation of fumes, and exposure to high concentrations of oxygen.
(2) According to the infecting organism. The most common organism is Streptococcus pneumoniae, but Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Legionella pneumophila, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (among others) may all be responsible for the infection.
(3) According to the clinical and environmental circumstances under which the pneumonia is acquired. These infections are divided into community-acquired pneumonia, hospital-acquired (nosocomial) pneumonia, and pneumonias occurring in immunocompromised subjects (including those with AIDS). The organisms responsible for community-acquired pneumonia are totally different from those in the other groups.Appropriate antibiotic therapy, based on the clinical situation and on microbiological studies, will result in complete recovery in the majority of patients.

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  • Pneumonia — Pneu*mo ni*a (n[ u]*m[=o] n[i^]*[.a]), n. [NL., fr. Gr. pneymoni a, fr. pney mwn, pl. pney mones the lungs, also, pley mwn, which is perh. the original form. Cf. {Pneumatio}, {Pulmonary}.] (Med.) Inflammation of the lungs. [1913 Webster] Note:… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pneumonia — /pneumo nia/ s.f. [dal gr. pneumonía, der. di pnéumōn polmone ], non com. (med.) [infiammazione di uno o di entrambi i polmoni] ▶◀ (non com.) pneumonite, polmonite …   Enciclopedia Italiana

  • pneumonia — c.1600, from Mod.L., from Gk. pneumonia inflammation of the lungs, from pneumon (gen. pneumonos) lung, altered from pleumon lung, lit. floater, from PIE *pleu to flow, to swim (see PLUVIAL (Cf. pluvial)). Alteration in Greek perhaps by influence… …   Etymology dictionary

  • pneumonia — s. f. [Medicina] Inflamação do parênquima do pulmão produzida por um micróbio específico, o pneumococo.   ‣ Etimologia: grego pneumonía, as …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • pneumonia — ► NOUN ▪ a lung infection in which the air sacs fill with pus. DERIVATIVES pneumonic adjective. ORIGIN from Greek pneum n lung …   English terms dictionary

  • pneumonia — [no͞o mōn′yə, nyo͞omōn′yə; ] occas [., no͞o mō′nē ə, nyo͞omō′nē ə] n. [ModL < Gr < pneumōn, lung: see PNEUMA] inflammation or infection of the alveoli of the lungs of varying degrees of severity and caused by bacteria, viruses, etc.… …   English World dictionary

  • Pneumonia — For other uses, see Pneumonia (disambiguation). Pneumonia Classification and external resources A chest X ray showing a very prominent wedge shaped bacterial pneumonia in the right lung …   Wikipedia

  • pneumonia — /noo mohn yeuh, moh nee euh, nyoo /, n. Pathol. 1. inflammation of the lungs with congestion. 2. Also called lobar pneumonia. an acute disease of the lungs, caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and characterized by fever, a cough with …   Universalium

  • pneumonia — Inflammation of the lung parenchyma characterized by consolidation of the affected part, the alveolar air spaces being filled with exudate, inflammatory cells, and fibrin. Most cases are due to infection by bacteria or viruses, a few to …   Medical dictionary

  • pneumonia — Synonyms and related words: African lethargy, Asiatic cholera, Asiatic flu, Chagres fever, German measles, Haverhill fever, Hong Kong flu, acute articular rheumatism, acute bronchitis, adenoiditis, ague, alkali disease, aluminosis, amebiasis,… …   Moby Thesaurus

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