Pneumonia is an infection of the air spaces of the lungs and is usually caused by infections, such as bacterial, viral or fungal infections. Pneumonia can occur in people of any age, but it is most common among older adults because their weakened immune systems make them more susceptible to the viruses that cause the disease. In the United States, approximately 50,000 people die each year; victims are usually children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses. Pneumonia is classified in several different ways, usually depending on how the patient contracted the disease, such as hospital-acquired pneumonia or hospital-acquired pneumonia. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Viral pneumonia is usually caused by the influenza virus, although measles, chickenpox, and other viral infections can also cause it. Bacterial pneumonia is usually more serious than viral pneumonia, but there is a risk of getting a secondary case of bacterial pneumonia when you are already sick with viral pneumonia. Fungal infections causing pneumonia are more common in people with weakened immune systems, for example due to AIDS. Symptoms of pneumonia include cough, chest pain when breathing, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, fever, chills, and nausea or diarrhea. Infants may not show typical symptoms and may simply seem restless or lethargic. It is common for older people with pneumonia to have a change in their mental state, such as confusion. To diagnose pneumonia, a chest X-ray is used to detect the virus, but it does not reveal the organism causing the disease. Microbiological tests are performed on blood, sputum or urine to help identify the cause of the pneumonia case. In severe cases of pneumonia or if antibiotics fail to treat the disease, a bronchoscopy is performed. A bronchoscopy is a procedure in which a tube is inserted into the trachea and main airways, allowing the doctor to see into the airways and take tissue samples. Typically, antibiotics are used to treat pneumonia, but if the infection is viral in origin, medications are usually only given to treat symptoms, as viruses are not affected by antibiotics and overuse can cause the development of antibodies, and therefore render antibiotics useless in situations where they could treat infections.Keep in mind: this is just a sample.Get a personalized article from our expert editors now. Get a Custom EssayIn simple language, pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. It is a serious illness that can affect people of any age, but is most common and dangerous in infants and people over 65 years of age as well as those with underlying medical complications such as such as heart disease, diabetes and chronic lung disease. It's more familiar during the winter months. This can cause coughing, wheezing, and irritation and can range from mild to severe, depending on the cause of the illness and your overall health. The most common component of pneumonia is viruses and bacteria. When the origin is bacterial, the disease can..