Find out what bronchitis is and when you should get a cough checked out. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Understand how it differs from regular pneumonia. Upper airway infections can leave your lower airways vulnerable to bronchitis or pneumonia. Learn the difference between the two.
Mild signs and symptoms often are similar to those of a cold or flu, but they last longer. Newborns and infants may not show any sign of the infection. Or they may vomit, have a fever and cough, appear restless or tired and without energy, or have difficulty breathing and eating. See your doctor if you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent fever of F 39 C or higher, or persistent cough, especially if you're coughing up pus.
For some older adults and people with heart failure or chronic lung problems, pneumonia can quickly become a life-threatening condition. Many germs can cause pneumonia. The most common are bacteria and viruses in the air we breathe. Your body usually prevents these germs from infecting your lungs. But sometimes these germs can overpower your immune system, even if your health is generally good.
Pneumonia is classified according to the types of germs that cause it and where you got the infection. Community-acquired pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia.
It occurs outside of hospitals or other health care facilities. It may be caused by:. Some people catch pneumonia during a hospital stay for another illness. Hospital-acquired pneumonia can be serious because the bacteria causing it may be more resistant to antibiotics and because the people who get it are already sick.
People who are on breathing machines ventilators , often used in intensive care units, are at higher risk of this type of pneumonia. Health care-acquired pneumonia is a bacterial infection that occurs in people who live in long-term care facilities or who receive care in outpatient clinics, including kidney dialysis centers. Like hospital-acquired pneumonia, health care-acquired pneumonia can be caused by bacteria that are more resistant to antibiotics.
Aspiration pneumonia occurs when you inhale food, drink, vomit or saliva into your lungs. Aspiration is more likely if something disturbs your normal gag reflex, such as a brain injury or swallowing problem, or excessive use of alcohol or drugs.
Even with treatment, some people with pneumonia, especially those in high-risk groups, may experience complications, including:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Pneumonia and your lungs Open pop-up dialog box Close. Pneumonia and your lungs Most pneumonia occurs when a breakdown in your body's natural defenses allows germs to invade and multiply within your lungs.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Over about four days, the symptoms gradually worsen and include:. Pneumonia is generally a more serious lung infection. It can also be caused by bacteria or viruses or rarely, fungi. No matter the cause, the infection causes your immune system to fill the air sacs in the lungs with mucus, pus, and other fluids.
This makes it difficult for oxygen to reach your blood. Chaisson says both tend to cause shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and feeling more tired than usual. But Dr. Such illnesses are treated with time, rest and symptom-relieving medication. Chaisson cautions that antibiotic overuse can lead to antibiotic resistance and an outbreak of Clostridium difficile. Although walking pneumonia may go away on its own, antibiotics may be necessary. Walking pneumonia can be confirmed by a chest X-ray, which will show an area of infection in the lung.
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