ask our doctors

Pneumonia

Get the facts on Pneumonia treatment, diagnosis, staging, causes, types, symptoms. Information and current news about clinical trials and trial-related data, Pneumonia prevention, screening, research, statistics and other Pneumonia related topics. We answer all your qestions about Pneumonia.

Question: What is the difference between Pneumonia and Walking Pneumonia? What is the difference between the two? I bet in a decade there will be Jogging Pneumonia and Sprinting Pneumonia. How about Galloping or Skipping Pneumonia? haha. Why do they call it 'walking' Pneumonia, anyways?

Answer: Pneumonia is acute inflammation of the lungs caused by infection. Initial diagnosis is usually based on chest x-ray. Causes, symptoms, treatment, preventive measures, and prognosis differ depending on whether the infection is bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic; whether it is acquired in the community, hospital, or nursing home; and whether it develops in a patient who is immunocompetent or immunocompromised. An outdated term, "walking pneumonia", has been used to describe a type of community-acquired pneumonia of less severity (hence the fact that the patient can continue to "walk" rather than require hospitalization). Walking pneumonia is usually caused by a virus or by atypical bacteria.


Pneumonia News