Pneumonia :
Pneumonia is a lower respiratory tract infection of the lungs .Pneumonia is mainly caused by infection via bacteria, virus and rarely other microbes like fungi (fungal pneumonia) and others like aspiration pneumonia and complications due to cardiac causes, liver failure etc. The major risk factor for pneumonia include weak immunity which is seen in elderly people, children, obstructed bronchus, bronchiectasis or fibrosis leads to recurrent pneumonia and immunocompromised states like HIV, steroid therapy, uncontrolled diabetes, splenectomy, chronic alcoholism etc. Signs and symptoms include cough with sputum , fever with chills, fatigue,headaches, loss of appetite,hypotension, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, chest pain etc. Pneumonia is diagnosed by symptoms and imaging like Chest X-ray and/or HRCT. The severe cases require hospitalization and treatment involves antibiotics, oxygen therapy, bronchodilators and mucolytics and mechanical ventilation may be required in patients with respiratory failure and other supportive care.