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Article: Pneumonia
- Article from:
- Encyclopedia of Aging
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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PNEUMONIA
Pneumonia is an infection involving the lungs. It may be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. There are more than one hundred microbial causes of pneumonia. However, most cases of pneumonia are due to the following bacteria:
Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus,
and
Morayella
(
Branhamella
)
catarrhalis.
Clinically, pneumonia is characterized by a variety of symptoms and signs. Cough, which may be productive of purulent (yellow or green), mucopurulent (white with flecks of yellow or green), or "rusty" sputum (reddish-brown due to blood mixed in sputum), is common. Fever, chills, and pleuritic chest pain are other manifestations. ...