Pneumonia

Every year, millions of people in the United States are affected by pneumonia. Pneumonia is a chronic disease that causes the lungs to inflame, or swell and become irritated (See Figure 1). It is caused by a variety of parasitic microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and mycoplasma. Also, certain chemical irritants can cause pneumonia. After being infected by pneumonia, your lungs become inflamed and the air sacs (alveoli) become saturated with pus and other liquids (See Figure 1). The amount of oxygen being transported from your blood to your cells then begins to decreas...