Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a leading cause of death and hospitalization, costing health care systems billions of dollars and an estimated 600,000 adult deaths worldwide each year. Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and the term describes a group of illnesses, including invasive infections, such as bacteremia/sepsis and meningitis, as well as pneumonia and upper respiratory tract infections. Although all age groups may be affected, the highest rate of pneumococcal disease occurs in young children and older adults. In addition, persons suffering from a wide range of chronic conditions (eg, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) and immune deficiencies are at increased risk.

Viral vs Bacterial Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which affects alveoli. This article looks at the differences between bacterial and viral pneumonia.

Pneumonia Classification

Risk Factors and Walking Pneumonia Prevention

Pneumonia Diagnosis

Pneumonia in Children

Types of Atypical Pneumonia

Pneumonia Epidemiology

Pneumonia Symptoms & Risk Factors

Walking Pneumonia

Walking Pneumonia: When to See a Doctor?

Is Sense of Smell Linked to Pneumonia?

Walking Pneumonia versus Pneumonia

See more featured articles »

Walking Pneumonia Versus Bronchitis

Pneumonia History

Is Walking Pneumonia Contagious?

Pneumonia Treatment

Walking Pneumonia Versus Common Cold

Who Gets Walking Pneumonia?

How is Walking Pneumonia Treated?

Pneumonia Cause

Latest Pneumonia News and Research

New global guidelines aim to make clozapine safer and more accessible

The most effective antipsychotic drug for people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia is clozapine.

3 Jul 2025

Lung cells generated from mouse embryonic fibroblasts in just 7 to 10 days

Researchers in Japan have successfully generated lung cells similar to alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2) cells from mouse embryonic fibroblasts without using stem cell technology.

3 Jul 2025

Community vaccination program reduces pneumonia deaths among elderly in Japan

A research team has evaluated the real-world impact of a community-based pneumococcal vaccination support program for older adults conducted in Sera Town, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.

3 Jul 2025

European study reveals barriers to multinational clinical trials

A new study by investigators from Europe, including the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (UK), has shed light on significant ethical, administrative, regulatory, and logistical (EARL) hurdles in delivering multinational randomized clinical trials.

3 Jul 2025

AI system matches diagnostic accuracy while cutting medical costs

A study reveals Microsoft's AI diagnostic system surpasses clinicians in accuracy and cost-effectiveness, transforming approaches to complex medical cases.

2 Jul 2025

Vaccination plays key role in preventing cardiovascular events after infection

Today, a new ESC Clinical Consensus Statement published in the European Heart Journal discusses the key role of vaccination in preventing cardiovascular events following various viral and bacterial infections.

1 Jul 2025

Macrophage-derived lipocalin 2 drives severe pneumonia in SARS-CoV-2 infection

Since the emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), understanding the mechanisms underlying severe pneumonia has remained a major research challenge.

1 Jul 2025

How underreporting masks the real impact of RSV in older populations

Research shows RSV leads to high hospitalization rates in adults, emphasizing the importance of enhanced surveillance and diagnostic measures in healthcare.

1 Jul 2025

Kennedy’s vaccine advisers sow doubts as scientists protest US pivot on shots

As fired and retired scientists rallied outside in the Atlanta heat, an advisory panel that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. handpicked to replace experts he'd fired earlier met inside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's headquarters to plan a more skeptical vaccine future.

27 Jun 2025

Many older people embrace vaccines. Research is proving them right.

Kim Beckham, an insurance agent in Victoria, Texas, had seen friends suffer so badly from shingles that she wanted to receive the first approved shingles vaccine as soon as it became available, even if she had to pay for it out-of-pocket.

23 Jun 2025

Nurse practitioners critical in treating older adults as ranks of geriatricians shrink

On Fridays, Stephanie Johnson has a busy schedule, driving her navy-blue Jeep from one patient’s home to the next, seeing eight in all.

18 Jun 2025

Why doctors say measles isn’t just back, it’s a warning sign for us all

A new editorial outlines the alarming resurgence of measles in the U.S., with over 880 cases reported by April 2025, largely driven by domestic transmission and declining vaccination coverage. The authors warn that without urgent public health action, measles could become endemic again, exposing broader vulnerabilities in vaccine-preventable disease defenses.

17 Jun 2025

Early signs of breastfeeding failures after premature birth

A study on breastfeeding after premature birth identifies key factors affecting milk composition and volume, emphasizing the need for early support for mothers.

10 Jun 2025

Measles poses serious risks for pregnant people amid rising cases in Canada

Measles is on the rise in Canada and poses serious risks to pregnant people and their newborns, yet discussion about how to protect this vulnerable group is notably lacking.

9 Jun 2025

Study aims to demystify the immune toxicity triggered by osimertinib-ICI co-treatment

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority of lung cancer cases and remains a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide.

6 Jun 2025

Mass treatment with the antibiotic azithromycin may lead to increased drug resistance

Efforts to reduce child mortality in Africa via mass treatment with the antibiotic azithromycin (AZM) may lead to increased drug resistance in bacteria that frequently cause pneumonia and meningitis, highlighting the need for careful monitoring, finds a new study led by UCL.

4 Jun 2025

WHO releases first-ever position paper on immunization products to protect infants against RSV

Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) published its first-ever position paper on immunization products to protect infants against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – the leading cause of acute lower respiratory infections in children globally.

30 May 2025

Long-term cardiorespiratory effects of wildfire smoke exposure revealed

Being exposed to lingering fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke can have health effects up to three months afterwards, well beyond the couple of days that previous studies have identified, and the exposure can occur even after the fires have ended.

28 May 2025

Single measles strain triggers outbreak in Milan despite high vaccination rates

A unique measles B3 lineage drove a sustained local outbreak in Milan and surrounding areas in early 2025, marking a shift from previous D8 importations. This primarily affected unvaccinated adults, raising alarms about potential endemic measles resurgence in northern Italy despite high overall vaccination coverage.

27 May 2025

Maestro John Mauceri returns to the stage in renewed health

John Mauceri, an award-winning music conductor, author, and recording artist, is celebrating his return to the stage in better health following specialized cardiac surgery at NYU Langone Health to treat a rare and life-threatening heart condition.

27 May 2025