pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs. usually the inflammation is caused by an infection but it can also be caused by breathing certain chemical fumes. it's a more common problem than most people think. usually pneumonia is a mild disease but some forms are very dangerous. in all cases you'll need a doctor's advice. pneumonia can affect just one lobe of the right or left lung a whole lung or both lungs many different kinds of germs infect the lungs and cause pneumonia. infected lungs leak fluids and shed dead cells. this material clogs up air sacs and makes it hard for the lungs to do their job of getting oxygen into the blood. without enough oxygen none of the cells in your body work as they should. pneumonia generally lasts about two weeks. even healthy people may feel tired or weak for a month or more after the lungs clear up.
what is pneumonia?