Pneumonia—Abscess

An abscess is a pocket of pus. You can get an abscess almost anywhere in your body. When an area of your body becomes infected, your body’s immune system tries to fight the infection. White blood cells go to the infected area, collect within the damaged tissue, and cause inflammation. During this process, pus forms. Pus is a mixture of living and dead white blood cells, germs, and dead tissue.

Bacteria, viruses, parasites and swallowed objects can all lead to abscesses. Skin abscesses are easy to detect. They are red, raised and painful. Abscesses inside your body may not be obvious and can damage organs, including the brain, lungs and others. Treatments include drainage and antibiotics.

• Abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Abscess scan – radioactive (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Amebic liver abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Anorectal abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Bartholin cyst or abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Brain abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Epidural abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Intra-abdominal abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pancreatic abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Perirenal abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Peritonsillar abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pilonidal cyst resection (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pyogenic liver abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Retropharyngeal abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Skin abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Subareolar abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tooth abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)

Also called: Bronchopneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of the lungs. Many germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, can cause pneumonia. You can also get pneumonia by inhaling a liquid or chemical. People most at risk are older than 65 or younger than 2 years of age, or already have health problems.

Symptoms of pneumonia vary from mild to severe. See your doctor promptly if you

• Have a high fever
• Have shaking chills
• Have a cough with phlegm that doesn’t improve or gets worse
• Develop shortness of breath with normal daily activities
• Have chest pain when you breathe or cough
• Feel suddenly worse after a cold or the flu

Your doctor will use your medical history, a physical exam, and lab tests to diagnose pneumonia. Treatment depends on what kind you have. If bacteria are the cause, antibiotics should help. If you have viral pneumonia, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine to treat it.

Preventing pneumonia is always better than treating it. Vaccines are available to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia and the flu. Other preventive measures include washing your hands frequently and not smoking.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

• Aspiration pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Atypical pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Hospital-acquired pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Mycoplasma pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pneumonia – adults – discharge (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pneumonia – children – community acquired (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pneumonia – children – discharge (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Viral pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia)