Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung with consolidation.
This means that the air sacs are filled with fluid or thick secretions and cannot fulfil their function of exchanging gases between the blood and air.
There are pneumonias due to viruses of many types and there are the bacterial infections.
Lobar pneumonia, where one whole lobe or large segment of the lung is involved, was a more common illness than we now see. It often attacked the otherwise healthy person.
Complications were many and frequent and those who survived often were unable to work for many months.
This pneumonia is due to the pneumococcus, a germ which is sensitive to most antibiotics. Lobar pneumonia, if recognised and treated early, is no longer a serious threat.
It appears to be less common and this might be because of the wide use of antibiotics in minor respiratory infections.
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