More people die each year globally from pneumonia than from any infectious disease, such as HIV infection, malaria, or tuberculosis. In the United States, about 1 million people seek care in a hospital each year due to pneumonia, and unfortunately, about 50,000 of them die from the disease each year.

Vaccines and appropriate treatment (like antibiotics and antivirals) could prevent many of these deaths—globally and in the United States.

Quiz

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Key Facts

• Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause mild to severe illness in people of all ages.
• Viruses, bacteria, and fungi can all cause pneumonia.
• Common signs of pneumonia can include cough, fever, and trouble breathing.
• Bacteria and viruses that commonly cause pneumonia in the community are different from those in the healthcare settings.
• A common cause of bacterial pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).

Prevention Tips

• Get vaccinated. Vaccines can help prevent infection by some of the bacteria and viruses that can cause pneumonia.
• Wash your hands regularly.
• Clean surfaces that are touched a lot.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue or into your elbow or sleeve.
• Limit contact with cigarette smoke.
• Manage and prevent conditions like diabetes.

To read the full article and for additional resources from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), click here.