Pneumonia
What is pneumonia? Pneumonia is a general term for a lung infection that
can make it hard for you to breathe. In most people it can be
treated at home and does not cause permanent lung damage. However, in
adults older than 65, infants, and people who have other diseases, especially
lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it
can be serious and may need to be treated in the hospital. Mild cases of
pneumonia are often called walking pneumonia.
You can get pneumonia in your daily life, such as at
school or work (community-acquired pneumonia) or when you are in a hospital or
nursing home (healthcare-associated pneumonia). Studies have shown that
patients do better when treatment is started as early as possible.
How do we compare? Experts agree
on the following ways to treat pneumonia. Click on the links below to see how
WellSpan compares to other providers in these treatments.