Mega Doctor News
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| KEY POINTS |
| Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. |
| Pneumonia can cause mild to serious illness in people of all ages. |
| Some people are at increased risk for getting pneumonia. |
| Certain ages, health conditions, and behaviors can increase a person’s risk for pneumonia. |
About risk
There are many different germs that can cause pneumonia. The risk for pneumonia can be different for each cause.
| People at increased risk |
| People are more likely to get pneumonia at certain ages. |
| For adults, those 65 years or older are at increased risk. Risk continues increasing as age increases: an 80-year-old has a higher risk than a 65-year-old adult. |
| For children, those younger than 5 years old are at increased risk. Risk increases for children at younger ages: a 1-year-old has a higher risk than a 4-year-old child. |
Conditions that can increase risk
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People who have chronic (ongoing) medical conditions are at increased risk for pneumonia.
| These can include: |
| Chronic heart disease |
| Chronic liver disease |
| Chronic lung disease |
| Diabetes |
People with a weakened immune system are at greatest risk for pneumonia. Many different conditions and medicines can weaken the immune system.
Behaviors that can increase risk
| There are several behaviors that can increase someone’s risk for pneumonia: |
| Being around people who are sick |
| Drinking alcohol excessively |
| Smoking cigarettes |
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Fall and winter are a time when germs that cause respiratory disease typically spread more in the community. However, people can get pneumonia at any time of the year.
Information Source: CDC
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