Pneumonia is a general term in widespread use, defined as infection within the lung. It is due to material, usually purulent, filling the alveoli.
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Terminology
Pneumonia is in contrast to pneumonitis, which is inflammation of the pulmonary interstitium. Of note, some of the interstitial lung diseases are termed pneumonia rather than pneumonitis. The term consolidation is often erroneously used as a synonym for pneumonia.
Classification
Pneumonias can be classified by:
- etiology
- infective agent
- setting of infection
- lipid: lipoid pneumonia
- method of spread (a pathological description)
- radiographic appearance
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