Pneumonia refers to infection of the lung. The lung is the organ that receives the air we breathe in.

How does one get pneumonia?

1. By inhaling contaminated air
2. From infections in other parts that may spread to the lungs
3. It may also occur if an upper respiratory infection is left untreated
4. It is common in cigarette smokers
5. It may occur often in children/babies that are forcefully fed

What you may notice

1. Fever i.e., a high body temperature
2. Cough
3. Chest pain
4. There may be difficult breathing
5. General body aches and weakness

What you can do

1. Visit your doctor; he may ask you to do a full blood count, a sputum culture and chest X-ray. Other tests may be recommended.
2. Pneumonia may require hospital admission depending on the severity. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
3. You may use cough expectorants to ease the cough
4. Take warm water or tea
5. Increase your fluid intake
6. Take vitamins and fruits