Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause cough, fever, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
Common symptoms include cough, fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, tiredness, aching, and sometimes confusion, especially in older adults.
Imaging helps when pneumonia is suspected, when symptoms are severe, when the diagnosis is uncertain, or when doctors need to look for complications or poor response to treatment.
Chest X-ray is often the first imaging test, while CT may be used in more complex or unclear situations.
Treatment depends on severity and usually includes antibiotics when bacterial infection is likely, plus supportive care.
This entry explains the condition. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
