Pneumonia is best defined as

Pneumonia is best defined as

• A. Infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, causing them to fill with fluid or pus.
• B. Inflammation of the pleura with chest pain.
• C. Chronic scarring of the lung tissue.
• D. A blood clot in the lung.

Answer: (A)

Pneumonia is an infection of the lung tissue that inflames the air sacs (alveoli) and causes them to fill with fluid or pus. This alveolar filling leads to reduced gas exchange and the typical symptoms of pneumonia. The other options describe different conditions: pleuritis involves inflammation of the lung lining with chest pain, pulmonary fibrosis is chronic scarring of lung tissue, and a pulmonary embolism is a blood clot in the lung. Therefore, the best definition is an infection that inflames the air sacs and fills them with fluid or pus.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lung tissue that inflames the air sacs (alveoli) and causes them to fill with fluid or pus. This alveolar filling leads to reduced gas exchange and the typical symptoms of pneumonia. The other options describe different conditions: pleuritis involves inflammation of the lung lining with chest pain, pulmonary fibrosis is chronic scarring of lung tissue, and a pulmonary embolism is a blood clot in the lung. Therefore, the best definition is an infection that inflames the air sacs and fills them with fluid or pus.