Disease Database Drug Database Alt. Many people will answer it's AIDS or hepatitis. But it's pneumonia. Every year, three to four million North Americans develop pneumonia. Unfortunately, many die because they believe pneumonia is not a big deal.
Pneumonia is an infection of the lung.
And it can vary from a mild case to a life-threatening or fatal disease. CAP may be caused by either a virus or bacteria. The most common forms are due to streptococcus pneumoniae and hemophilus influenzae. Pneumonia is a challenging infection for patients. Some people simply feel ill, have a cough and fever.