Infections are caused by an invasion of unwanted organisms that attack ones body. With that being said, pneumonia is an acute infection of the lung parenchyma (Anatomical Chart Company, 2010, p. 100). Pneumonia, like any other infection, has a pathophysiology that describes how the infection affects the body. It also has different causes, several signs and symptoms, a variety of different treatments, and even a long list of possible complications. Pneumonia is always handled with delicate attention, but for individuals who have normal, healthy lungs and a strong immune system the final outcome is almost always a good one. Serious attention needs to be focused on those who are at a greater risk such as the elderly, children, and the immunocomprimised (Anatomical Chart Company, 2010, p. 100). According to the Atlas of Pathophysiology, there are three different basic types of pneumonia: bacterial, viral, and aspiration. The primary cause of pneumonia is an inhalation or aspiration of a pathogen. The secondary cause is related to an existing infection or disease. Each of these are caused by different irritants that result in the same disruption of normal perfusion. The attacks on the lung lead to alveolar inflammation and edema that causes low ventilation and blood and fluid to be pushed into the capillaries. This leads to a stasis in the lung’s gas perfusion and creates a pressure that makes it harder for the individual to breath (Anatomical Chart Company, 2010, p. 100). The first signs and symptoms of any infection should immediately be put to the attention of the health care provider. The signs and symptoms that are recognized with a pneumonia diagnosis are as follows: coughing with sputum production, pleuritic chest pain that is exacerbated by breathing and coughing, sudden chills, rapidly rising fever above 101ºF, abnormal lung sounds, dyspnea, tachypnea,