title: Normal resolution of community-acquired pneumonia.
abstract: Resolution of pneumonia has to be considered as two different phases: resolution of the acute illness and resolution of radiographic opacities. Age, comorbidities, immunosuppression, and etiological agent(s) are all important in determining whether the acute illness resolves; there is a considerable mortality rate from pneumonia requiring hospitalization. The major concern when there is slow radiographic resolution of pneumonia is the possibility of an underlying malignancy. In 96% of patients whose pneumonia has not resolved in 30 days, an underlying disease is found; emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or bronchogenic carcinoma are the most common. Normal resolution of community-acquired pneumonia has to be defined in terms of the severity of the illness, comorbidity (ies), and infecting pathogen(s).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Marrie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors