title: Pulmonary emergencies: pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, lung abscess, and empyema.
abstract: This article describes the clinical presentation of pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, lung abscess, and empyema: life-threatening infections of the pulmonary system. The etiology and risk factors for each of these conditions are described, diagnostic approaches are discussed, and evidence-based management options are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA-23507, USA. desaihd@evms.edu
authors.forename: Himanshu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Aarti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agrawal
mesh_terms: D004638:Emergency Treatment; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index