KEY POINTS
- Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs.
- Pneumonia can cause mild to serious illness in people of all ages.
- Some people are at increased risk for getting pneumonia.
- Certain ages, health conditions, and behaviors can increase a person’s risk for pneumonia.
- Talk to a healthcare provider if you have concerns about pneumonia.
About risk
There are many different germs that can cause pneumonia. The risk for pneumonia can be different for each cause.
People at increased risk
People are more likely to get pneumonia at certain ages.
For adults, those 65 years or older are at increased risk. Risk continues increasing as age increases: an 80-year-old has a higher risk than a 65-year-old adult.
For children, those younger than 5 years old are at increased risk. Risk increases for children at younger ages: a 1-year-old has a higher risk than a 4-year-old child.
Conditions that can increase risk
People who have chronic (ongoing) medical conditions are at increased risk for pneumonia. These can include:
- Chronic heart disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic lung disease
- Diabetes
People with a weakened immune system are at greatest risk for pneumonia. Many different conditions and medicines can weaken the immune system.
Original Article – https://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/risk-factors/index.html
