Complications of Pneumonia
Complications of pneumonia include:
- Buildup of fluid in the space between the lung
and chest wall (pleural effusion
). - Pockets of pus that form in the space between the lung and chest wall (empyema) or in the lung itself (lung abscess).
- Another bacterial lung infection after a viral infection (secondary infection).
- Another bacterial infection, such as a vaginal infection or infections of the digestive system, because of antibiotic therapy (secondary infection).
- Bacteria in the bloodstream (bacteremia) or throughout the body (septicemia).
- Swelling of the covering of the
spinal cord (meningitis) caused by spread of the infection.
- Infection of a joint caused by the spread of bacteria through the bloodstream (septic arthritis).
- Infection of the heart muscle or the sac surrounding the heart (endocarditis or pericarditis).
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology |
| Last Revised | March 17, 2011 |