This is a result of microbial infection of Lungs. This leads to solidifaction of Lungs which is otherwise a baloon like structure.

Whenever pneumonia occurs, the patient will have cough predominently which is followed by large and copious amount of sputum production. The patient also develops difficulty in breathing.

Apart all above, the patient develops fever mainly. Whenever patient develops fever along with respiratory physican, it is always better and also we feel high time to take a chest radiograph.

If any new opacities appears on CXRPavieo opinied by a expert radiologist or a chest physican. Then first and foremost thing is that it should be considered as a systemic (entire body may affect) disease. Hence patient should get admitted in a health care facility for intravenous antibiotics, even if it is a small pneumonia, why because if it is not controlled, patient may further required a surgical procedure if patient develop empyema (pus in the chest surrounding the cavity of lung).

Apart from fever, if patient has increased diffucilty in breathing, then it is always better to give oxygen at hospital along with intravenous fluids and a strict bed rest why because any exertion will increase oxygen demand by body and gives a strain to lungs which are already diseased.

A timely sputum & blood staining for microbiological organisms and appropriate culture and sensitivity also warranted. Many of pneumonia patients will recover with above carefuly executed treatment measures.

If not, then the patient should undergo a second line of diagnostic tests like HIV and Fibreoptic Bronchoscopy test and to rule out any other systematic conditions like pancreatitis of a alcoholic liver diseases, renal problems and act accordingly.

A patient who recieves correct way of treatment and timely clinical recovery takes 3 weeks time to resolve patches on CXR.