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an initial infection of pneumonia, and can raise the probability for death occurring. The most common complication is that the patient cannot breathe functionally enough on their own, and so need to use a breathing tube or ventilator. In developing areas of the world this is particularly bad because most people tend not to have access to adequate medical facilities.

Normally, people in developed countries tend to recover from pneumonia unless there is an unusual cause, they are already ill, or they are elderly or very young. One factor for determining the outcome of an infection however is the speed at which a diagnosis is made and medical treatment is administered. In some cases influenza or the common cold is first thought to be the culprit, and so medical advice isn't immediately sought,

Certain groups of people are more at risk of contracting pneumonia, and are also more severely affected when they do contract it. People who are very old or young are the most at risk, mainly because their immune systems are weaker then those of most adults, meaning fighting the infection is a lot harder for them. However other groups of people with existing medical conditions meaning their immune systems are weaker are also much more at risk. As with many types of respiratory disease, smokers are also much more likely to suffer from pneumonia.

People with chronic diseases such as other lung disorders, heart disease, and those that have recently gotten over a viral infection are also more at risk. Also some cases of pneumonia are caught form being in hospital, which means than to an extent, any hospitalization increases risk. People who have an addiction to drugs or alcohol, have diabetes, or take medications that suppress the immune system are also more prone to contracting pneumonia, as are those with sickle cell disorders.

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