Pneumonia Say: new-moan-ya Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, usually caused by viruses or bacteria. A person with pneumonia may have a fever and cough, and it may be hard to breathe for a little while. A doctor can tell you have pneumonia by listening to your lungs or looking at a chest X-ray. Pneumonia can be serious, so sometimes a person who has pneumonia has to go to the hospital. But in most cases, a doctor can treat pneumonia while a person gets better at home. Back to Articles Related Articles Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.