What is the medical term for an infection in the lungs?

The correct answer is pneumonia, which specifically refers to an infection of the lungs that can be caused by various pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. This infection leads to inflammation of the alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs, which can fill with fluid or pus, causing symptoms like cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. Pneumonia can vary in severity and can affect individuals of all ages but is particularly serious in older adults and those with weakened immune systems.

In contrast, bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes and is often caused by infections but is not classified specifically as a lung infection in the same way pneumonia is. Emphysema is a chronic lung condition that involves damage to the alveoli, primarily associated with smoking and long-term exposure to irritants rather than an infectious process. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways that leads to difficulty breathing due to bronchoconstriction but is not an infection.