Localised inflammation and necrosis (destruction) of lung tissue leading to pus formation. It is most commonly caused by aspiration of oral secretions by patients who have impaired consciousness

• Onset is acute or gradual
• Malaise, loss of appetite, sweating with chills and fever
• Cough with purulent sputum, foul-smelling breath (halitosis)
• Chest pain indicates pleurisy
• Finger clubbing

• Pus in the pleural cavity (empyema)
• Coughing out blood (haemoptysis)
• Septic emboli to various parts of the body, e.g. brain (causing brain abscess)
• Bronchiectasis (pus in the bronchi)

• Bronchogenic carcinoma
• Bronchiectasis
• Primary empyema communicating with a bronchus
• TB of the lungs
• Liver abscess communicating into the lung

• Chest X-ray
  • Early stages: Signs of consolidation
  • Later stages: A cavity with a fluid level
• Sputum: For microscopy and culture and sensitivity