**Pope Francis Admitted with Serious Bilateral Pneumonia**

**Pope Francis has been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and is currently hospitalized, raising significant health concerns due to his age and the complexity of the condition.**

Pope Francis remains in the hospital following a diagnosis of bilateral pneumonia, according to a statement from the Vatican released on Tuesday. This serious condition involves pneumonia affecting both of the pope's lungs. Dr. James Musser, a prominent infectious diseases specialist, noted that the term bilateral pneumonia refers to an infection present in both lungs but emphasized that an accurate evaluation requires an in-person examination.

Pneumonia generally involves an infection in the small airways of the lungs. Symptoms typically manifest as fever, coughing, and chills as the body fights off the infection. To diagnose pneumonia, physicians often use a stethoscope to listen to lung sounds, with the classic test revealing that the letter “e” sounds like an “a” in pneumonia patients, according to Dr. Paul Pottinger, an expert in infectious diseases.

Most individuals with pneumonia can recover at home; however, for elderly patients, the disease can pose severe risks. Infectious disease specialists highlight that the mortality rate notably increases in patients over the age of 85, a category into which the 88-year-old pontiff falls.

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong suggests that the leading cause of pneumonia is bacterial infection from Streptococcus pneumoniae, which, while often treatable with antibiotics, can lead to complications like sepsis if it spreads beyond the lungs. A vaccine is available but does not entirely prevent pneumonia, which makes the pope's situation particularly concerning.

While strep pneumonia may primarily affect one lung lobe, Dr. Pottinger noted that most cases of bilateral pneumonia often stem from viral infections like influenza or other bacterial agents, including Legionella and respiratory syncytial virus. This variety adds to the complexity of the pope's health scenario, and Dr. Pottinger described the situation as "very scary," underlining the urgent nature of monitoring the pope's recovery closely.

Gina Kolata has reported on various health topics, particularly regarding diseases and their treatments, and how these affect individuals and communities across the globe.