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pneumocystis pneumonia

pneumocystis pneumonia

2 7.7
A serious lung infection caused by a fungus that affects babies and people with weak immune systems
  • noun
  • /ˌnjuːmoʊˈsɪstɪs pəˈnoʊmiə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : neumonía por Pneumocystis jirovecii
  • In infants and people with weakened immune systems, pneumocystis pneumonia is a common and serious illness.
  • case of pneumocystis pneumonia
  • pneumocystis pneumonia, an infection

Examples

  • Unfortunately for Farber, this e-mail revealed a number of new facts that actually pointed very strongly towards Christine having died from AIDS-related Pneumocystis pneumonia (the same infection that killed her daughter).

    Blog text (29)
  • Many patients diagnosed with AIDS develop pneumocystis pneumonia, which can be life-threatening.

  • Doctors often see pneumocystis pneumonia as a significant complication in those battling HIV/AIDS.

Synonyms

pneumonia
vspneumocystis pneumonia
  • Specialized
121 4.3

A serious lung infection that makes breathing hard and causes fever

is a specific fungal lung infection mainly in infants or immune-weakened people
pneumocytosis
vspneumocystis pneumonia
  • Specialized
9.9

A lung infection caused by a fungus that often affects babies and people with weak immune systems

is the same disease but named for a different fungal species
pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
vspneumocystis pneumonia
  • Archaic
7.4

A lung infection caused by a fungus that affects babies and people with weak immune systems

is the modern term specifying a different fungal species

Surface Forms

Morphology

Pneumocystis + pneumonia

The phrase directly names a type of pneumonia caused by the organism Pneumocystis: if a learner knows 'Pneumocystis' (the fungus/organism) and 'pneumonia' (lung infection), the meaning is compositionally derivable. This follows common medical naming patterns (e.g., bacterial/viral pneumonia) and is therefore transparent to learners who know the constituents.

Etymology

Pneumocystis pneumonia takes its name from the fungus Pneumocystis, and the parts pneumo- and -cyst mean 'lung' and 'small sac'. So the phrase means a 'pneumonia', a lung infection caused by that fungus, and it often affects babies or people with weak immune systems.