Pneumonia is an inflammatory illness of the lungs. It can occur due to a range of causes including bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, exposure to chemicals and injury to the lungs.

See also Map 55 Asthma, Map 63 Bronchitis, Map 88 Chronic lower respiratory diseases, Map 94 Industrial lung disease, Map 97 Other respiratory diseases and Map 102 Influenza.

A little more accurately diagnosed than similar killers, this disease kills mostly those who are poor and have smoked or otherwise suffered damage to their lungs. It can kill at any age, but it tends to reap older people most often. Within the heart of Glasgow, the north of Liverpool, and much of London are found the clearest concentrations of excess mortality from this cause. Rates are especially low in the highlands of Scotland, the south west of England, Norfolk, north Wales, northern Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Pneumonia can usually be treated with antibiotics, but the very young and the frail elderly are particularly vulnerable, as are people with existing illnesses.

Dancer Fred Astaire, television presenter Jeremy Beadle, singer James Brown and writer Leo Tolstoy died from pneumonia.