Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFindings From TestingHistorical OutbreaksSymptomsIs It Contagious?RisksTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Findings From Testing
Historical Outbreaks
Symptoms
Is It Contagious?
Risks
Treatment
“White lung pneumonia” (also called “white lung syndrome”) is a term used to describe a type of pneumonia in which imaging shows a distinctive appearance of the lungs. Healthy lung tissue usually appears dark on X-rays due to its air content.
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White Lung Findings From Testing
Imaging Tests
Imaging tests identify white lung in the following ways:
If pneumonia is suspected, your provider may also order lab tests, such as a sputum test to analyze mucus and identify the germ-causing pneumonia and blood tests to check for signs of infection and evaluate how your body responds.
Pneumonia Link
Historical Accounts of White Lung Outbreaks
Historical accounts of white lung outbreaks, which refer to severe cases of pneumonia or related lung conditions visible as whiteness on chest X-rays or ultrasounds, can provide insight into the impact of these diseases over time. Here are notable examples:
Spanish Flu Pandemic (1918–1919)
During this global pandemic, many patients developed severe pneumonia, often referred to in historical accounts as having “white lung” on X-rays. The intense inflammation and fluid buildup in the lungs led to the characteristic white appearance on imaging.
Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak (1976)
COVID-19 Pandemic (2019–Present)
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients displayed severe pneumonia, with imaging results showing extensive lung inflammation and white lung appearance. This was due to widespread lung damage and fluid accumulation associated with severe cases of the disease.
Does White Lung Pneumonia Cause Symptoms?
Pneumonia causes symptoms due to inflammation and infection in the lungs. When the lungs are infected, they become inflamed, which can interfere with their ability to function properly. The body’s response to the infection often leads to a variety of symptoms.
Here are the common symptoms of pneumonia:
These symptoms vary in intensity and may differ depending on the severity of the pneumonia and the individual’s overall health.
Is White Lung Syndrome Contagious?
White lung syndrome is not a specific disease but rather a condition description. However, the type of pneumonia that causes a “white lung” can be contagious depending on its cause. In general, bacterial and viral pneumonia are contagious. Fungal pneumonia is not.
In essence, while white lung syndrome is not contagious, the underlying pneumonia can be, depending on its cause. The spread of pneumonia occurs through sneezing, coughing, or proximity to an infected person.
Risks in Vulnerable Demographics
Pneumonia poses greater risks for these groups:
Preventive measures and regular medical care are key to protecting these vulnerable groups from severe pneumonia.
Treatment With Pneumonia Diagnosis
The treatment approach for pneumonia depends on several factors, including the type of pneumonia, its severity, and the patient’s overall health. Here’s a general overview of how pneumonia is treated:
Summary
“White lung pneumonia” is a term used to describe a type of pneumonia that appears as distinct white patches on imaging tests. Pneumonia is a serious disease that can cause more harmful symptoms for children, older adults, and the immunocompromised. Treatment depends on the severity of the disease, but can involve antibiotics, antiviral medications, and hospitalization.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nationwide Children’s.White lung pneumonia: Clearing the air.Southern New Hampshire University.What is “white lung syndrome.“MedlinePlus.Pneumonia.University Hospitals.The truth about white lung pneumonia.RadiologyInfo.org.Pneumonia.Boccatonda A, Cocco G, D’Ardes D, Delli Pizzi A, Vidili G, De Molo C, Vicari S, Serra C, Cipollone F, Schiavone C, et al.Infectious pneumonia and lung ultrasound: A review.Journal of Clinical Medicine.2023; 12(4):1402. doi:10.3390/jcm12041402The British Institute of Radiology.The flu epidemic of yesteryear: The role of radiology in 1918–20.Radiopeaedia.Legionella.Shi H, Han X, Jiang N, et al.Radiological findings from 81 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2020;20(4):425-434. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30086-4University of Rochester Medical Center.Is pneumonia contagious?Yale Medicine.Pneumonia.American Lung Association.Pneumonia treatment and recovery.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nationwide Children’s.White lung pneumonia: Clearing the air.Southern New Hampshire University.What is “white lung syndrome.“MedlinePlus.Pneumonia.University Hospitals.The truth about white lung pneumonia.RadiologyInfo.org.Pneumonia.Boccatonda A, Cocco G, D’Ardes D, Delli Pizzi A, Vidili G, De Molo C, Vicari S, Serra C, Cipollone F, Schiavone C, et al.Infectious pneumonia and lung ultrasound: A review.Journal of Clinical Medicine.2023; 12(4):1402. doi:10.3390/jcm12041402The British Institute of Radiology.The flu epidemic of yesteryear: The role of radiology in 1918–20.Radiopeaedia.Legionella.Shi H, Han X, Jiang N, et al.Radiological findings from 81 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2020;20(4):425-434. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30086-4University of Rochester Medical Center.Is pneumonia contagious?Yale Medicine.Pneumonia.American Lung Association.Pneumonia treatment and recovery.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Nationwide Children’s.White lung pneumonia: Clearing the air.Southern New Hampshire University.What is “white lung syndrome.“MedlinePlus.Pneumonia.University Hospitals.The truth about white lung pneumonia.RadiologyInfo.org.Pneumonia.Boccatonda A, Cocco G, D’Ardes D, Delli Pizzi A, Vidili G, De Molo C, Vicari S, Serra C, Cipollone F, Schiavone C, et al.Infectious pneumonia and lung ultrasound: A review.Journal of Clinical Medicine.2023; 12(4):1402. doi:10.3390/jcm12041402The British Institute of Radiology.The flu epidemic of yesteryear: The role of radiology in 1918–20.Radiopeaedia.Legionella.Shi H, Han X, Jiang N, et al.Radiological findings from 81 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2020;20(4):425-434. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30086-4University of Rochester Medical Center.Is pneumonia contagious?Yale Medicine.Pneumonia.American Lung Association.Pneumonia treatment and recovery.
Nationwide Children’s.White lung pneumonia: Clearing the air.
Southern New Hampshire University.What is “white lung syndrome.”
MedlinePlus.Pneumonia.
University Hospitals.The truth about white lung pneumonia.
RadiologyInfo.org.Pneumonia.
Boccatonda A, Cocco G, D’Ardes D, Delli Pizzi A, Vidili G, De Molo C, Vicari S, Serra C, Cipollone F, Schiavone C, et al.Infectious pneumonia and lung ultrasound: A review.Journal of Clinical Medicine.2023; 12(4):1402. doi:10.3390/jcm12041402
The British Institute of Radiology.The flu epidemic of yesteryear: The role of radiology in 1918–20.
Radiopeaedia.Legionella.
Shi H, Han X, Jiang N, et al.Radiological findings from 81 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2020;20(4):425-434. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30086-4
University of Rochester Medical Center.Is pneumonia contagious?
Yale Medicine.Pneumonia.
American Lung Association.Pneumonia treatment and recovery.
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