What condition is described as excess fluid from inflammation in the lungs, which can be viral or bacterial?

• A. Pneumonia
• B. Bronchitis
• C. Asthma
• D. Pulmonary edema

Answer: (A)

Exudative inflammation filling the air spaces of the lungs describes pneumonia. In pneumonia, an infection—bacterial or viral—triggers inflammation that causes fluid and immune cells to leak into the alveoli, leading to consolidation and impaired gas exchange. This distinguishes it from other inflammatory lung conditions: bronchitis mainly involves the airways and does not necessarily produce alveolar fluid-filled consolidation; asthma is caused by reversible airway narrowing with mucus production rather than alveolar flooding; pulmonary edema involves fluid accumulation due to high pressure or heart failure, not primarily infection-driven inflammation.