Visualize a premature newborn, strapped to machines pumping oxygen and medications, simply because he or she has been diagnosed with a debilitating illness known as viral pneumonia. The baby must now undergo several expensive treatments to survive. Many premature babies and their parents undergo these procedures daily. Viral pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs caused by a harmful virus (Benson 74). There are many catastrophic causes and symptoms of viral pneumonia in premature babies, the disease can be cured with proper treatment and prevention. Knowing basic information about viral pneumonia is essential for treating the illness in premature babies. Two scientists, Hippocrates and Maimonides, discovered pneumonia between 450 and 380 BC as well as in the early 19th century. Hippocrates discovered pneumonia, but knew very little about it. On the other hand, Maimonides knew more about pneumonia and described it more thoroughly than Hippocrates. He described pneumonia as a disease causing acute fever, shooting pain in the side, short, rapid breaths, irregular pulse, and cough (Meeks and Heit 492). “Viral pneumonia occurs more in young children than in older adults because young children's bodies have a harder time fighting the virus and it is often caused by one of several viruses: adenovirus, influenza, parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus” (“”Viral pneumonia”). Viral pneumonia develops in children in about five to seven days, but bacterial pneumonia is more serious (McKenzie et. al. 396). “Pneumonia affects around four million people each year. It is the most common cause of infectious death in the United States” (Neighbors and Jones 162). Viral pneumonia occurs...... middle of paper ......, and. al. An introduction to community health. Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett, 2012. Meeks, Linda and Philip Heit. Health and well-being. Woodland Hills: McGraw - Hill, 2008. Neighbors, Marianne and Ruth Tannehill - Jones. Human diseases. Clifton Park: Delmar, 2006. “Pneumonia.” Who.int. November 6, 2009. Global Health. March 23, 2014. “Pneumonia: an infection of the lungs. » Cdc.gov. February 7, 2014. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. March 23, 2014. “Viral pneumonia.” Webmd.com. October 30, 2013. WebMD. March 23, 2014. “Viral pneumonia: Medline Plus. » Nih.gov. February 26, 2014. National Institutes of Health. March 23 2014 .