What term refers to an acute infection of the lung parenchyma or supportive tissue?

The term that refers to an acute infection of the lung parenchyma or supportive tissue is pneumonia. Pneumonia involves the inflammation of the air sacs in one or both lungs, which can fill with fluid or pus, leading to symptoms such as cough, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. It is caused by various infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Other terms listed relate to different respiratory conditions: pneumothorax refers to the presence of air in the pleural space, pleurisy indicates inflammation of the pleura that can cause chest pain during breathing, and bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which may produce a cough but is distinct from the consolidation of lung tissue seen in pneumonia. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for recognizing and diagnosing respiratory conditions accurately.