10 Causes of Pneumonia

3. Fungal Infections

Another form of pneumonia is fungal pneumonia, which also has different causes. Fungal pneumonia is caused by fungi that infect one or both lungs, typically through inhalation of spores. Two main types of fungi can cause pneumonia: opportunistic and endemic fungi. Fungal pneumonia is a rare type of pneumonia; travelers often contract this version when in regions where endemic fungi are present. The resulting condition, Valley Fever, has symptoms like high fever, rash, harsh coughing, headaches, and muscle aches. Patients with compromised immune systems are at even greater risk of developing fungal pneumonia.