Why is pneumonia more common during colder months? Could some pneumonia cases be caused by cold air inflaming the lungs and not an infection? This scientific report (from Page on ncbi.gov) says there is a higher incidence (+15%) in cold months. The article implies that cold air can cause pneumonia. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24989619

In periods of cold weather, people are more likely to be in a close confined proximity to the virus/bacteria- laden aerosol an infected person produces from coughing or things they touch.. Also, with the humidity being generally lower, the airways will have less protective mucus, which contains bacteria-busting lysozyme, facilitating infection.

Edited March 14, 201510 yr by StringJunky