What condition is characterized by an accumulation of fluid in the alveoli?

Pulmonary edema is characterized by an accumulation of fluid in the alveoli, which are the tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs. This condition often results from heart failure, where the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently, leading to increased pressure in the pulmonary vessels and causing fluid to leak into the alveoli. The presence of this fluid disrupts normal gas exchange, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, and a feeling of suffocation.

In contrast, chronic bronchitis involves inflammation of the airways, which typically causes increased mucus production but does not directly result in fluid accumulation in the alveoli. Emphysema, another form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is characterized by the destruction of alveoli, leading to reduced surface area for gas exchange, but it does not primarily involve fluid build-up. Pneumonia, while it can cause inflammation and fluid in the lungs, typically involves infection and can result in consolidation rather than the specific accumulation of fluid as seen in pulmonary edema.