I refer to K Kabilan's report, [#1] Police: Death in custody due to inflamation of lungs [/#], Feb 12.

Doubtless inflamation of lungs can be fatal. But it seldom causes sudden death. Sufferers usually could sustain themselves for at least few days if not treated. On treatment, depending on the cause of the disease, it could resolve after 10 to 14 days.

Lung inflamation or pneumonia in medical parlance usually evokes constitutional symptoms like fever, chills and rigors, accompanied by listlessness and general well-being. Chest pain and difficulty in breathing are another common accompaniments.

Any layperson would know that anyone showing these symptoms is sick and thus needs urgent medical attention. There shouldn't be any excuse for not bringing the sufferers to medical attention.

There is a small number of malingerers in any society, but anyone complaining of discomfort, especially if he or she has no control over his or her movement, should be allowed to see a doctor in order to prevent any untoward incident later on.

Pneumonthorax (air in between linings of the lungs, causing lungs to collapse), pulmonary infarct (not unlike heart attack - large blood vessels in the lung gets blocked by blood clots), TB, etc., are amongst the causes of sudden death affecting the lungs.

Apart from these diseases, there is ample time for the sufferers to be brought to the hospital or see a doctor.

Anyone under any situation in which he or she has no control over his or her movement should be given medical attention promptly the moment he or she complains of physical uneasiness.