Most of the time, pneumonia is treated at home, but severe cases may be treated in the hospital. Antibiotics are used for bacterial pneumonia. Antibiotics may also speed recovery from mycoplasma pneumonia and some special cases.
They usually get better on their own. Other treatment may include eating well, increasing fluid intake, getting rest, oxygen therapy, pain medicine, fever control, and maybe cough-relief medicine if cough is severe.
Check with your healthcare provider about getting immunizations. The flu is a common cause of pneumonia. Because of that, getting a flu shot every year can help prevent both the flu and pneumonia.
There is also a pneumococcal vaccine. It will protect you from a common form of bacterial pneumonia. Children younger than age 5 and adults ages 65 and older should get this shot. The pneumococcal shot is also recommended for all children and adults who are at increased risk of pneumococcal disease due to other health conditions. Most people with pneumonia respond well to treatment, but pneumonia can be very serious and even deadly. You are more likely to have complications if you are an older adult, a very young child, have a weakened immune system, or have a serious medical problem like diabetes or cirrhosis.
Complications may include:. Acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS. This is a severe form of respiratory failure. Lung abscesses. These are pockets of pus that form inside or around the lung. They may need to be drained with surgery. Respiratory failure. This requires the use of a breathing machine or ventilator. This is when the infection gets into the blood. Updated August 11, Chmielewski PP, Strzelec B.
Elevated leukocyte count as a harbinger of systemic inflammation, disease progression, and poor prognosis: a review. Folia Morphol Warsz. Meisner M. Update on procalcitonin measurements. Ann Lab Med. Sputum culture. Updated September 16, Serological diagnosis of pneumococcal infection in children with pneumonia using protein antigens: A study of cut-offs with positive and negative controls.
J Immunol Methods. Updated October 21, Wootton D, Feldman C. The diagnosis of pneumonia requires a chest radiograph X-ray —yes, no or sometimes? Black AD. Non-infectious mimics of community-acquired pneumonia. Pneumonia Nathan. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.
These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Physical Examination. Labs and Tests. Differential Diagnosis. Next in Pneumonia Guide. Frequently Asked Questions Do you need a chest X-ray to diagnose pneumonia? Can pneumonia be mistaken for other illnesses? How do you get a sputum culture to test for bacterial pneumonia?
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Related Articles. How Carcinoid Tumor Is Diagnosed. What Is Post-Obstructive Pneumonia? While there, you may get additional treatments. For example, if your blood oxygen level is low, you may receive oxygen therapy. It may take time to recover from pneumonia. Some people feel better within a week.
For other people, it can take a month or more. Vaccines can help prevent pneumonia caused by pneumococcal bacteria or the flu virus. Having good hygiene , not smoking, and having a healthy lifestyle may also help prevent pneumonia. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice.
Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Pneumonia Also called: Bronchopneumonia. Learn More Related Issues Specifics. See, Play and Learn No links available. Resources Reference Desk Find an Expert. What is pneumonia? What causes pneumonia? Several different types of bacteria can cause pneumonia, including Streptococcus pneumoniae Legionella pneumophila; this pneumonia is often called Legionnaires' disease Mycoplasma pneumoniae Chlamydia pneumoniae Haemophilus influenzae Viruses that infect the respiratory tract may cause pneumonia.
Some of the types include Pneumocystis pneumonia PCP Coccidioidomycosis, which causes valley fever Histoplasmosis Cryptococcus Who is at risk for pneumonia? Anyone can get pneumonia, but certain factors can increase your risk: Age; the risk is higher for children who are age 2 and under and adults age 65 and older Exposure to certain chemicals, pollutants, or toxic fumes Lifestyle habits, such as smoking , heavy alcohol use , and malnourishment Being in a hospital, especially if you are in the ICU.
This content does not have an Arabic version. Diagnosis Chest X-ray showing pneumonia Open pop-up dialog box Close. Chest X-ray showing pneumonia This chest X-ray shows an area of lung inflammation indicating the presence of pneumonia. More Information Chest X-rays. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Pneumonia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Accessed April 15, Community-acquired pneumonia adult. Rochester, Minn.
Goldman L, et al. Overview of pneumonia. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed April 18, Schauner S, et al.
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