
Mild pneumonia may be healed by the body’s defense system. However severe cases of pneumonia require medical attention especially viral pneumonia.
- Pneumonia may be usually treated at home by drinking sufficient fluids and having sufficient rest.
- Doctors may prescribe antibiotics or antiviral drugs for the treatment. Painkillers, such as paracetamol may be prescribed to relieve pain and reduce fever.
Usually, the symptoms disappear as per the below trend if proper care is taken:
- Within one week patients may recover from high temperatures.
- Within four weeks patients may recover from body pains including chest pain. Mucus production may be substantially reduced
- Within six weeks patient may recover from cough and may be able to breathe better
- Within three months most of the symptoms may be resolved however in a few patients tiredness would continue due to age or pre-existing diseases such as diabetes.
- Within six months most people recover and are able to continue with their daily work.
In severe cases, the patient may require hospital admission and treatment
- Patients may be given fluids, antibiotics, antiviral drugs intravenously. Antibiotics may not be given for COVID as antibiotics may not work on viruses, such as coronavirus. Antibiotics do not work for viral infections.
- The patient’s oxygen saturation may be maintained via an oxygen mask.
- In very rare and serious cases of pneumonia, breathing assistance is given through a ventilator in an intensive care unit (ICU).
- In case of aspiration pneumonia object that's causing pneumonia, may need to be removed by an instrument called a bronchoscope
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a chest infection which makes an individual hard to breathe. The disease usually affects the tiny air sacs in the lungs, called alveoli. An individual may have symptoms that are similar to having flu or a chest infection. Symptoms may develop gradually over a few days but may progress much faster. Below are a few common symptoms of pneumonia:
- Coughing with or without mucus
- Felling of generally unwell, weakness, and tiredness
- High temperature (might also sweat and shiver)
- Difficulty breathing or getting out of breath quicker than normal
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Loss of appetite
What are the different types of pneumonia?
The different types of pneumonia include:
- Community-acquired pneumonia: This is the most common type of pneumonia. It is a condition in which an individual gets infection through someone already infected in his family of community. Community-acquired pneumonia is much less contagious than flu or a cold because most people’s immune systems can kill the bacterium before it causes severe infection. Most people with community-acquired pneumonia are unlikely to give the disease to another person.
- Hospital-acquired pneumonia: This is when pneumonia develops while an individual is in hospital being treated for another condition or having an operation.
- Viral pneumonia: Viral pneumonia is often contagious and can spread to others. Common causes include the flu in adults and respiratory syncytial virus, particularly in children. Individuals with viral pneumonia are at risk of developing bacterial pneumonia.
- Fungal pneumonia: This is when pneumonia is caused by fungi. It’s is more likely to affect people with a weakened immune system
- Aspiration pneumonia: This is a condition when pneumonia is caused by food going down the wrong way, or inhaling vomit, a foreign object, or harmful substance. It’s fairly common in the elderly, or people who have conditions that cause swallowing difficulties or reduced level of consciousness

QUESTION
What is pneumonia? See AnswerHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
Top Can Pneumonia Go Away On Its Own? Related Articles
Respiratory Illnesses: 13 Types of Lung Infections
Is your cough caused by a cold, flu, pneumonia or something else? Learn causes of respiratory infection like bronchitis, pneumonia, SARS, Coronavirus COVID-19 bird flu, and more.Fetroja (cefiderocol)
Fetroja (cefiderocol) is an antibiotic used to treat several species of otherwise antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These bacteria can cause complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and stubborn hospital-acquired or ventilator-acquired pneumonia.How Do I Know if My Child has Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a lung infection that affects many children. Learn the signs of pneumonia in children, what causes pneumonia in children, how doctors diagnose pneumonia in children, and what you can do to treat pneumonia in children.How Long Is Pneumonia Contagious?
Pneumonia may be contagious for 2-14 days. Usually, the goal of medications given for pneumonia is to limit the spread of the disease.Interstitial Lung Disease (Interstitial Pneumonia)
Interstitial lung disease refers to a variety of diseased that thicken the tissue between the lungs' air sacks. Symptoms of interstitial lung disease include shortness of breath, cough, and vascular problems, and their treatment depends on the underlying cause of the tissue thickening. Causes include viruses, bacteria, tobacco smoke, environmental factors, cancer, and heart or kidney failure.Is Pneumonia Contagious?
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lung usually caused by bacterial or viral infection (rarely, also by fungi) that causes the air sacs to fill with pus. If inflammation affects both lungs, the infection is termed double pneumonia. If it affects one lung, it is termed single pneumonia. If it affects only a certain lobe of a lung it's termed lobar pneumonia. Most pneumonias are caused by bacteria and viruses, but some pneumonias are caused by inhaling toxic chemicals that damage lung tissue.Nuzyra (omadacycline)
Nuzyra (omadacycline) is a tetracycline class antibiotic indicated for the treatment of adult patients with the infections caused by susceptible microorganisms, including community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI).Pneumonia
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses. Symptoms and signs include cough, fever, shortness of breath, and chills. Antibiotics treat pneumonia, and the choice of the antibiotic depends upon the cause of the infection.Do I Have Pneumonia Quiz
Pneumonia can be deadly. Take the Pneumonia Quiz on MedicineNet to learn more about this highly contagious, infectious disease.Teflaro (ceftaroline fosamil)
Teflaro (ceftaroline fosamil) is a cephalosporin antibiotic used to treat skin infections or pneumonia caused by bacteria. Common side effects of Teflaro include nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, and itching.Unasyn (ampicillin and sulbactam)
Unasyn is indicated for the treatment of infections due to susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms in conditions such as skin and skin structure infections, intra-abdominal infections, and gynecological infections.Viral pneumonia: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
Pneumonia is an infection in your lungs that is usually caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. About 30% of pneumonia cases reported in the United States are viral. Symptoms include dry cough, fever, chills, difficulty breathing, chest pain and rapid breathing.What Are the Side Effects of the Pneumonia Vaccine?
The pneumonia vaccine can help protect against pneumococcal infections. Learn what the pneumonia vaccine is all about, and what to do if you experience side effects.What are the Three Major Causes of Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a lung infection that affects many people. Learn the signs of pneumonia, what causes it, how doctors diagnose it, and what you can do to treat it.What Is the Most Common Cause of Bronchiectasis?
Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung condition in which the bronchi (tube-like passageways that transfer air within the lungs) get permanently damaged and widened. The most common causes of bronchiectasis are pneumonia, pertussis, tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis mycobacterium.Xenleta (lefamulin)
Xenleta is a semi-synthetic antibacterial agent for oral and intravenous administration. Xenleta is indicated for the treatment of adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) caused by susceptible microorganisms, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible isolates), Haemophilus influenzae, Legionella pneumophila, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydophila pneumoniae.