![]() Most people who have pneumonia recover well, but it can take weeks or months to feel completely back to normal. If you have very severe pneumonia, you may need help with your breathing using a ventilator (an artificial breathing machine). You’ll probably be offered oxygen to help your breathing. While you’re in hospital, your doctor will monitor how much oxygen your body is getting. Your GP will tell you if this is an option for you. In some areas it may be possible for nurses to come to your house to give you IV antibiotics. ![]() You may be given these directly into a vein with a drip (intravenously, IV). In hospital, your doctor may recommend that you have two antibiotics rather than one. If your symptoms are severe or you don’t get better at home with initial treatment, your GP may advise you to go to hospital. But there are some antiviral medicines your doctor may prescribe if you’re at high risk of complications. Viral pneumonia is mainly treated with supportive therapy as described in our self-help section. If you have viral pneumonia, antibiotics won’t work because they act against bacteria not viruses. They may ask you to take antibiotics for a few more days, prescribe a different antibiotic or arrange further tests or a specialist review. If you’re not feeling better within three days after starting the antibiotics or you start feeling much worse, it’s important to tell your GP. You’ll usually need to take the antibiotics for five days to start with. If you can’t have penicillin, there are other effective antibiotics that your GP can offer you instead. A type of penicillin is often used to treat pneumonia, so it’s vital that you tell your GP if you’re allergic to penicillin. Your GP will advise you to start this as soon as possible. The main treatment for bacterial pneumonia is a course of antibiotics. If your symptoms are severe (for example, you’re feeling very short of breath or coughing up blood), seek urgent medical attention. These symptoms aren't always caused by pneumonia, but if you have them and feel very unwell, contact your GP. A young child with pneumonia may be restless and irritable, perhaps with abdominal (tummy) pain. They may also be confused and more prone to falls. An older person with pneumonia may just seem generally unwell and off their food. Symptoms of pneumonia may vary depending on your age and other medical problems. Your symptoms may come on gradually, but sometimes the symptoms of pneumonia start suddenly and rapidly get worse. pain in your chest, which is worse when you take a deep breath (pleurisy).a fever and you might also sweat and shiver.a cough – this may be dry or you may cough up sputum which can be green–yellow, rust-coloured or even bloodstained.If you have pneumonia, you’ll probably feel unwell and have symptoms like flu. It’s more likely to happen if you’re unconscious or if you have a condition that causes swallowing difficulties. This can damage the lungs and cause infection. It’s also possible to get pneumonia from inhaling small amounts of liquid or material from your stomach or mouth and throat into your lungs. If you develop pneumonia while you’re in hospital, it’s called hospital-acquired pneumonia. You’re also more likely to get pneumonia if you’re in hospital for other reasons. have a weakened immune system (for example, if you have HIV/AIDS or are undergoing chemotherapy).have other health conditions such as diabetes or a heart, liver or kidney condition.have long-term lung problems such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis.smoke (smoking damages your lungs which makes you more prone to infection).But you’re at greater risk of getting pneumonia or getting it more severely if you: This makes it harder for your lungs to work properly.Īnyone of any age can get pneumonia. The bacteria or virus can get into your lungs and cause the alveoli (tiny air sacs) and smaller airways to become inflamed and filled with fluid. Pneumonia is usually caused by either a bacterial infection or a viral infection.
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