Patient education: Pneumonia in adults (The Basics)

What is pneumonia? — Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that causes coughing, fever, and trouble breathing (figure 1). It is a serious illness, especially in young children, people older than 65, and people with other health problems. Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and other germs.

What are the symptoms of pneumonia? — Common symptoms include:

●Cough

●Fever (temperature higher than 100.4°F or 38°C)

●Trouble breathing

●Pain when taking a deep breath

●Fast heartbeat

●Shaking chills

When people with pneumonia cough, they often cough up phlegm or mucus.

Should I see a doctor or nurse? — Yes, if you think that you might have pneumonia, see a doctor or nurse as soon as possible. Pneumonia can be mild. But it can also be very serious, especially if you do not get it treated quickly. See your doctor or nurse right away if:

●Your cough keeps getting worse.

●You start having trouble breathing when doing everyday tasks or when resting.

●You have chest pain when you breathe.

●You feel suddenly worse after getting better from a cold or the flu.

●You have a weakened immune system, for example because you have an HIV infection, had an organ transplant or stem cell (bone marrow) transplant, or take medicines that suppress the immune system.

●You already have a serious lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema.

●You are 65 years of age or older.

If your doctor or nurse thinks that you might have pneumonia, they will probably take an X-ray of your chest. Taking a chest X-ray is the best way to tell if you have pneumonia.

How is pneumonia treated? — It depends on the cause:

●Pneumonia that is caused by bacteria is treated with antibiotics. These medicines kill the germs that cause pneumonia. Most people can take antibiotic pills at home, but some people need to be treated in the hospital. Take all of your antibiotics, even if you feel better before you finish them.

●Pneumonia from some viruses, like those that cause the flu or COVID-19, is treated with an "antiviral" medicine. For other types of viral pneumonia, there is no specific treatment.

How soon will I feel better? — You should start to feel better 3 to 5 days after you start taking antibiotics. Most people can go back to their normal routine within a week of starting treatment. Even so, you might feel tired or have a cough for a month or longer after you get treated. Although this cough can take a while to go away, it is usually milder than when you first got sick.

How should I take care of myself until I recover? — Get lots of rest, and drink lots of fluids.

If you don't need to stay in the hospital, your doctor or nurse might want to see you or talk to you a few days after you begin treatment. This is to make sure that your pneumonia is getting better. They might also want to see you after you get better to make sure that everything is back to normal.

If your symptoms do not improve or get worse after starting treatment, tell your doctor or nurse.

What can I do to keep from getting pneumonia again? — Wash your hands often with soap and water (figure 2). This will help protect you from germs and help prevent spreading illness.

There is also a vaccine that protects against the most common type of bacterial pneumonia. But the pneumonia vaccine is not recommended for everyone. Ask your doctor if you should have it. You should get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines every year.

If you smoke, quitting will help prevent pneumonia. Quitting smoking will also improve your overall health.

More on this topic

Patient education: Pneumonia in adults – Discharge instructions (The Basics)
Patient education: Community-acquired pneumonia in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Hospital-acquired pneumonia (The Basics)
Patient education: Aspiration pneumonia (The Basics)
Patient education: Pneumocystis pneumonia (The Basics)
Patient education: Cough, runny nose, and the common cold (The Basics)
Patient education: Fever in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Flu (The Basics)
Patient education: What you should know about vaccines (The Basics)
Patient education: Cough in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Cough in children (The Basics)
Patient education: When to worry about a fever in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Quitting smoking (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use an incentive spirometer (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use a pulse oximeter (The Basics)
Patient education: Deep breathing and coughing after surgery (The Basics)

Patient education: Pneumonia in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Pneumonia prevention in adults (Beyond the Basics)