Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs in which the air sacs fill with fluids linked to inflammation. While there’s no sure way to prevent pneumonia, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting sick. There are also proven treatments for the various types of pneumonia.Because pneumonia comes in different forms, treatment plans vary widely. Some people may recover well with just some extra rest at home (these milder cases are nicknamed walking pneumonia), while others require prescription medication. Severe pneumonia can send you to the hospital for intensive therapy and careful monitoring.
Causes of pneumonia include bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Different types of pneumonia typically require different kinds of treatment.
Any treatment plan will also factor in how old you are; what physical exams and tests reveal about the severity of your illness; and whether you have other health conditions, like lung or heart disease, that increase your risk of complications.From there, your healthcare provider will determine whether you should recover at home or in the hospital.People who are more likely to be hospitalized for pneumonia include those who have more severe illness; are older or very young; have a weakened immune system; or have health issues that affect their lungs and heart.
Most people with pneumonia caused by bacteria recover at home with a five- to seven-day course of oral antibiotics, but full recovery may take much longer.If your infection is severe, you need to go to the hospital for intravenous (IV) antibiotics, close observation, and possibly oxygen therapy. Your healthcare providers may test your sputum (mucus produced in the lungs) or blood to identify and target the exact bacteria.A special form of bacterial pneumonia called mycoplasmal pneumonia, or atypical pneumonia, is generally mild and gets better on its own or with oral antibiotics taken at home.But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that mycoplasmal pneumonia is the most common reason why children are hospitalized for pneumonia, and the second most common cause for adults.
Roughly one-third of all pneumonia cases in this country are caused by respiratory viruses, including those that cause COVID-19, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and influenza (flu).
As Jason Turowski, MD, a pulmonologist at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, puts it, “Viruses set up shop and basically wreak havoc on your lungs.”
Most cases of viral pneumonia get better on their own within one to three weeks and don’t require prescription medication. Specific antiviral therapies are available for COVID-19 and influenza, if they are diagnosed early in the course of the illness.In some cases, viral pneumonia can turn serious and lead to hospitalization or even death. When pneumonia is caused by influenza, for instance, healthcare providers may prescribe oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), or peramivir (Rapivab).While less common than other pneumonia types, fungal pneumonia can occur in people with chronic health problems or compromised immune systems (such as those with HIV/AIDS).
People who are exposed to large doses of fungi in contaminated soil or bird droppings may also become infected. Some parts of the country are home to the fungi coccidioidomycosis or histoplasmosis, which can be specifically diagnosed and treated.
Healthcare providers use a variety of antifungal drugs (oral and intravenous) to treat different types of fungal pneumonia.People who are hospitalized for pneumonia may be treated with oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, and breathing treatments.
Complications from pneumonia may result in respiratory failure, which requires assisted breathing with a machine called a ventilator.
In rare cases, a pocket of pus called an abscess can form inside or around the lung, and may require a surgical procedure to drain it.
In very severe cases surgery is needed to remove seriously infected or damaged lung tissue.
Home remedies can help ease pneumonia symptoms — and some may prevent an illness from getting worse.
Some of these home remedies include:
Get plenty of rest.
Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke and woodsmoke.
Manage a fever with aspirin, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen), or acetaminophen (don’t give aspirin to children).
Drink warm fluids, take steamy showers and baths, and use a humidifier to open the lungs and help with breathing.
Stay hydrated to loosen mucus in the lungs and bring up phlegm.
The American Lung Association advises talking to your doctor before taking cough medicine, since coughing can help the lungs eliminate phlegm.
Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in adults, and it can be prevented with vaccines.
There are two types of vaccines to build immunity to pneumonia and other forms of pneumococcal disease:
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: This category includes Prevnar 15 (PCV15), Prevnar 20 (PCV20), and the new Capvaxive (PCV21).
Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine: Pneumovax 23 (PPSV23)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination for all adults age 50 and older. People in these groups should receive PCV20 or PCV21, or PCV15 followed by PPSV23.
Anyone ages 19 to 49 with certain risk factors that increase their odds of infection complications should talk with their healthcare providers about whether they would benefit from vaccination as well; the type of vaccine and number of doses may vary.
Adults at increased risk include smokers, people with conditions that weaken the immune system (such as HIV or AIDS), and patients with chronic illnesses or ongoing health challenges (such as heart, liver, kidney, or lung disease; diabetes; or alcohol use disorder).
For all babies and children under age 5, the CDC recommends a four-dose PCV series (PCV15 or PCV20). The CDC notes that some children ages 2 to 18 may need additional doses.Pneumonia vaccine side effects are generally mild and can include pain at the site of the shot, fatigue, fever, or muscle aches.Besides these vaccinations, other steps to protect against pneumonia include:
Get vaccinated to prevent other infections that may lead to pneumonia, including flu, COVID-19, and (if you are eligible) RSV. Children younger than 5 should get the Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) vaccine.
Wash hands often.
Quit smoking.
Keep your immune system strong by eating well and exercising.
Take certain precautions if you have trouble swallowing, since food or saliva that accidentally enters the lungs can lead to bacterial pneumonia. Try eating smaller meals of thickened food and sleeping with your head elevated.
If you do get sick, take steps to prevent spreading pneumonia.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
Clean and disinfect surfaces that get touched a lot.
Stay home when you’re ill, and keep your child home if they’re sick.
Vaccines are a powerful way to prevent pneumonia, but if you get sick, you may experience a relatively mild case that just requires antibiotics or antiviral medication, or a few days of rest. More severe cases can require treatment in the hospital. Avoid the worst outcomes by keeping up with your immunizations and practicing good habits like not smoking cigarettes and washing your hands often. Realize that it may take time to make a full recovery and get back to your usual level of activity and feeling of well-being.
