This test can help identify the cause of your infection. A bronchoscopy looks into the airways in your lungs. Your treatment will depend on the type of pneumonia you have, how severe it is, and your general health.
Your doctor may prescribe a medication to help treat your pneumonia. Oral antibiotics can treat most cases of bacterial pneumonia. Always take your entire course of antibiotics, even if you begin to feel better. Not doing so can prevent the infection from clearing, and it may be harder to treat in the future. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral.
However, many cases of viral pneumonia clear on their own with at-home care. Antifungal medications are used to treat fungal pneumonia. You may have to take this medication for several weeks to clear the infection. Your doctor may also recommend over-the-counter OTC medications to relieve your pain and fever, as needed. These may include:. Your doctor may also recommend cough medicine to calm your cough so you can rest. Coughing is one of the most common symptoms of pneumonia.
Natural ways to relieve a cough include gargling salt water or drinking peppermint tea. Cool compresses can work to relieve a fever. Drinking warm water or having a nice warm bowl of soup can help with chills. Here are more home remedies to try. You can help your recovery and prevent a recurrence by getting a lot of rest and drinking plenty of fluids. Take any prescribed medications as directed. If your symptoms are very severe or you have other health problems, you may need to be hospitalized.
At the hospital, doctors can keep track of your heart rate, temperature, and breathing. Hospital treatment may include:. Pneumonia may cause complications, especially in people with weakened immune systems or chronic conditions, such as diabetes. The first line of defense against pneumonia is to get vaccinated. There are several vaccines that can help prevent pneumonia.
These two pneumonia vaccines help protect against pneumonia and meningitis caused by pneumococcal bacteria. Your doctor can tell you which one might be better for you. Prevnar 13 is effective against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria. The CDC recommends this vaccine for:. Pneumovax 23 is effective against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria. The CDC recommends it for:.
Pneumonia can often be a complication of the flu, so be sure to also get an annual flu shot. The CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get vaccinated, particularly those who may be at risk of flu complications. This vaccine protects against Haemophilus influenzae type b Hib , a type of bacterium that can cause pneumonia and meningitis.
Together with vaccination and additional prevention steps, you can help reduce your risk of getting pneumonia. Here are even more prevention tips. A variety of infectious agents cause pneumonia. With proper recognition and treatment, many cases of pneumonia can be cleared without complications.
For bacterial infections, stopping your antibiotics early can cause the infection to not clear completely. This means your pneumonia could come back. Stopping antibiotics early can also contribute to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic-resistant infections are more difficult to treat. Viral pneumonia often resolves in 1 to 3 weeks with at-home treatment. In some cases, you may need antivirals. Pneumonia that occurs during pregnancy is called maternal pneumonia.
The symptoms of pneumonia can develop suddenly over 24 to 48 hours, or they may come on more slowly over several days. If you have a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, it could be COVID If you have a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell, use the online coronavirus service. If you feel unwell and have any other symptoms of pneumonia, contact your GP or use the regular online service.
Only call if you cannot get help online or you need help for a child under 5. Pneumonia can affect people of any age, but it's more common, and can be more serious, in certain groups of people, such as the very young or the elderly. People in these groups are more likely to need hospital treatment if they develop pneumonia. A doctor may be able to diagnose pneumonia by asking about your symptoms and examining your chest.
Pneumonia can be difficult to diagnose because it shares many symptoms with other conditions, such as the common cold , bronchitis and asthma. A doctor may also take your temperature and listen to your chest and back with a stethoscope to check for any crackling or rattling sounds.
Early symptoms of viral pneumonia are the same as those of bacterial pneumonia, which may be followed by:. Mycoplasma pneumonia has somewhat different symptoms, which include a severe cough that may produce mucus.
Diagnosis is usually made based on your recent health history such as surgery, a cold, or travel exposures and the extent of the illness. Based on these factors, your healthcare provider may diagnose pneumonia simply on a thorough history and physical exam. The following tests may be used to confirm the diagnosis:. Chest X-ray. This test takes pictures of internal tissues, bones, and organs, including the lungs.
Blood tests. This test may be used to see whether infection is present and if infection has spread to the bloodstream blood cultures. Arterial blood gas testing checks the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream. Sputum culture. This test is done on the material that is coughed up from the lungs and into the mouth.
Pulse oximetry. An oximeter is a small machine that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood. A small sensor is taped or clipped onto a finger. When the machine is on, a small red light can be seen in the sensor. The test is painless and the red light does not get hot. Chest CT scan. This imaging procedure uses a combination of X-rays and computer technology to produce sharp, detailed horizontal, or axial, images often called slices of the body.
A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than regular X-rays. This is direct exam of the bronchi the main airways of the lungs using a flexible tube called a bronchoscope. Pleural fluid culture. In this test, a sample of a fluid sample is taken from the pleural space. This is the space between the lungs and chest wall. A long, thin needle is put through the skin between the ribs and into the pleural space.
Fluid is pulled into a syringe attached to the needle. Treatment depends on the type of pneumonia you have. 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.
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