How did I get pneumonia?

Pneumonia is mostly spread when people infected cough, sneeze or talk, sending respiratory droplets into the air. These droplets can then be inhaled by close contacts. Less often, you can get pneumonia from touching an object or surface that has the germ on it and then touching your nose or mouth.

What is the main cause of pneumonia?

Viruses that infect your lungs and airways can cause pneumonia. The flu (influenza virus) and the common cold (rhinovirus) are the most common causes of viral pneumonia in adults. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of viral pneumonia in young children.

What are the first warning signs of pneumonia?

Early symptoms are similar to influenza symptoms: fever, a dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. Within a day or two, the symptoms typically get worse, with increasing cough, shortness of breath and muscle pain. There may be a high fever and there may be blueness of the lips.

How do you acquire pneumonia?

How long does it take to recover from pneumonia?

It may take time to recover from pneumonia. Some people feel better and are able to return to their normal routines in 1 to 2 weeks. For others, it can take a month or longer. Most people continue to feel tired for about a month.

Pneumonia: how you catch it, how it affects

What helps pneumonia go away faster?

The typical pneumonia treatment plan consists of rest, antibiotics, and increased fluid intake. You should take it easy even if your symptoms begin to subside. Depending on the cause of pneumonia, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication instead of an antibiotic.

What not to do when you have pneumonia?

Don't try to run back to work and infect everyone else. Rest until you feel better. Whatever you do, don't smoke, it will only make your pneumonia worse. If your pneumonia is really severe or you have another serious health problem, your doctor may recommend that you get treated in the hospital.

How sudden is pneumonia?

The symptoms of pneumonia can develop suddenly over 24 to 48 hours, or they may come on more slowly over several days. Common symptoms of pneumonia include: a cough – which may be dry, or produce thick yellow, green, brown or blood-stained mucus (phlegm)

Can a healthy person get pneumonia?

Anyone can get pneumonia, but some people are more at risk than others. Learn about causes and symptoms of pneumonia, how pneumonia is treated, ways to prevent pneumonia and more in this section. Pneumonia is a common lung infection caused by germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Who is most likely to get pneumonia?

Certain people are more likely to become ill with pneumonia: adults 65 years or older; children younger than 5 years old; people who have ongoing medical conditions (like asthma, diabetes or heart disease); and people who smoke cigarettes.

What hurts with pneumonia?

Chest pain is one of the most common symptoms of pneumonia. Chest pain is caused by the membranes in the lungs filling with fluid. This creates pain that can feel like a heaviness or stabbing sensation and usually worsens with coughing, breathing or laughing.

What is best antibiotic for pneumonia?

The first-line treatment for pneumonia in adults is macrolide antibiotics, like azithromycin or erythromycin. In children, the first-line treatment for bacterial pneumonia is typically amoxicillin.

How do they test for pneumonia?

A chest X-ray is often used to diagnose pneumonia. Blood tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC) see whether your immune system is fighting an infection. Pulse oximetry measures how much oxygen is in your blood. Pneumonia can keep your lungs from getting enough oxygen into your blood.

Can you catch pneumonia from others?

Catching pneumonia

The germs that can cause pneumonia are usually breathed in. People often have small amounts of germs in their nose and throat that can be passed on through: coughs and sneezes – these launch tiny droplets of fluid containing germs into the air, which someone else can breathe in.

How serious is pneumonia?

Most people with pneumonia respond well to treatment, but pneumonia can be very serious and even deadly. You are more likely to have complications if you are an older adult, a very young child, have a weakened immune system, or have a serious medical problem like diabetes or cirrhosis.

What brings pneumonia in adults?

Many germs can cause pneumonia. The most common are bacteria and viruses in the air we breathe. Your body usually prevents these germs from infecting your lungs. But sometimes these germs can overpower your immune system, even if your health is generally good.

Should I worry if I have pneumonia?

Pneumonia can be life-threatening if left untreated, especially for certain at-risk people. You should call your doctor if you have a cough that won't go away, shortness of breath, chest pain, or a fever. You should also call your doctor if you suddenly begin to feel worse after having a cold or the flu.

Can dehydration cause pneumonia?

A human body requires enough water to regulate body temperature, maintain pressure and for releasing toxins from the body. But a state of severe dehydration can lead to weakness, pneumonia, confusion and urinary tract infections. In extreme cases, it can also lead to death.

When is the most common time to get pneumonia?

Most people associate getting a cold, the flu or even pneumococcal pneumonia with winter weather, but while there may be an uptick in cases during the cold, wet months—it is still possible to be sidelined with a respiratory infection during the summer months.

Which type of pneumonia is the most serious?

Hospital-acquired pneumonia.

It can be serious because the bacteria causing the pneumonia can be resistant to antibiotics. You're more likely to get this type if: You're on a breathing machine. You can't cough strongly enough to clear your lungs.

Can a cough turn into pneumonia?

So you've been coughing for a while, and instead of getting better, it seems like your cough is getting worse. Maybe you've even started coughing up phlegm or have pain in your chest when you cough. Those are signs your cough might actually be pneumonia.

Does lying down make pneumonia worse?

Pneumonia impacts sleep by making it difficult to breathe while lying in bed. The pain or discomfort from the illness may also prevent you from sleeping, or excessive coughing and congestion can keep you awake.

Do you need bed rest with pneumonia?

If you have pneumonia, you may require several days of bed rest or even hospitalization. Walking pneumonia feels like a bad cold or the flu.

Should you walk around with pneumonia?

Bed rest or hospitalization are usually not needed, and symptoms can be mild enough that you can continue about your daily activities, hence the term "walking."

Do oxygen levels drop with pneumonia?

The drop in oxygen saturation from the last baseline value was greater in pneumonia patients than in control subjects (P < 0.001). The sensitivity of an oxygen saturation drop >3% from baseline for pneumonia was 73% with specificity and positive predictive values of 100%.