Pneumonia
This article is general health information for the selected condition. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace clinical judgement. If you have questions or need treatment advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is infection of the lung tissue itself, filling the air sacs with fluid or pus and impairing oxygen transfer. It ranges from a mild illness managed at home to a life threatening condition, particularly in older adults and those with chronic disease. Severity scoring guides whether someone can be treated at home or needs hospital care.
Causes
- Streptococcus pneumoniae, the commonest bacterial cause
- Respiratory viruses including influenza, RSV and COVID-19
- Atypical bacteria such as Mycoplasma and Legionella
- Aspiration of stomach contents or saliva
- Fungal infection in immunosuppressed people
Symptoms
- Cough, often productive of coloured or blood streaked sputum
- Fever and chills
- Breathlessness
- Chest pain worse on deep breathing
- Rapid breathing and heart rate
- Fatigue and poor appetite
- Confusion, particularly in older adults
Risk factors
- Age over 65 or under 2
- Smoking
- COPD, asthma or bronchiectasis
- Diabetes, heart, liver or kidney disease
- Weakened immune system
- Swallowing difficulty or reduced consciousness
- Recent hospital admission
Diagnosis
- Clinical examination with focal chest findings
- Chest X-ray confirming consolidation
- Pulse oximetry and blood gases if unwell
- Blood tests including inflammatory markers and urea
- Sputum and blood cultures
- Severity scoring such as CURB 65
Treatment
- Antibiotics chosen by severity and likely organism
- Antiviral treatment where influenza is confirmed
- Oxygen therapy to maintain saturation
- Fluids and analgesia
- Hospital or intensive care for severe disease
- Pneumococcal, influenza and COVID-19 vaccination for prevention
- Smoking cessation
Self care
- Rest and drink fluids regularly
- Take the full course of any prescribed antibiotics
- Use paracetamol or ibuprofen for fever and chest discomfort
- Sleep propped up if lying flat worsens breathlessness
- Stop smoking, which speeds recovery
- Expect fatigue and cough to persist for several weeks
When to see a doctor
Book an appointment if:
- No improvement after 48 hours of antibiotics
- Cough lasting more than six weeks after recovery
- Repeated chest infections
- Persistent breathlessness once the infection has cleared
- Coughing up blood at any point
Some symptoms need emergency care rather than an appointment. See the warning signs listed above.
Prevention
- Pneumococcal vaccination for older adults and at risk groups
- Annual influenza vaccination and COVID-19 boosters
- Stop smoking
- Good hand hygiene
- Prompt treatment of chronic lung conditions
- Good oral care and swallowing assessment where aspiration is a risk
Outlook
Most otherwise healthy adults recover fully, with fever settling within a few days of effective treatment. Cough and tiredness commonly last several weeks and full energy can take a month or more. Outcomes are less predictable in older adults and those with chronic heart or lung disease, where pneumonia remains a significant cause of hospital admission and death, which is why vaccination matters.
Common questions
When does pneumonia need hospital treatment?
Warning signs include confusion, rapid breathing, low oxygen saturation, low blood pressure, being unable to keep fluids down, and age over 65 with other illnesses. Severity scores help guide this decision.
How long does recovery take?
Fever usually settles within a few days of effective treatment, but cough and fatigue commonly persist for several weeks and full recovery can take a month or more, particularly in older adults.
Can vaccines prevent it?
Pneumococcal vaccination prevents the most common bacterial cause, and influenza and COVID-19 vaccines prevent infections that frequently lead to secondary pneumonia. They are recommended for older adults and at risk groups.
References
Important: Dard AI is not a medical device and does not diagnose, treat, or replace clinician judgement. This article is general information only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about diagnosis and treatment, and seek emergency care for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms.