When is pneumonia severe

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.

Pregnant people are more at risk of developing conditions like pneumonia. This is due to the natural suppression of the immune system that happens during pregnancy. However, you may notice some of them more later on in your pregnancy due to other discomforts you may be encountering. Maternal pneumonia can lead to a variety of complications, such as premature birth and low birth weight. Pneumonia can be a rather common childhood condition. The causes of childhood pneumonia can vary by age.

For example, pneumonia due to respiratory viruses, Streptococcus pneumoniae , and Haemophilus influenzae is more common in children under 5 years old.

Pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae is frequently observed in children between the ages of 5 and Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the causes of walking pneumonia. Pneumonia can become dangerous quickly, particularly in young children.

Most people respond to treatment and recover from pneumonia. Like your treatment, your recovery time will depend on the type of pneumonia you have, how severe it is, and your general health. A younger person may feel back to normal in a week after treatment.

Others may take longer to recover and may have lingering fatigue. If your symptoms are severe, your recovery may take several weeks. Consider taking these steps to aid in your recovery and help prevent complications from occurring:. Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. This leads to symptoms such as trouble breathing, a cough with or without mucus, fever, and chills.

To diagnose pneumonia, your doctor will do a physical exam and discuss your medical history. They may recommend further testing, such as a chest X-ray. Treatment depends on the cause of the infection. It may involve antibiotics, antiviral medication, or antifungal medication. Pneumonia often clears up in a few weeks. See a doctor right away if your symptoms get worse, as you may need to be hospitalized to prevent or treat more serious complications. What makes bronchopneumonia different from pneumonia?

Learn the symptoms of this condition and the best way to treat it. COPD describes several lung conditions that block airways, making it harder to breathe.

People with COPD are more likely to develop complications from…. Pneumonia is a serious complication of COPD. The pleura is the tissue that covers the outside of the lungs and lines the inside of your chest cavity. Kidney failure Respiratory failure How is pneumonia diagnosed? Your health care provider may use many tools to make a diagnosis: A medical history, which includes asking about your symptoms A physical exam, including listening to your lungs with a stethoscope Various tests, such as A chest x-ray Blood tests such as a complete blood count CBC to see if your immune system is actively fighting an infection A Blood culture to find out whether you have a bacterial infection that has spread to your bloodstream If you are in the hospital, have serious symptoms, are older, or have other health problems, you may also have more tests, such as Sputum test, which checks for bacteria in a sample of your sputum spit or phlegm slimy substance from deep in your lungs.

Chest CT scan to see how much of your lungs is affected. It may also show if you have complications such as lung abscesses or pleural effusions. Pleural fluid culture , which checks for bacteria in a fluid sample that was taken from the pleural space Pulse oximetry or blood oxygen level test, to check how much oxygen is in your blood Bronchoscopy, a procedure used to look inside your lungs' airways What are the treatments for pneumonia?

Treatment for pneumonia depends on the type of pneumonia, which germ is causing it, and how severe it is: Antibiotics treat bacterial pneumonia and some types of fungal pneumonia.

They do not work for viral pneumonia. In some cases, your provider may prescribe antiviral medicines for viral pneumonia Antifungal medicines treat other types of fungal pneumonia You may need to be treated in a hospital if your symptoms are severe or if you are at risk for complications. Can pneumonia be prevented? Start Here. Diagnosis and Tests. Prevention and Risk Factors.

Related Issues. Statistics and Research. Clinical Trials. Article: Stroke-associated pneumonia: A bibliometric analysis of worldwide trends from to Article: Pathogen distribution and bacterial resistance in children with severe pneumonia: A Pneumonia Symptoms and Diagnosis.

Section Menu. Even if You are Healthy. Learn More. What Are the Symptoms of Pneumonia? The signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include: Cough , which may produce greenish, yellow or even bloody mucus Fever, sweating and shaking chills Shortness of breath Rapid, shallow breathing Sharp or stabbing chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough Loss of appetite, low energy, and fatigue Nausea and vomiting, especially in small children Confusion, especially in older people.

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When to call a doctor If you think you or your child has symptoms of pneumonia, don't wait for the disease to get even worse before you seek care.

How Is Pneumonia Diagnosed? Medical history Your doctor will ask you questions about your signs and symptoms, and how and when they began. To help figure out if your infection is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, you may be asked some questions about possible exposures, such as: Any recent travel Your occupation Contact with animals Exposure to other sick people at home, work or school Whether you have recently had another illness Physical exam Your doctor will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope.

Diagnostic Tests If your doctor suspects you may have pneumonia, they will probably recommend some tests to confirm the diagnosis and learn more about your infection. These may include: Blood tests to confirm the infection and to try to identify the germ that is causing your illness. Chest X-ray to look for the location and extent of inflammation in your lungs.

Pulse oximetry to measure the oxygen level in your blood. Pneumonia can prevent your lungs from moving enough oxygen into your bloodstream.

Sputum test on a sample of mucus sputum taken after a deep cough, to look for the source of the infection. This is because it can lead to serious complications, which in some cases can be fatal, depending on a person's health and age.

Complications of pneumonia are more common in young children, the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, such as diabetes. You'll be admitted to hospital for treatment if you develop one of these complications.

Although most cases of pneumonia are bacterial and are not passed on from one person to another, ensuring good standards of hygiene will help prevent germs spreading.

A healthy lifestyle can also help prevent pneumonia. For example, you should stop smoking as it damages your lungs and increases the chance of infection. Excessive and prolonged alcohol misuse also weakens your lungs' natural defences against infections, making you more vulnerable to pneumonia.