In the vast majority of cases, pneumonia is caused by pneumococcus, a bacterium that occurs commensally in the oropharynx in many people. But other bacteria or viruses can also cause pneumonia. Pneumonia makes you feel very ill, you have a high fever and often have to cough. Coughing up mucus is also common and breathing can be painful. Shortness of breath often occurs. Treatment of pneumonia depends on the cause and severity.
- What is pneumonia?
- Who is more at risk of developing pneumonia?
- What are the symptoms of pneumonia?
- Pneumonia treatment and cure
- Treatment at home
- Treatment in hospital
- Pneumonia recovery and duration of recovery
- Recovery time
- Promote recovery
- Preventing pneumonia
- Make sure you are vaccinated
- Wash your hands regularly
- Do not smoke
- General health
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia, also called pneumonia, is an infection of the alveoli and surrounding tissue. The infection can occur in part of the lung (lung lobe), in an entire lung and sometimes there is bilateral pneumonia. Pneumonia is a common lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. The symptoms of pneumonia can range from mild to severe. The treatment depends on the cause of the pneumonia, the severity of the symptoms, and your age and overall health. Healthy people usually recover from pneumonia in one to three weeks, but pneumonia can also be life-threatening. Pneumonia can be prevented by having the annual flu shot (flu often leads to pneumonia) and by washing your hands regularly. Hands are the main carriers of germs. In some people, pneumonia is very serious. They may benefit from a vaccination against pneumococci, because this bacterium is almost always the cause of pneumonia.
Who is more at risk of developing pneumonia?
Anyone can get pneumonia, but some people are at higher risk than others. Risk factors include:
- smoking;
- recent viral respiratory infection, cold, sore throat, flu, etc.
- difficulty swallowing (due to stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease or other neurological disorders);
- chronic lung diseases such as COPD, bronchiectasis (damage and dilation of the bronchi of the lungs), or cystic fibrosis;
- cerebral palsy;
- other serious diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, liver cirrhosis, or diabetes;
- living in a nursing home;
- impaired consciousness (loss of brain function due to dementia, stroke or other neurological disorders);
- recent surgery or trauma;
- a weakened immune system due to illness, certain medications, and autoimmune diseases.
Coughing is one of the symptoms of pneumonia / Source: Ljupco/Istock.com
What are the symptoms of pneumonia?
The most common symptoms of pneumonia are:
- cough (sometimes you cough up green or yellow mucus or even bloody mucus);
- fever, which can be mild or high;
- chills;
- rapid breathing;
- a fast heartbeat; and
- shortness of breath.
Additional symptoms include:
- sharp or stabbing chest pain that gets worse when you cough or breathe deeply;
- headache;
- excessive sweating and clammy skin;
- loss of appetite, low energy and fatigue;
- confusion, especially in older people.
Symptoms can also vary depending on whether you have bacterial or viral pneumonia.
Pneumonia treatment and cure
The treatment of pneumonia depends on the type of pneumonia you have and its severity, as well as the presence of other (chronic) diseases. The goal of treatment is to cure the infection and prevent complications.
Treatment at home
Most people can be treated at home in the following ways:
Paracetamol has an analgesic and fever-reducing effect / Source: Martin Sulman
- drink plenty of fluids, which also helps loosen the mucus;
- get enough rest, stay home from work or school and let someone else do the household chores;
- don’t smoke and ask people around you not to smoke;
- Coughing up mucus is annoying but good, because it removes the bacteria or virus from your lungs;
- Cough medicines and expectorant drinks have never been proven to work and they certainly do not help the pneumonia heal faster;
- always complete the antibiotic treatment;
- If you suffer from fever and pain, you can safely take a painkiller, such as paracetamol.
If a bacteria is the culprit, you will be given antibiotics. In case of fungus, you will also be prescribed medication. Antibiotics do not help against a viral infection. Nevertheless, the doctor will almost always prescribe a treatment for pneumonia, because it is very difficult to find out whether a bacteria, a virus or a combination of these two culprits causes the pneumonia.
Treatment in hospital
If you have pneumonia that progresses seriously and makes you very ill, you will need to be admitted to hospital to recover. In the hospital you will be given medication and possibly extra oxygen or fluid through an IV. You are more likely to be hospitalized if you:
- have another serious medical problem at the same time;
- have severe symptoms or complications occur;
- if you are unable to eat or drink;
- are over 65 years old or have a young child.
Pneumonia recovery and duration of recovery
Recovery time
As a rule, recovery takes an average of 2-4 weeks. Recovery is firstly dependent on the pathogen and secondly depends on patient-related factors. Pneumonia can also have a lingering character. In many cases, pneumonia heals without further damage to the lungs. You can still cough for a few weeks after pneumonia and it can certainly take several weeks or even months before your condition is back to normal and you are completely back to normal.
Healthy food promotes recovery after pneumonia / Source: Istock.com/kabVisio
Promote recovery
Recovery from pneumonia can take quite a long time. This is because pneumonia is a major threat to your health. Your recovery depends partly on your age and overall condition. However, many people still do not feel completely back to normal after four weeks. It is important not to give up. Gradually pick up the thread again and start exercising again as soon as the fever has subsided. By moving and being active you increase your lung capacity, which also makes breathing easier. You will get tired quickly, but don’t let that discourage you. Go for a walk outside again or do another activity that you enjoy. The Lung Fund says somewhere: “It is better to be tired from exertion than from a lack of fitness.” That’s how it is.
Rest promotes recovery after experiencing pneumonia. Fighting inflammation costs the body a lot of energy. You need to regain your strength and that is why it is wise to get enough rest by sleeping a lot and getting a good night’s sleep. In addition, breathing exercises can be useful. This is to strengthen the lungs and increase lung capacity. Furthermore, drinking plenty of water is important. Fever causes you to lose a lot of fluid and this needs to be replenished. In addition, it is important to eat healthy and varied. This increases your resistance and makes you feel more energetic. And last but not least: no smoking.
Flu shot / Source: Image Point Fr/Shutterstock
Preventing pneumonia
There are a number of measures you can take to prevent being struck (again) by pneumonia.
Make sure you are vaccinated
Flu is a common cause of pneumonia, so preventing flu is a good way to prevent pneumonia. The flu shot reduces the chance of you getting the flu.
Vaccination against pneumococcal disease is recommended for adults over 60 years of age or with compromised immune systems. Pneumococcal pneumonia is a common form of bacterial pneumonia.
There are several other vaccines that can prevent infections from bacteria and viruses that can lead to pneumonia, including whooping cough, chickenpox and measles.
Wash your hands regularly / Source: Pezibear, Pixabay
Wash your hands regularly
Wash your hands regularly, especially after blowing your nose, going to the toilet, changing diapers and before eating or preparing food.
Do not smoke
Tobacco smoke damages your lungs’ ability to fight infections, and smokers have a higher risk of pneumonia. Smokers are considered one of the high-risk groups encouraged to receive the pneumococcal vaccine.
General health
Since pneumonia often follows respiratory infections, expect symptoms to last longer than a few days or worsen. In addition, observe good health habits, which include:
- a healthy and varied diet
- enough rest and sleep
- regular exercise
- moderate alcohol consumption, preferably not drinking anything at all
- do not smoke
A healthy lifestyle helps protect your body against viruses and respiratory diseases. They also help you recover quickly if you have a cold or flu.
read more
- Pneumonia: symptoms, causes, treatment and prognosis
- Coughing up blood: causes of coughing up blood
- Coughing up phlegm: Coughing up white, yellow, gray, red sputum
- Flu with high fever, headache, muscle aches, dry cough
- Shortness of breath: symptoms and causes during exertion or rest
