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Not all forms of pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics, but those who can treat themselves from home with antibiotics can expect to take them for about five to seven days.

Some people may be given a shorter or longer medication regimen; it all depends on what your healthcare provider thinks is suitable for your particular case.

Here is an example of a timeline for recovery from pneumonia:. Here is how age can affect your recovery from pneumonia:. Like everything else in medicine, there are many reasons why it takes so long to recover. When bacteria enters your body, your body goes into defense mode to remove it. Somewhere along the line, you start your antibiotics, and in a few days, you feel better.

This improvement is because the bacteria has been dealt with. However, your body is now in cleanup mode, removing all the debris—like the mucus in your lungs. Your body is using multiple mechanisms to move the mucus out of your lungs. This movement is why you experience a productive cough. You may also feel fatigued for several months after battling pneumonia. Regardless of whether you could treat your pneumonia at home or you were hospitalized for pneumonia, the best thing you can do is take care of yourself as you recover.

Here are some recovery tips:. Pneumonia is a serious infection capable of damaging your lungs. If you experience any of the following scenarios, contact your healthcare provider immediately:. Pneumonia can come back in full force as you recover. A big part of achieving full recovery is taking it slow as you return to everyday life.

Recovering without any help can be difficult, overwhelming, and potentially create a longer recovery. Asking someone to help can make all the difference in your recovery, both mentally and physically. While treatment recommendations can feel very textbook at times, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment when it comes to medicine.

Sometimes, an adjustment is needed. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. American Lung Association. Pneumonia treatment and recovery. Updated October 23, Call a doctor immediately if you have: A cough that produces blood-tinged or rust-colored mucus from the lungs.

A fever with shaking chills. Difficult, shallow, fast breathing with shortness of breath or wheezing. Call a doctor if your cough: Frequently brings up yellow or green mucus from the lungs and lasts longer than 2 days. Do not confuse mucus from your lungs with mucus running down the back of your throat from your nasal passages postnasal drip.

Postnasal drainage is not a worry. Causes you to vomit a lot. Continues longer than 4 weeks. Watchful waiting Watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. Home treatment may be appropriate if: You have classic cold symptoms nasal stuffiness, mild body aches or headache, mild fever.

You cough up mucus that is running down the back of the throat from the nasal passages postnasal drip. But a cough in which the mucus is definitely coming from the lungs rather than the nasal passages is a more serious problem, and you should contact your doctor.

You have signs of the flu high fever, severe muscle aches or headache, and mild respiratory symptoms. For more information, see the topic Influenza. Who to see Health professionals who can diagnose and treat pneumonia include: Family medicine physicians. Infectious disease specialists. Physician assistants. Nurse practitioners. Specialists in lung diseases pulmonologists. Exams and Tests Your doctor will usually diagnose pneumonia with: Your medical history.

A physical exam. A chest X-ray, which is almost always done to check for changes in the lungs that may mean pneumonia and to look for other causes of your symptoms. But an X-ray does not always show whether you have pneumonia, especially if it is done when you first get sick.

In some cases, the X-ray results may: Suggest the type of organism bacterial, viral, or fungal causing pneumonia.

Show complications of pneumonia, such as infection of the heart muscle or the sac surrounding the heart. Show conditions that may occur with pneumonia, such as fluid in the chest cavity or a collapsed lung. Reveal another condition, such as heart failure, lung cancer, or acute bronchitis. Lab tests for pneumonia The need for more tests often depends on how severe your symptoms are, your age, and your overall health.

Mucus test If you are very ill, have severe shortness of breath, or have a condition that increases your risk such as asthma or COPD , your doctor may test your mucus. Rapid urine test This test can identify some bacteria that cause pneumonia. HIV test In people who have impaired immune systems , pneumonia may be caused by other organisms, including some forms of fungi, such as Pneumocystis jiroveci formerly called Pneumocystis carinii.

Other lung tests If you have severe pneumonia, you may need other tests , including tests to check for complications and to find out how well your immune system is working. Treatment Overview Bacterial pneumonia Doctors use antibiotics to treat pneumonia caused by bacteria, the most common cause of the condition.

You likely will not have to go to the hospital unless you: Are older than Have other health problems, such as COPD, heart failure, asthma, diabetes, long-term chronic kidney failure, or chronic liver disease. Cannot care for yourself or would not be able to tell anyone if your symptoms got worse. Have severe illness that reduces the amount of oxygen getting to your tissues. Have chest pain caused by inflammation of the lining of the lung pleurisy so you are not able to cough up mucus effectively and clear your lungs.

Are being treated outside a hospital and are not getting better such as your shortness of breath not improving. Are not able to eat or keep food down, so you need to take fluids through a vein intravenous. Viral pneumonia Pneumonia also can be caused by viruses, such as those that cause the flu and chickenpox varicella. People who are more likely to get pneumonia after having the flu for example, pregnant women may get an antiviral medicine such as oseltamivir Tamiflu or zanamivir Relenza to help relieve symptoms.

Varicella pneumonia, which is rare, also can be treated with antiviral medicine. What to think about In most cases pneumonia is a short-term, treatable illness.

For more information, see: Writing an Advance Directive. Care at the End of Life. Prevention There are a number of steps you can take to help prevent getting pneumonia.

Stop smoking. You're more likely to get pneumonia if you smoke. Avoid people who have infections that sometimes lead to pneumonia. Stay away from people who have colds, the flu, or other respiratory tract infections. If you haven't had measles or chickenpox or if you didn't get vaccines against these diseases, avoid people who have them. Vaccinations Children get the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine PCV as a routine vaccination.

Vaccination of children for measles can prevent most cases of measles. Adults may need to be vaccinated against measles if they have not had the disease or were not vaccinated during childhood. A yearly flu vaccine may keep you from getting the flu. The flu often can lead to pneumonia, especially in older adults or in people who have other long-term chronic diseases.

You can get the flu vaccine at the same time as the pneumococcal vaccine. The chickenpox shot varicella-zoster vaccine can prevent most cases of pneumonia caused by the virus that causes chickenpox.

Consider getting a shot if you are older than 13 and have not had chickenpox. Home Treatment Home treatment is important for recovery from pneumonia. The following measures can help you recover and avoid complications: Get plenty of rest. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

Take care of your cough if it is making it hard for you to rest. A cough is one way your body gets rid of the infection. And you should not try to stop your coughing unless it is severe enough to make breathing difficult, cause vomiting, or prevent rest. Consider taking acetaminophen such as Tylenol or aspirin to help reduce fever and make you feel more comfortable. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 because of the risk of Reye syndrome.

Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Cough and cold medicines Be careful with cough and cold medicines. Medications Doctors use antibiotics to treat pneumonia that is caused by bacteria. Sometimes doctors use two antibiotics when first starting treatment.

What to think about More and more bacteria are becoming resistant to certain antibiotics, making them less effective. Other Treatment In most cases of pneumonia in young, otherwise healthy people with strong immune systems , treatment can be done at home. Hospital treatment for pneumonia may include: Antibiotics given directly into the bloodstream. A small needle is inserted into a vein intravenous, or IV to deliver the medicine.

Fluids given through a vein IV. They are given if you cannot drink liquids because of shortness of breath or weakness.

Respiratory therapy, to remove mucus from the lungs. This therapy may include deep breathing exercises, postural drainage , incentive spirometry, and chest physiotherapy, which involves striking the chest with a cupped hand or applying a vibrating device to the chest to loosen mucus. Chest physiotherapy is not needed in most cases.

But it may be helpful for people who have other lung conditions, such as bronchiectasis. You may need oxygen therapy if your doctor thinks that the cells of your body are not getting enough oxygen. Oxygen can be given through a nasal tube or face mask.

For children, oxygen is often given using a tent that fits over the crib. Corticosteroids, which may reduce the chance of some severe pneumonia complications. This may make the hospital stay shorter. References Citations Niederman MS Pneumonia, including community-acquired and nosocomial pneumonia. In JD Crapo et al. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Niederman MS Laheij RJF, et al. Risk of community-acquired pneumonia and use of gastric acid-suppressive drugs. JAMA , 16 : — Herzig SJ, et al. Acid-suppressive medication use and the risk for hospital-acquired pneumonia. JAMA , 20 : — Loeb M Community-acquired pneumonia, search date January Moberley SA, et al.

Vaccines for preventing pneumococcal infection in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 1. Oxford: Update Software. Maruyama T, et al. Efficacy of valent pneumococcal vaccine in preventing pneumonia and improving survival in nursing home residents: Double blind, randomised and placebo controlled trial. Published online March 8, doi: Arnold FW, et al.

Improving outcomes in elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia by adhering to national guidelines: Community-Acquired Pneumonia Organization International cohort study results.

Archives of Internal Medicine , 16 : — McCabe C, et al. Guideline-concordant therapy and reduced mortality and length of stay in adults with community-acquired pneumonia: Playing by the rules. Credits Current as of: October 26, Top of the page Next Section: Health Tools. Previous Section: When should you call your doctor?

Participants' mean age was 62; 54 percent were admitted to the hospital for treatment of their pneumonia. A minority had coexisting chronic illness, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 26 percent, asthma in 17 percent, and congestive heart failure in 12 percent.

Most of the cohort were treated with quinolones, macrolides, or beta-lactam antibiotics, either singly 75 percent or in combination. At 2 weeks after therapy, 67 percent of patients reported fatigue, 56 percent were coughing, almost 50 percent were short of breath, and about 35 percent were producing sputum.

At 6 weeks after therapy, more than 60 percent still reported some symptoms, including fatigue in 45 percent, cough in 35 percent, and gastrointestinal symptoms in 16 percent. A multivariate analysis revealed that persistent symptoms were more common in older patients and in those with COPD or asthma. Those who were sickest at presentation according to a standardized pneumonia severity index suffered the most persistent symptoms.