During the first few days of pneumonia (roughly the first three to four days), symptoms are usually more severe even if treatment has been started.
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. Symptoms may vary in certain populations. Newborns and infants may not show any signs of the infection.
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.
reduced coughing. no fever or chills. improved energy levels. less chest pain, especially when breathing or coughing.
When to go to the ER with pneumonia. Anyone who is having trouble breathing or other severe symptoms should immediately be taken to the ER. Additionally, people in these groups who are experiencing pneumonia-like symptoms should come to the ER: Infants and small children.
Smoke can make your symptoms worse. Smoking also increases your risk of developing pneumonia and other lung problems in the future. You should also avoid lit fireplaces or other areas where the air may not be clean. Stay home from school or work until your symptoms go away.
If you're generally healthy and have only a mild case of pneumonia, your symptoms should begin to improve one to two days after starting treatment. "Most people with mild pneumonia are able to return to their everyday activities in a week, although fatigue and cough can linger for an entire month," says Dr. Lee.
Stay in touch with your doctor to ensure your infection is clearing up. You'll likely start to feel better and have some symptom relief one to three days after you start your pneumonia treatment, but it may take a week or more for your symptoms to go away completely.
The symptoms usually start out like the flu. They slowly get worse over a few days. Pneumonia caused by bacteria can come on suddenly with a high fever, fast breathing and coughing. Both types of pneumonia can cause the child's cough to last for weeks after the fever has stopped.
Walking pneumonia symptoms include: Dry cough that's persistent and typically gets worse at night. Low-grade fever. Fatigue.
What does a pneumonia cough sound like? This will depend on the type of pneumonia you have and be either a dry or chesty cough. Bacterial pneumonia is more serious and often results in a gurgling sound when breathing and mucus or phlegm when coughing.
First-line antibiotics that might be selected include the macrolide antibiotics azithromycin (Zithromax) or clarithromycin (Biaxin XL); or the tetracycline known as doxycycline.
Acute respiratory distress (ARDS) and respiratory failure are the most common complications of serious pneumonia.
Stage 4 (resolution) is the final recovery stage and occurs during days 8 to 10. Fluids and breakdown products from cell destruction are reabsorbed. Macrophages (large white blood cells) are present and help to clear white blood cells (neutrophils) and leftover debris.
Yes. While the presence of mucus may indicate an underlying issue, coughing up phlegm is a good thing because it helps clear irritants, allergens and infections out of your system.
Is it better to sit up or lie down with pneumonia? Whether you're in bed or resting on the couch, you may find it more comfortable to sit up or prop yourself up with extra pillows. That's because an upright position allows the congestion to drain from your nose and throat more easily.
How to get a good night's sleep with a pneumonia diagnosis? Sleeping with your head elevated can reduce coughing and improve breathing. Use an extra pillow or a wedge pillow to elevate your head and chest while sleeping. Dehydration can make pneumonia symptoms worse and make it harder to sleep.
Yes, some types of pneumonia are contagious, meaning it spreads from person to person. 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.
If your pneumonia isn't treated, the pleura can get swollen, creating a sharp pain when you breathe in. If you don't treat the swelling, the area between the pleura may fill with fluid, which is called a pleural effusion. If the fluid gets infected, it leads to a problem called empyema.
“Some symptoms, such as cough and chest pain, clear up relatively quickly. Fatigue, however, takes much longer. That's because your immune system is still revved up.” The infection sets off a cascade of events that ramps up inflammatory and immune response, Powers says.
Shorter courses of antibiotics (amoxicillin) are as effective as longer courses for treating pneumonia in children. In a new study, 3 days of antibiotic were as good as 7 days; and a lower dose as good as a higher dose.
Potential Complications of Pneumonia
And lower concentrations of oxygen in the brain can lead to mental confusion, especially in older adults. Many of these complications tend to arise when you try to rush your recovery. That's why following your treatment plan and taking adequate time to rest is so important.