Pneumonia treatment how many days

There are certain factors that increase your risk of developing either walking pneumonia or pneumonia. These include:. However, doctors use the same approach to diagnose both types of pneumonia.

They may also ask about your lifestyle, including the kind of environment you work in and whether you smoke. In some cases, your doctor might use an X-ray look at your chest. This can help them differentiate between pneumonia and other conditions, such as bronchitis. Depending on your symptoms, they may also take a blood sample, swab your throat, or take a mucus culture to determine which type of bacteria is causing your symptoms.

If you do, however, your doctor will follow the same process for diagnosing either walking pneumonia or pneumonia. If you have a fever, you can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen. You can also ask your doctor about taking an antibiotic. Purchase acetaminophen or ibuprofen now. Pneumonia may require additional treatment to improve breathing and reduce inflammation in your airways.

While walking pneumonia is usually milder than pneumonia, it involves a longer recovery period. It can take about six weeks to fully recover from walking pneumonia. However, most people recover from pneumonia in about a week. Bacterial pneumonia usually starts to improve shortly after starting antibiotics, while viral pneumonia usually starts to improve after about three days. If you have a weakened immune system or a severe case of pneumonia, the recovery period might be longer.

While walking pneumonia is milder than pneumonia, it requires a longer recovery period. It can last for up to six weeks, while pneumonia symptoms usually start to improve within a couple of days. 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, KidsHealth from Nemours.

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Get lots of rest. You may need to stay in bed for a while. Get as much help as you can with meal preparation and household chores until you are feeling stronger. It is important not to overdo daily activities until you are fully recovered. Recovering from Pneumonia It may take time to recover from pneumonia. Possible Pneumonia Complications People who may be more likely to have complications from pneumonia include: Older adults or very young children. People whose immune system does not work well.

People with other, serious medical problems such as diabetes or cirrhosis of the liver. Possible complications include: Respiratory failure, which requires a breathing machine or ventilator.

Sepsis, a condition in which there is uncontrolled inflammation in the body, which may lead to widespread organ failure. Acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS , a severe form of respiratory failure. Lung abscesses, which are infrequent, but serious complications of pneumonia. They occur when pockets of pus form inside or around the lung.

These may sometimes need to be drained with surgery. Our service is free and we are here to help you by phone, web chat or email. Previous: Pneumonia Symptoms and Diagnosis. Natl Vital Stat Rep. Natl Health Stat Report. Niederman MS. Recent advances in community-acquired pneumonia: inpatient and outpatient. Efficacy of short-course antibiotic regimens for community-acquired pneumonia: a meta-analysis. Am J Med. Clin Infect Dis. Ramirez JA, Bordon J.

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