Pneumonia Treatment

Lifestyle Modifications

Support the body's recovery process, prevent the spread of infection, and reduce the risk of complications.

• Rest adequately until you feel better, avoiding contact with others if you have a fever or feel unwell.
• Maintain good hydration by drinking plenty of fluids to help thin mucus and ease coughing.
• Practice good respiratory hygiene: cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and dispose of used tissues promptly.
• Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water to prevent the spread of infection.
• Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke, as this can irritate the lungs and hinder recovery.
• Do not take cough medicine, as coughing helps your body clear the infection from your lungs.

Medicinal Treatment

Eliminate the infection, alleviate symptoms, support respiratory function, and prevent severe complications.

• Antibiotics are commonly prescribed for bacterial pneumonia; it's crucial to complete the full course even if you feel better.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers like paracetamol or ibuprofen can help manage fever and body aches.
• Hospital treatment may include intravenous fluids, oxygen therapy to assist breathing, and sometimes corticosteroids to reduce lung inflammation.
• Diagnostic tests such as chest X-rays and blood tests are used to confirm diagnosis and assess the severity of the infection.
• Vaccinations, including pneumococcal, flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines, are recommended to prevent infections that can lead to pneumonia.
• Antiviral medications may be prescribed for specific viral pneumonias, such as influenza.

Surgical Treatment

Address and resolve severe complications of pneumonia that do not respond to medical management.

• Surgical intervention is rarely needed for pneumonia itself but may be required for severe complications, such as empyema (pus accumulation in the pleural space).
• Thoracentesis or chest tube insertion may be performed to drain infected fluid from around the lungs (pleural effusion or empyema).
• Decortication, a procedure to remove a thick fibrous peel from the lung surface, may be necessary in cases of chronic or organised empyema to allow the lung to re-expand.
• In very rare instances of severe lung abscesses that do not respond to medical treatment, surgical resection of the affected lung tissue might be considered.

Surgical treatment for pneumonia is uncommon and typically reserved for specific, severe complications.