Question 1

What is Pneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection)?

Accepted Answer

Inflammation of the lungs. Symptoms include cough, increased phlegm, and fever. Some patients may experience breathlessness and chest pain. The most common cause is a bacterial infection.

Question 2

What are the symptoms of Pneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection)?

Accepted Answer

Symptoms of Pneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection) are: (1) Discharge of yellow or green sputum.. (2) Difficulty breathing with shoulders moving up and down. (3) Wheezing or whistling sounds when breathing. (4) Breathing is weaker than usual. (5) Breathing faster than usual. (6) Fever. (7) Cough worsens after exercise. (8) Whole body pain. (9) Warm hands and feet. (10) Joint pain affecting multiple joints throughout body

Question 3

How can Pneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection) be treated?

Accepted Answer

Treatment depends on the cause of pneumonia. Antibiotics will be given when bacteria is the cause. Depending on severity, some patients may also need hospitalization for oxygen therapy and monitoring.

Question 4

How Contagious Is Pneumonia? Risk by Close Contact and Household Spread

Accepted Answer

Pneumonia can be contagious depending on the cause: viral and some bacterial or atypical infections can spread through close, repeated contact in households, while aspiration and other non infectious pneumonias do not.

Risk of catching it rises with prolonged indoor exposure and in higher risk people like older adults, infants, smokers, and those with chronic conditions, and bacterial cases are usually less contagious after 24 to 48 hours of antibiotics; there are several factors to consider, including how long someone is contagious and practical steps to prevent spread, which are detailed below.

Question 5

Over 65: When It’s Safe to Resume Normal Activities After Antibiotics

Accepted Answer

If you’re over 65 recovering from an infection, especially pneumonia, you’re usually much less contagious after 24 to 48 hours of antibiotics, but not contagious does not mean fully recovered; resume activities only after finishing the antibiotic course, being fever free for at least 48 hours, breathing comfortably at rest, and noticing steady improvement in cough, energy, and walking tolerance.

There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more, including timelines, safe first steps, what to delay, key warning signs, and when to call a doctor.

Question 6

Parents: How to Protect the Rest of the Family When a Kid Has Pneumonia

Accepted Answer

Protect your family when a child has pneumonia by targeting what actually spreads the virus or bacteria and using simple steps: frequent handwashing, no sharing cups or towels, daily cleaning of high touch surfaces, reasonable space, good airflow, and masks if close contact or high risk relatives are involved.

There are several factors to consider, including who in the home is most vulnerable, how contagious the cause is, which vaccines help, what early symptoms to watch for, and when to seek medical care; see below for the complete guidance that can shape your next steps.

Question 7

Someone in Your House Has Pneumonia—Here’s Who Gets It Next (and Why)

Accepted Answer

Pneumonia is not always contagious, but many of the viruses and bacteria that cause it are; after household exposure, those most likely to develop pneumonia include older adults, babies and young children, people with lung or heart disease or diabetes, anyone with a weakened immune system, and smokers.

There are several factors to consider, including how the germ spreads at home, when the sick person is most contagious, early warning symptoms to watch for, and proven steps to protect others; see the complete details below to guide your next steps and when to seek medical care.

Question 8

Started Antibiotics and Went Out? Here’s Why You Might Still Be Contagious

Accepted Answer

Starting antibiotics does not make you noncontagious right away; with bacterial pneumonia you may still spread germs for 24 to 48 hours after the first doses, and if the cause is viral, antibiotics do not reduce contagiousness at all.

There are several factors to consider, including the germ, the antibiotic, illness severity, and who around you is high risk; see below for practical precautions, when to delay going out, and the urgent warning signs and next steps that could change what you should do.

Question 9

How do you get pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

Pneumonia happens when germs infect the air sacs in your lungs, most commonly after breathing in infected droplets, accidentally aspirating saliva or food, or less often when another infection spreads through the bloodstream.

Risk is higher in young children, adults over 65, smokers, people with chronic heart, lung, or metabolic disease, weakened immunity, or recent viral illness like flu; there are several factors to consider. See below for key details on risks, prevention, symptoms, and when to seek care that could affect your next steps.

Question 10

Is pneumonia contagious?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the cause: bacterial, viral, and atypical pneumonias can be contagious through respiratory droplets, while fungal pneumonia is usually not spread person to person.

Contagious periods vary, such as bacterial often remaining contagious until 24 to 48 hours after starting antibiotics, viral from about a day before symptoms to 5 to 7 days or more, and atypical sometimes for weeks. There are several factors to consider for prevention, risk, symptoms, and when to seek care; see below to understand more.

Question 11

What is walking pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

Walking pneumonia is a milder lung infection that often lets you continue daily activities, most commonly caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, with gradual symptoms like a persistent dry cough, mild fever, and fatigue.

There are several factors to consider that can affect your next steps in care. See below for how it differs from typical pneumonia, how it spreads, who is most at risk, when to seek medical attention, and what diagnosis and treatment options like antibiotics and recovery timelines look like.

Question 12

What are 5 symptoms of pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

Five common symptoms of pneumonia are a persistent cough (wet or dry), fever with chills, shortness of breath, chest pain that worsens with deep breaths or coughing, and marked fatigue or malaise.

There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more, including other possible symptoms, urgent warning signs that need immediate care, and how pneumonia is diagnosed and treated, which could guide your next steps.

Question 13

Will pneumonia go away on its own?

Accepted Answer

There are several factors to consider: viral pneumonia can sometimes improve on its own, but bacterial pneumonia usually requires antibiotics, and delaying care can lead to complications like lung abscess, pleural effusion, sepsis, or respiratory failure.

Recovery often takes weeks even when improving, with fever commonly lasting about a week and cough and fatigue lingering longer; see below for timelines, red flags, and guidance on who should seek care urgently.

Question 14

Age 65+: what are the early signs of pneumonia to watch for?

Accepted Answer

Early pneumonia signs in adults 65 and older include rapid breathing, a new or worsening cough that may produce yellow, green, or rusty phlegm, chest discomfort with deep breaths or coughing, and sometimes only a low or absent fever.

Subtle early clues in this age group include sudden confusion or delirium, unusual fatigue or weakness, poor appetite or dehydration, new unsteadiness or near-falls, dizziness from low blood pressure, and general malaise. There are several factors to consider; see below for key red flags, personal risk factors, when to contact a clinician or get a chest X-ray, and prevention steps that can guide your next steps.

Question 15

Over 65: how can you tell pneumonia from a bad cold?

Accepted Answer

There are several factors to consider: in adults over 65, a cold typically brings a runny or stuffy nose and a mild cough with little or no fever, while pneumonia is more likely if you have a high fever, a persistent cough with yellow, green or blood-tinged mucus, noticeable shortness of breath, sharp chest pain with breathing, or new confusion and severe fatigue.

Because complications rise with age, seek urgent care for trouble breathing, chest pain, blue lips, or high fever, and see below for important details on risk factors, tests like chest X-ray, when hospital care is needed, at-home care for colds, prevention, and how to choose your next steps.

Question 16

Can I take leftover antibiotics from before?

Accepted Answer

It is not safe to take leftover antibiotics because they might not be the right medicine for your current illness, and using them incorrectly can lead to antibiotic resistance. See below to understand more.

Question 17

Is it okay to drink alcohol with antibiotics?

Accepted Answer

Drinking alcohol with antibiotics is not always safe, as it can cause side effects or make the antibiotics less effective. See below to understand more.

Question 18

What is antibiotic resistance?

Accepted Answer

Antibiotic resistance is when germs like bacteria change and become stronger, so the medicines meant to kill them don't work anymore. See below to understand more.

Question 19

What are the things I shouldn't do when I have pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

When you have pneumonia, there are several important things you should avoid to support your recovery and prevent complications. These include avoiding strenuous activities, taking medications as recommended, staying hydrated and attending follow-up care.

Pneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection) Quiz

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Pneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection) Quiz

Check your symptoms and find possible causes with AI for free

What is Pneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection)?

Typical Symptoms of Pneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection)

Diagnostic Questions for Pneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection)

Treatment of Pneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection)

Tell your friends about us.

Think you might havePneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection)?

How Ubie Can Help You

People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes

User Testimonials for Pneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection)

Symptoms Related to Pneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection)

Diseases Related to Pneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection)

FAQs

Ubie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide

Ubie is recognized by healthcare and tech leaders

References

Check your symptoms and
find possible causes with AI for free

Think you might have
Pneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection)?