Medication
Recovering from pneumonia sometimes feels like it will take a lifetime to bounce back. When coming down with a “normal” cough or cold, we tend to feel better in a week or two. However, pneumonia is more intense, and symptoms can still be noticeable for up to three months from when you first felt sick.
Therapy
Pneumonia can be a serious illness that takes weeks or months to recover from. Once you start taking antibiotics, your symptoms should begin to improve. Recovery times vary a lot from person to person and depend on your general health, age and how severe your pneumonia is. If you are diagnosed with pneumonia and your symptoms don’t improve in 48 hours, or if they get any worse, call 111 or 999 for a reassessment.
Self-care
Treatment for pneumonia depends on the type of pneumonia, how sick the patient is, the patient’s age, and if other underlying medical conditions are present. Mild cases of pneumonia will often go away on their own by managing symptoms and getting adequate rest.
Nutrition
You will still have symptoms of pneumonia after you leave the hospital. Your cough will slowly get better over 7 to 14 days. Sleeping and eating may take up to a week to return to normal. Your energy level may take 2 weeks or more to return to normal. You will need to take time off work.
How long does it take to get better from pneumonia?
How long will it take you to recover from pneumonia?
Can pneumonia go away on its own?
How long should I Stay Home with pneumonia?
How long does it take for a pneumonia patient to recover?
Pneumonia and its complications can wreak havoc on a person's lungs and body. And, it can take anywhere from one to six months for a person to recover and regain strength after being hospitalized for pneumonia.
How long does it take to cure pneumonia with antibiotics?
A course of antibiotics for uncomplicated pneumonia treatment is usually for five to seven days. One course will usually be enough to cure your pneumonia. In some cases, you may need more than one course of antibiotics if your infection doesn't start improving or it seems like it's not responding to the medications.
How long does it take for lungs to clear from pneumonia?
4 With typical pneumonia, respiratory symptoms usually start to clear up in a month to six weeks, COVID pneumonia can take weeks longer and cause more significant damage, which extends the illness.
How long does it take Covid pneumonia to go away?
For the 15% of infected individuals who develop moderate to severe COVID-19 and are admitted to the hospital for a few days and require oxygen, the average recovery time ranges between three to six weeks.
Is 5 days of antibiotics enough?
Researchers from the CDC point out that, when antibiotics are deemed necessary for the treatment of acute bacterial sinusitis, the Infectious Diseases Society of America evidence-based clinical practice guidelines recommend 5 to 7 days of therapy for patients with a low risk of antibiotic resistance who have a ...
What are the 4 stages of pneumonia?
Stages of PneumoniaStage 1: Congestion. During the congestion phase, the lungs become very heavy and congested due to infectious fluid that has accumulated in the air sacs. ... Stage 2: Red hepatization. ... Stage 3: Gray hepatization. ... Stage 4: Resolution.
What helps pneumonia heal faster?
Drink warm beverages, take steamy baths and use a humidifier to help open your airways and ease your breathing. Contact your doctor right away if your breathing gets worse instead of better over time. Stay away from smoke to let your lungs heal. This includes smoking, secondhand smoke and wood smoke.
How do you get rid of pneumonia from Covid?
Are There Treatments for COVID-19 Pneumonia? Pneumonia may need treatment in a hospital with oxygen, a ventilator to help you breathe, and intravenous (IV) fluids to prevent dehydration.
Is walking good for pneumonia?
This study extends the findings of previous research on the effects of exercise on pneumonia by demonstrating that daily walking alone is sufficient to reduce pneumonia-related mortality among older people who do not regularly engage in other exercise habits.
How long does it take for oxygen levels to return to normal after Covid pneumonia?
“Recovery from lung damage takes time,” Galiatsatos says. “There's the initial injury to the lungs, followed by scarring. Over time, the tissue heals, but it can take three months to a year or more for a person's lung function to return to pre-COVID-19 levels.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Clinical Trials
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Specialist to consult
Preparing For Your Appointment
Treatment
- Treatment for pneumonia involves curing the infection and preventing complications. People who have community-acquired pneumonia usually can be treated at home with medication. Although most symptoms ease in a few days or weeks, the feeling of tiredness can persist for a month or more. Specific treatments depend on the type and severity of your pne...
Timeline For Recovery
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Returning to Everyday Activities
- These tips can help you recover more quickly and decrease your risk of complications: 1. Get plenty of rest.Don't go back to school or work until after your temperature returns to normal and you stop coughing up mucus. Even when you start to feel better, be careful not to overdo it. Because pneumonia can recur, it's better not to jump back into your routine until you are fully recovered. Ask your doctor if you're not sure. 2. Stay hydrated.Drink plenty of f…
Complications and Relapse
- You may start by seeing a primary care doctor or an emergency care doctor, or you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in infectious diseases or in lung disease (pulmonologist). Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and know what to expect.
A Word from Verywell
