Treatment of pneumonia
Treatment of pneumonia
The treatment of pneumonia varies depending on how unwell a patient is.
In cases of mild pneumonia where the cause is bacterial, pneumonia can be treated at home by giving plenty of rest, taking antibiotics and drinking plenty of fluids.1 In more severe cases some people may require hospitalisation where the average length of stay is 10 days*.2
Pneumonia can be difficult to diagnose because it shares many symptoms with other conditions such as the common cold, bronchitis and asthma.1 With increasing antibiotic resistance, vaccination is particularly important because it helps to protect people from becoming unwell and provides another way to help prevent infection.3
*Pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, in all ages.
References
- NHS. Pneumonia. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pneumonia/. Last accessed June 2020.
- Hospital episodes statistics data 2018/19. Available at: https://files.digital.nhs.uk/05/A594E3/hosp-epis-stat-admi-rep-tabs-2018-19-tab.xlsx. Last accessed June 2020.
- NHS, Pneumonia Vaccinations. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/pneumococcal-vaccination/.
