At Home After Pneumonia
Understanding Pneumonia and Caring for Yourself at Home
Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that can weaken your body and lead to other health complications. It can range from mild to severe and is a leading cause of hospitalization, according to the American Lung Association.
Anyone can get pneumonia. Since pneumonia affects your ability to breathe, it’s important to get treatment right away, and know how to care for yourself at home.
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an infection that causes the air sacs in one or both lungs to become inflamed, potentially filling with fluid or pus. Common symptoms of pneumonia include: cough (which may produce mucus or phlegm), fever, chills, shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain.
While a pneumonia lung infection itself is not contagious, the bacteria and viruses that cause the infection can be spread by an infected person when they cough, sneeze, or speak. Many bacteria, viruses, and fungi in our air can cause pneumonia. Knowing the cause of your pneumonia is the first step in knowing how to treat it.
Bacterial pneumonia. This type of pneumonia can occur after you’re infected with certain germs (most commonly Streptococcus pneumoniae) or as a secondary infection after a respiratory virus like a cold, flu, RSV, or COVID-19.
Some bacteria cause “atypical pneumonia.” This means the pneumonia infection isn’t caused by bacteria typically associated with typical pneumonia. Atypical pneumonia includes walking pneumonia, caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Legionnaire’s disease, a severe form of pneumonia caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophila. Legionella is spread through inhaling water containing the bacteria.
Viral pneumonia. Various respiratory viruses can cause pneumonia. They include influenza (the flu virus), the COVID-19 virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and human metapneumovirus (HMPV).
Fungal pneumonia. This infection is less common than pneumonia caused by bacteria and viruses. The primary cause of fungal pneumonia is inhaling fungal spores from the environment, which can be found in soil, bird droppings, or other contaminated areas.
Aspiration pneumonia. This infection occurs when food, liquids, or vomit are inhaled into the lungs. It's more common in individuals with swallowing difficulties or a compromised gag reflex.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). Also known as nosocomial pneumonia, HAP is a type of pneumonia that develops during a hospital stay. It is usually caused by bacteria. Ventilator-associated pneumonia, or VAP, is a significant subset of HAP that occurs in patients who are on a ventilator in the hospital.
Walking Pneumonia
Walking pneumonia is caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Symptoms of walking pneumonia are often mild and don’t require bed rest or hospitalization. In fact, walking pneumonia got its name because people typically do not have to stay in bed when they have the illness.
Despite its mild symptoms, walking pneumonia is contagious. Once symptoms start, you should stay home until your symptoms end to avoid infecting others. Follow your doctor’s instructions for a speedy recovery.
Managing pneumonia at home
Recovery from pneumonia can take anywhere from a week to several months, but most people show significant improvement within a few weeks. Follow your doctor’s treatment plan to help ensure the best outcome.
If you’ve just been released from the hospital, following these steps can help reduce your readmission risk.
Treating pneumonia symptoms
Take your medicine. You may be prescribed antibiotics. If so, it is crucial to complete the full course, even if you start feeling better. If you stop taking your antibiotic, you could reinfect yourself or become infected with drug-resistant bacteria.
Let your doctor know if your symptoms have not resolved when you finish your antibiotics.
Cough it up. Coughing helps get mucus out of your lungs, so avoid taking cough suppressants and cold medicine unless cleared by your doctor.
Healthy humidity. Breathe in warm mist from a humidifier to soothe your cough and break up mucus. You can also place a warm, moist cloth near your nose and mouth to add moisture to your air.
Rest up. It can sometimes take a couple of weeks to regain your energy. Get plenty of rest to support healing.
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, including warm beverages, to keep your mucus loose.
Clear your lungs. Cough and take deep breaths two to three times per hour to open your lungs. Get up and walk around a bit, too, if you’re able.
Follow up. If you were hospitalized, you should have a follow-up appointment with your doctor about one week after discharge to ensure your pneumonia is gone. This is an excellent time to bring up concerns and any problems you may still have.
If you weren’t hospitalized, you can still schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor if your symptoms worsen or you have other concerns about your condition. Always speak up; your care team is happy to help you.
Complications
Pneumonia can weaken your body and make you more likely to have additional complications. It can also exacerbate other medical conditions. Monitor yourself and consult your doctor right away if you have any concerns. Acting early can help you take care of a problem before it becomes an emergency.
Some people experience complications of pneumonia, including:
Pleural effusion. This happens when fluid accumulates between your lungs and chest wall.
Abscess. This can occur when a pocket of pus in the area of your lungs becomes infected.
Blood infection. If bacteria from your lung infection spread into your bloodstream, it can start a blood infection.
Intestinal infection. Bacteria called Clostridium difficile can grow in your intestines after antibiotics and cause severe diarrhea. Let your doctor know right away if you have diarrhea.
Sepsis. Pneumonia is a common cause of sepsis, a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's response to an infection (like pneumonia) causes widespread inflammation and damage to the body's tissues and organs.
Exacerbations. These occur when pneumonia makes another health issue, like COPD, worse.
Know when to get help
Call 911 or seek emergency care if you experience:
• Fever
• Chills
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Faster breaths
• Trouble getting a deep breath
• Confusion
• Blue color around your lips
Oxygen
Your doctor may send you home with oxygen therapy. Follow these tips for safe oxygen use at home:
• Do not change the settings on your oxygen without asking your doctor
• Never smoke or use an open flame near an oxygen tank
• Always keep a backup tank on hand
• Keep the contact information of your oxygen supplier with you
Smoking
Do not smoke when you are recovering from pneumonia. Smoking irritates your lungs and can make your infection worse. Stay away from secondhand smoke and wood smoke, too.
References:
Pneumonia Readmissions: Risk Factors and Implications. The Ochsner Journal.
Patient education: Pneumonia in adults (Beyond the Basics). Up to Date.
Pneumonia Treatment and Recovery. American Lung Association.
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