Medications Used To Treat Pneumonia

When To See A Doctor

If you have been sick with what seems like a cold or the flu without improvement for 5-7 days, check in with your doctor.

This could be a sign that you have pneumonia or have developed a secondary infection.

If you have a compromised immune system, are over age 65, or have other medical problems, call your doctor sooner.

Children who have symptoms of pneumonia should be seen by their pediatrician right away, since they may not display common signs of pneumonia, even if they are very ill.

Treatment For 3 Types Of Pneumonia: 8 Meds To Know

Pneumonia is a major cause of sickness and death in the Black American community. A postby Jay Harold states that over 5500 Black Americans died of Pneumonia and the Influenza in 2015. This post,Treatment for 3 Types of Pneumonia: 8 Meds to Know, gives an overview of some medications used in the treatment of Pneumonia. As always, your doctor will develop an individual treatment plan for each patient.

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of the lungs. Many germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, can cause pneumonia. You can also get pneumonia by inhaling a liquid or chemical. People most at risk are older than 65 or younger than 2 years of age or already have health problems.

What About Hospital Treatment

Hospital admission may be advised if you have severe pneumonia, or if symptoms do not quickly improve after you have started antibiotic treatment. Also, you are more likely to be treated in hospital if you are already in poor health, or if an infection with a more serious infecting germ is suspected. For example, if infection with Legionella pneumophila is suspected. Even if you are in hospital, you are likely to be offered antibiotics in capsule, tablet or liquid form unless you have difficulties taking them, in which case they may be given through a vein. Your antibiotic treatment will be stopped after five days, unless you are very unwell.

Sometimes oxygen and other supportive treatments are needed if you have severe pneumonia. Those who become severely unwell may need treatment in an intensive care unit.

When you return home, even though the infection is treated, you may feel tired and unwell for some time.

Recommended Reading: How To Get Over Pneumonia Fast

Drink A Cup Of Coffee

Drinking a cup of coffee may also help relieve shortness of breath. Caffeine may help widen the airways, and a 2021 review even suggested that consuming it could help soothe some COVID-19 symptoms and work against SARS-CoV-2.

Caffeines half-life is 3-5 hours, meaning that your body gets rid of half the caffeine content in this time. If caffeine helps to widen your airways, this is the amount of time its likely to have its most noticeable effects.

Chest pain may come on suddenly or over the course of several days. You should expect some chest pain or ache if you get pneumonia. With treatment, any chest pain typically subsides within 4 weeks.

How Bad Does Pneumonia Have To Be For Hospitalisation

You might need to be hospitalised if your symptoms do not improve after taking antibiotics at home, or if you begin to feel more unwell. If you are in a high-risk group for pneumonia, your doctor may decide that you require hospitalisation as a precaution.

You should ring 999 or attend A& E immediately if you:

• Are finding it hard to breathe
• Have been coughing up blood
• Feel cold and sweaty, with pale, blotchy skin
• Have a rash that doesnt fade under a glass
• Have fainted
• Have become confused or suddenly very drowsy
• Have stopped urinating regularly

Also Check: Do You Have To Get The Pneumonia Vaccine Every Year

Remind Me What Is Pneumonia

In the simplest terms, pneumonia is an infection in your lungsspecifically, the air sacs, or alveoli, and the lung tissue that surrounds them. Its usually caused by either a virus or bacteria . Pneumonia can occur in people of any age, but it is most commonand dangerousin those over 65 and very young children.

To understand pneumonia, it helps to know the basics of how your lungs function normally. Each of your lungs has a main tube, called a bronchus , that carries air into it from your windpipe, or trachea. Each bronchus branches off into progressively smaller bronchi, which in turn split off into thousands of even smaller airways called bronchioles. At the end of the bronchioles are millions of tiny air sacs called alveoli. Your alveoli are covered with very small blood vessels called capillaries that are responsible for transporting oxygen from the alveoli to the cells of your body and returning carbon dioxide, which you then exhale.

When you have pneumonia, though, an immune response to the infection in your lungs causes the alveoli to fill up with fluid or pus and the airways to become inflamed and swollen. This in turn limits the amount of oxygen that can get to your bloodstream and therefore to your bodys organs, leading to symptoms that can range from mild to severe or even life-threatening . In mild cases, though, you may barely notice your symptoms, something experts refer to as walking pneumonia.

Drink A Cup Of Ginger Tea

Ginger has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties in recent research . As with turmeric, current research on ginger hasnt looked at whether it helps specifically with chest pain, but its a harmless, hydrating way to try and soothe the uncomfortable effects of pneumonia.

You can find loose or bagged ginger teas at your local grocery or online. Or, you can use raw ginger to make your own ginger tea.

Your fever may develop suddenly or over the course of a few days. With treatment, it should subside within the week.

Read Also: Is There Medicine For Pneumonia

How Do You Sleep When You Have Pneumonia

It can be difficult to sleep when you have pneumonia. You may be kept awake by having to cough, struggling to breathe, or feeling feverish. To combat these symptoms, try the following:

• Take paracetamol before you go to sleep to help ease your fever
• Drink lots of water to loosen the mucus in your lungs
• Try lying on your side with your head propped up on pillows, your bottom leg slightly bent, and your top leg straight

How Is Fungal Pneumonia Treated

If the course of the pneumonia is slow and your chest X-ray looks unusual, you may have fungal pneumonia. These conditions can be diagnosed with a blood test that shows your body is making antibodies to the fungus.

More than 10 types of fungi can cause fungal pneumonia, which is more common in people with weakened immune systems.

Several antifungal drugs serve as treatment for pneumonia and can be administered either orally or intravenously.

Also Check: Can You Get Pneumonia From Coughing

What Are The Causes Of Pneumonia

Pneumonia is commonly caused by an infection with a germ. The germ is usually a bacterium or a virus. There are three or four different bacteria that are the most common causes of pneumonia. There is also a well-known group of bacteria that causes pneumonia in about 3 out of 10 cases. They are called atypicals. Other germs such as fungi, yeasts, or protozoa can sometimes also cause pneumonia.

Rarely, non-infective pneumonia is caused by inhaling poisons or chemicals. Many different substances can cause this. They can be in the form of liquids, gases, small particles, dust or fumes.

You may breathe in some bacteria, viruses, or other germs. If you are normally healthy, a small number of germs usually doesn’t matter. They will be trapped in your phlegm and killed by your immune system. Sometimes the germs multiply and cause lung infections. This is more likely to happen if you are already in poor health – for example:

• If you are frail or elderly.
• If you have a chest disease.
• If you have a low immunity to infection. Low immunity can be caused by such things as alcohol dependence, AIDS, or another serious illness.

However, even healthy people sometimes develop pneumonia.

Pneumonia can sometimes develop after an operation, particularly in the region of your head or neck. Having an anaesthetic can increase the risk.

How Is Pneumonia Treated

When you get a pneumonia diagnosis, your doctor will work with you to develop a treatment plan. Treatment for pneumonia depends on the type of pneumonia you have, how sick you are feeling, your age, and whether you have other health conditions. The goals of treatment are to cure the infection and prevent complications. It is important to follow your treatment plan carefully until you are fully recovered.

Take any medications as prescribed by your doctor. If your pneumonia is caused by bacteria, you will be given an antibiotic. It is important to take all the antibiotic until it is gone, even though you will probably start to feel better in a couple of days. If you stop, you risk having the infection come back, and you increase the chances that the germs will be resistant to treatment in the future.

Typical antibiotics do not work against viruses. If you have viral pneumonia, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication to treat it. Sometimes, though, symptom management and rest are all that is needed.

Most people can manage their symptoms such as fever and cough at home by following these steps:

If your pneumonia is so severe that you are treated in the hospital, you may be given intravenous fluids and antibiotics, as well as oxygen therapy, and possibly other breathing treatments.

Read Also: How Do You Know If You Got Pneumonia

Apply A Lukewarm Compress Or Take A Lukewarm Bath

Submerging your body in a lukewarm bath might help you bring down your body temperature.

You can also use a lukewarm compress to help cool your body from the outside inward if a bath is not convenient. Although it may be tempting to use a cold compress, the sudden temperature shift can cause chills. A lukewarm compress provides a more gradual, comfortable temperature change.

Chills may come on before or during a fever. They typically subside after your fever breaks. This may last up to a week, depending on when you begin treatment for pneumonia.

Is Lung Inflammation Contagious

Yes, some causes of lung inflammation are contagious. Infectious causes of lung inflammation from bacteria or viruses are contagious. Other forms caused by autoimmune or genetic causes of lung inflammation arent contagious.

A doctor will diagnose your condition and discuss your treatment plans, including if you need to isolate from others , what medications to take, and how long your condition may last.

Don’t Miss: How Do You Check For Pneumonia

Drugs Used To Treat Community

Community-acquired pneumonia develops in people with limited or no contact with medical institutions or settings.

The Advantages Of Using A Nebulizer For Pneumonia

The effectiveness of the device has been proven by the following results:

• provides a speedy result
• delivers drugs directly to the lungs
• moistens the mucous membrane
• liquefies discharge from the larynx and nose
• eliminates puffiness and inflammation
• restores ventilation and drainage functions of the lungs and bronchi
• stimulates the epithelium
• restores the mucous membrane faster
• removes spasms.

The main advantage of using a nebulizer is that you can be treated at home and you need a lower dose of medication.

Recommended Reading: Difference Between Flu And Pneumonia Shot

When Should You See A Doctor

If you have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease you should ask your doctor for advice. They may have given you recommendations about increasing your inhaler medication or taking a ‘rescue pack’ of antibiotics and steroid tablets at the first sign of an infection. If not, speak with them for advice if you develop symptoms of a chest infection.

There are a number of symptoms that mean you should see a GP even if you do not have any other lung problems. They include:

• If a fever, wheezing or headache becomes worse or severe.
• If you develop fast breathing, shortness of breath, or chest pains.
• If you cough up blood or if your phlegm becomes dark or rusty-coloured.
• If you become drowsy or confused.
• If a cough lasts for longer than 3-4 weeks.
• If you have repeated bouts of acute bronchitis.
• If any other symptom develops that you are concerned about.

How Is Walking Pneumonia Diagnosed

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, how long youve had them and if any other family members or people you regularly interact with are also ill with similar symptoms. He or she will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope to check for abnormal breath sounds. Your doctor may order chest X-rays to see if there is an infection in your lungs. Your blood or mucus might be tested to determine if your pneumonia is caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, another bacteria, virus or fungus.

You May Like: What Are The Signs Of Pneumonia

Complications Caused By Pneumonia

Pneumonia can sometimes have complications. They include:

• pleurisy where the pleura, the thin linings between your lungs and ribcage, become inflamed, leading to chest pain. If you have pleurisy, you are more likely to develop fluid on the lungs.
• fluid on the lungs – about 1 in 10 people with pneumonia develop fluid around the lung, called a pleural effusion which can become infected. This may require a sample of the fluid to be taken by inserting a needle between the ribs under local anaesthetic, and if infected is likely to need a longer course of antibiotics. Occasionally, a tube is inserted into the lung to remove fluid as well.
• a lung abscess a rare complication thats mostly seen in people with a serious pre-existing illness or history of alcohol misuse.
• blood poisoning, also called septicaemia – this is where infection spreads from the lungs to the blood stream. This can cause low blood pressure and a severe illness that might need intensive care treatment.
• respiratory failure this is where pneumonia causes low levels of oxygen in the blood even in people given oxygen. This might also require intensive care treatment.

The vast majority of people recover from pneumonia and return to good health. However, pneumonia can be very serious and some people with severe pneumonia dont survive, despite the best available care. Those who are elderly or have other health problems are most at risk of severe or fatal pneumonia.

How Effective Are Medications

Medications to treat causes of lung inflammation are effective depending on your specific condition and how soon you receive treatment. For types of chronic lung inflammation, its important to take your medication regularly.

A doctor will monitor your condition and change your dosage or treatment if needed. Theyll discuss your treatment options and the most effective medications for your condition.

Don’t Miss: What Is The New Pneumonia Shot Called

What Are The Best Antibiotics For Pneumonia

When a person contracts pneumonia, the air sacs in one or both lungs, called alveoli, fill with pus or fluid.

This fluid can make it difficult to breathe. While pneumonia can be mild, it can also cause severe illness, especially in young children, older adults, and those with other medical problems.

In 2019, more than 40,000 Americans died of pneumonia.

Pneumonia happnes when a virus or bacteria thats living in your bodyin your nose, sinuses, or mouth, for examplespreads into your lungs.

You may also directly breathe the virus or bacteria into your lungs, triggering pneumonia.

Pneumonia is typically caused by viruses or bacteria.

Antibiotics wont help with viral pneumonia.

Bacterial pneumonia is more common, and usually more severe, and can sometimes occur secondary to a viral infection.

If your doctor suspects that you have bacterial pneumonia, they will treat you with antibiotics.

In this article, Ill explain how pneumonia is diagnosed, and when and how its treated with antibiotics.

Ill also talk about when pneumonia requires hospitalization.

Ill also tell you when you should talk to your doctor to see if a persistent cough, shortness of breath, or other upper respiratory symptoms could be pneumonia.

Why Is This Medication Prescribed

Ceftazidime injection is used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria including pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections meningitis and other brain and spinal cord infections and abdominal , skin, blood, bone, joint, female genital tract, and urinary tract infections. Ceftazidime injection is in a class of medications called cephalosporin antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria.

Antibiotics such as ceftazidime injection will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.

Also Check: What’s The Best Thing To Do For Pneumonia

Where To Get Medications For Lung Inflammation

First, a doctor will need to diagnose the cause of your lung inflammation, then theyll prescribe medications or other types of treatments depending on your condition.Medications to treat chronic lung inflammation, such as asthma or COPD, are available by prescription from a doctor. Once you get a prescription, you can visit your local pharmacy to buy your medication.The cost of your medication depends on if you have insurance, the particular pharmacy you visit, days supply, and other factors. Be sure to shop around for the best price for your medication.For serious bacterial or fungal infections, a doctor may prescribe a medication to take at home, or you may receive the medication intravenously in the hospital.With mild cases of temporary lung inflammation due to viral causes or other concerns, a doctor may recommend OTC treatments or home therapy to manage your symptoms. They may include cough suppressants and acetaminophen to manage fever, headache, and pain.If your symptoms continue with treatment, be sure to call a doctor. Theyll be able to discuss your diagnosis and follow-up care. Remember, if lung inflammation is left untreated, it can progress to chronic lung issues.

There are several other types of treatments for lung inflammation. A doctor may recommend other options based on your symptoms and the severity of your condition.

Alternative treatments include:

Other remedies to soothe temporary mild lung inflammation include:

• drinking green tea