Does antibiotic treatment treat pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection or inflammation affecting the air sacs and surrounding tissue in the lungs. Bacteria and viruses can cause it, and the treatment differs. A clinician may use your symptoms, examination, oxygen reading, and other tests to judge the likely cause and severity. If bacterial pneumonia is suspected, prescribed antibiotics target the bacteria. Rest, fluids, fever relief, and monitoring may also be part of care, while severe illness may require hospital treatment.

Seek medical advice for a new cough with fever, breathlessness, chest discomfort, unusual tiredness, or confusion. Take prescribed antibiotics exactly as directed and do not save doses for later. Keep drinking if you can, rest, and avoid smoking. If symptoms are not improving as expected, or they worsen after starting treatment, contact the treating clinician because the diagnosis, medicine, or level of support may need review.

Get emergency help for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, new confusion, collapse, severe chest pain, or inability to keep fluids down. A person with pneumonia who becomes unusually drowsy or rapidly worse needs immediate assessment, especially if they have a long-term heart or lung condition or a weakened immune system.

Ask what cause is suspected, how to take the antibiotic, which symptoms should trigger urgent help, and when your breathing and energy should be reassessed.