How do you get pneumonia?

Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and less commonly other organisms can infect lung tissue. Pneumonia may follow a cold or another respiratory illness, including Influenza or COVID-19. It can also happen when food, liquid, vomit, or saliva enters the airways instead of the swallowing tube. The infection makes the tiny air sacs collect fluid and inflammatory material, so oxygen has more difficulty moving into the blood. A cough, fever, chills, tiredness, chest discomfort, and coughing up phlegm can occur, although symptoms vary.

Arrange a clinical assessment if you have a new cough with fever, breathlessness, chest pain, confusion, or marked weakness. A clinician may listen to your chest and decide whether you need imaging or other tests. Rest, drink fluids if you can, avoid smoking, and take prescribed treatment exactly as directed. Handwashing, covering coughs, improving indoor airflow, and staying home while unwell can reduce spread of respiratory germs.

Seek emergency help for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, new confusion, fainting, or inability to stay awake. Urgent assessment is also needed when breathing is rapidly worsening, chest pain is severe, or you cannot keep fluids down. Sepsis can develop from a serious infection and needs immediate treatment.

Ask which cause is most likely, whether a chest examination or imaging is needed, how to use each medicine, and which changes should prompt urgent review.