What is the first treatment tried for pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection or inflammation affecting the air sacs in the lungs. A clinician may consider your symptoms, examination findings, oxygen level and medical history before deciding whether treatment at home is suitable or hospital care is needed. A chest X-ray may help confirm the diagnosis or show how much of the lung is involved. Antibiotics treat bacterial pneumonia; they do not treat every cause of pneumonia, so the treatment plan depends on the suspected cause.

Arrange a prompt medical assessment if you have a new cough with fever, breathlessness, chest discomfort or marked weakness. Take prescribed antibiotics exactly as directed and do not save doses for later. Rest, drink fluids if you can, and monitor whether breathing and fever are improving. A clinician may also recommend treatment for fever or pain and review you if symptoms do not settle.

Seek emergency help for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, new confusion, fainting, severe chest pain or inability to stay awake. Urgent assessment is also needed if breathing worsens quickly or you cannot keep fluids down. Children, older adults and people with heart, lung or immune conditions may become seriously unwell with less warning.

Ask which cause of pneumonia is suspected, whether a chest X-ray is needed, how soon you should notice improvement, and which symptoms should trigger an urgent review.