Which specialist treats pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection or inflammation affecting the air sacs in the lungs. Clinicians look at symptoms, breathing effort, oxygen levels, medical history, and examination findings to decide whether care can happen at home or needs hospital support. Cough, chills, chest discomfort, and phlegm can occur with pneumonia, but clinicians also consider other respiratory illnesses such as influenza or COVID-19. A respiratory specialist may help when the diagnosis is uncertain, symptoms are prolonged, or there is underlying lung disease.

Contact a GP promptly if you have a new or worsening cough with feverishness, breathlessness, chest discomfort, or feel markedly unwell. Take a list of current medicines, allergies, recent illnesses, and long-term conditions to the visit. Follow the care plan exactly, rest, drink fluids if you can do so safely, and arrange the follow-up advised by your clinician. Do not use leftover antibiotics or share medicines with another person.

Get emergency medical help for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, confusion, fainting, severe chest pain, or coughing up blood. Seek urgent assessment if symptoms worsen quickly, you cannot keep fluids down, or you are becoming unusually drowsy. People who are pregnant, very young, older, or living with serious heart, lung, or immune conditions should not delay contacting a clinician when respiratory symptoms are significant.

Ask what may be causing the lung infection, what monitoring is needed at home, and when you should expect reassessment. Clarify how to take each prescribed medicine, which symptoms signal deterioration, and whether a respiratory specialist or follow-up imaging is appropriate for your situation.