Pneumonia
Find out about pneumonia, including what the symptoms are, where to get medical help, what the treatments are, what causes it and how to prevent it.
Symptoms of pneumonia can start suddenly or gradually over a few days.
They can include:
- a cough
- shortness of breath
- a high temperature
- chest pain
- an aching body
- feeling very tired
- loss of appetite
- making wheezing noises when you breathe – babies may also make grunting noises
- feeling confused – this is common in older people
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
- you've had a cough for up to 3 weeks
- you're coughing up yellow or green mucus (phlegm)
- you have chest pain that comes and goes, or happens when breathing or coughing
- you're feeling short of breath
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
- you're struggling to breathe – you're choking, gasping and unable to speak
- you have pale, blue or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
- you're coughing up blood
- you suddenly feel confused – for example, you do not know where you are
- you cannot wake your baby or they feel floppy
Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring any medicines you take with you.
Pneumonia is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection. If you have pneumonia caused by bacteria, you'll usually be given antibiotics.
Depending on your symptoms, most people get better in 2 to 4 weeks.
Some people are more at risk of becoming seriously ill. You may need to go to hospital for treatment if:
- you're over 65
- you have cardiovascular disease or a long-term lung condition
- your baby or young child has pneumonia
- you're very unwell
- you're not getting better after taking antibiotics
In hospital you'll usually be given antibiotics, and sometimes steroids, to treat the infection. You may also be given oxygen to help you breathe.
You may be sent for an X-ray of your chest and blood tests to check for other conditions.
Important
If you're given antibiotics to take at home, keep taking them until you've finished them all, even if you start to feel better. Contact your doctor if you do not feel any better after taking them for 2 to 3 days.
There are some things you can do to help with recovery from pneumonia.
Do
rest until you feel better – try to stay at home if you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to do normal activities
drink plenty of fluids
take paracetamol or ibuprofen (if you have been told you can take it) to help with pain or a high temperature
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
put used tissues in the bin as quickly as possible
wash your hands regularly with water and soap
Don't
do not take cough medicine – coughing helps your body get rid of the infection
do not smoke
Pneumonia is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection.
You can can sometimes get pneumonia it if you have another infection such as:
Pneumonia can be caused by a fungal infection, but this is rare in healthy people in the UK.
It may also be caused by something getting into your lungs, such as water or food (aspiration pneumonia).
There are several vaccines available to help protect you or your child from infections that can cause pneumonia:
- pneumococcal vaccine – recommended for babies, adults over 65 and people at higher risk of pneumococcal infections
- flu vaccine – recommended during pregnancy, for adults over 65, people with certain long-term health conditions and those at high risk of catching or passing on flu
- RSV vaccine – recommended for adults aged 75 to 79, and during pregnancy (from 28 weeks onwards) to help protect your baby after they're born
- COVID-19 vaccine – a seasonal vaccine that's recommended for people at increased risk from COVID-19
Stopping smoking also reduces your chance of getting pneumonia.
