Pneumonia
2 medicines
Pneumonia is a lung infection that inflames the air sacs, causing cough, fever, and breathlessness. Bacterial pneumonia is treated with antibiotics.
Key facts
- Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, causing them to fill with fluid or pus.
- Symptoms range from mild to life-threatening, including a persistent cough, often with discoloured mucus, fever, chills, shortness of breath, and chest pain that worsens with breathing.
- Most community-acquired bacterial pneumonia responds to antibiotics such as cefuroxime, with linezolid used for more resistant or complicated cases.
- Seek emergency care for severe breathlessness, bluish lips or fingernails, confusion, or a high fever that doesn't settle.
Recognising pneumonia
The hallmark symptoms are a persistent cough, often producing discoloured mucus, fever, chills, and shortness of breath. Chest pain that worsens with breathing or coughing is also typical, and fatigue can be severe. Older adults may not run a high fever but can become confused or unusually weak instead, which also warrants prompt attention.
Who is more at risk
Older adults, young children, smokers, and people with existing lung disease, heart disease, or a weakened immune system are more likely to develop pneumonia and more likely to become seriously unwell from it. Recent influenza or another respiratory virus can also open the door to a secondary bacterial infection.
How bacterial pneumonia is treated
Most community-acquired bacterial pneumonia responds to antibiotics. Broad-spectrum agents are commonly used when the specific bacteria haven't been identified yet. Cefuroxime is a second-generation cephalosporin frequently chosen for moderate community-acquired pneumonia. In more resistant or complicated cases, linezolid is an option, particularly where gram-positive organisms such as MRSA are suspected. Rest, staying well hydrated, and paracetamol for fever and discomfort support recovery alongside antibiotics, and most people start to feel better within a few days of starting treatment, though the cough can linger for weeks.
When to see a doctor
Seek emergency care without delay if symptoms worsen rapidly, breathlessness becomes severe, lips or fingernails turn blue, confusion develops, or a high fever doesn't settle.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.