Pneumonia Treatment and Prevention

Causes of pneumonia include bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Different types of pneumonia typically require different kinds of treatment.

As Jason Turowski, MD, a pulmonologist at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, puts it, “Viruses set up shop and basically wreak havoc on your lungs.”

People who are exposed to large doses of fungi in contaminated soil or bird droppings may also become infected. Some parts of the country are home to the fungi coccidioidomycosis or histoplasmosis, which can be specifically diagnosed and treated.

Complications from pneumonia may result in respiratory failure, which requires assisted breathing with a machine called a ventilator.

In rare cases, a pocket of pus called an abscess can form inside or around the lung, and may require a surgical procedure to drain it.

Home remedies can help ease pneumonia symptoms — and some may prevent an illness from getting worse.

• Get plenty of rest.
• Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke and woodsmoke.
• Manage a fever with aspirin, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen), or acetaminophen (don’t give aspirin to children).
• Drink warm fluids, take steamy showers and baths, and use a humidifier to open the lungs and help with breathing.
• Stay hydrated to loosen mucus in the lungs and bring up phlegm.

Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in adults, and it can be prevented with vaccines.

There are two types of vaccines to build immunity to pneumonia and other forms of pneumococcal disease:

• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: This category includes Prevnar 15 (PCV15), Prevnar 20 (PCV20), and the new Capvaxive (PCV21).
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine:  Pneumovax 23 (PPSV23)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination for all adults age 50 and older. People in these groups should receive PCV20 or PCV21, or PCV15 followed by PPSV23.

Anyone ages 19 to 49 with certain risk factors that increase their odds of infection complications should talk with their healthcare providers about whether they would benefit from vaccination as well; the type of vaccine and number of doses may vary.

Adults at increased risk include smokers, people with conditions that weaken the immune system (such as HIV or AIDS), and patients with chronic illnesses or ongoing health challenges (such as heart, liver, kidney, or lung disease; diabetes; or alcohol use disorder).

• Get vaccinated to prevent other infections that may lead to pneumonia, including flu, COVID-19, and (if you are eligible) RSV. Children younger than 5 should get the Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) vaccine.

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• Wash hands often.
• Quit smoking.
• Keep your immune system strong by eating well and exercising.
• Take certain precautions if you have trouble swallowing, since food or saliva that accidentally enters the lungs can lead to bacterial pneumonia. Try eating smaller meals of thickened food and sleeping with your head elevated.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that get touched a lot.
• Stay home when you’re ill, and keep your child home if they’re sick.

Vaccines are a powerful way to prevent pneumonia, but if you get sick, you may experience a relatively mild case that just requires antibiotics or antiviral medication, or a few days of rest. More severe cases can require treatment in the hospital. Avoid the worst outcomes by keeping up with your immunizations and practicing good habits like not smoking cigarettes and washing your hands often. Realize that it may take time to make a full recovery and get back to your usual level of activity and feeling of well-being.