Viral pneumonia is usually milder than bacterial pneumonia.
Pneumonia is usually a complication of a cold.
Although colds can be passed from persons to person, bacterial pneumonia is not considered contagious. Only bacterial pneumonia is helped by antibiotics. Because it's difficult to distinguish bacterial from viral pneumonia in all cases, sometimes antibiotics are prescribed for children who have viral pneumonia. Before antibiotics were available, bacterial pneumonia was dangerous. With antibiotics it improves within 24 to 48 hours.