If pneumonia is suspected, contact your healthcare provider for evaluation and treatment. The main symptoms are coughing, chest pain, shaking chills, fever, and the production of phlegm or sputum that may be discolored or even contain some blood. A culture of coughed up sputum may also be done to identify the specific cause. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial cases. A viral pneumonia is treated with rest, painkillers, plenty of fluids, and good nutrition.
Recovery time depends on the person s general health and the degree of infection.
During recovery the person should not smoke or drink alcohol. In serious cases, supplemental oxygen and breathing treatments may prove helpful. Caretakers should carefully dispose of fluids from sneezing, coughing, or spitting. The patient should not use a handkerchief to collect the sputum that is coughed up. Pneumococcal pneumonia, one type of pneumonia, may be prevented by a vaccine.