What if walking pneumonia goes untreated

Most people start to feel better within three to five days, but a cough from pneumonia can last weeks or months after treatment. Just like typical pneumonia, walking pneumonia spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. To reduce your risk of infection, follow these tips and learn more about avoiding pneumonia :.

Learn more: 5 questions about pneumonia to ask your doctor. This November your donation goes even further to improve lung health and defeat lung cancer. Double Your Gift. Your tax-deductible donation funds lung disease and lung cancer research, new treatments, lung health education, and more.

Join over , people who receive the latest news about lung health, including COVID, research, air quality, inspiring stories and resources. Symptoms usually depend on where the infection is concentrated. A child whose infection is in the top or middle part of the lungs will probably have labored breathing. Another whose infection is in the lower part of the lungs near the belly may have no breathing problems, but may have an upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting.

Walking pneumonia is usually diagnosed through a physical examination. The doctor will check your child's breathing and listen for a hallmark crackling sound that often indicates walking pneumonia. If needed, a chest X-ray or tests of mucus samples from the throat or nose might be done to confirm the diagnosis. Antibiotics are an effective treatment for walking pneumonia.

A 5- to day course of oral antibiotics is usually recommended. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, make sure your child takes them on schedule for as long as directed to recover more quickly. If you have any questions about the diagnostic tests your doctor orders, just ask.

The sooner your doctor confirms your pneumonia, the faster you can begin to receive treatment. And that will help put you on the road to a healthy recovery. Exceptional Nurses Winchester Hospital was the first community hospital in the state to achieve Magnet designation, recognition for nursing excellence. Supporting Our Community Our tremendous staff gives back to our community by coordinating free health screenings, educational programs, and food drives.

What Our Patients are Saying A leading indicator of our success is the feedback we get from our patients. Home Health Library. Breathing can become difficult and painfu But if treated promptly and correctly, your chances for a complete recovery are high. Cancer Care. Emergency Services. Cesarean Birth. Imaging Services. High Blood Pressure. Laboratory Services. Maternity Services. Hip Replacement. Primary Care. Aspiration pneumonia causes inflammation without bacterial infection.

These pneumonias can sometimes be difficult to treat, especially because the patients are often sicker to begin with. Symptoms of aspiration pneumonia include cough, increased sputum , fever, confusion, and shortness of breath.

You can prevent complications by not eating or drinking before surgery, working with a therapist to learn how to swallow without aspirating, and avoiding heavy use of alcohol. A pneumonia diagnosis is based on your medical history, a physical exam, and certain test results. Your doctor determines which type of pneumonia you have based on how you became infected, what your X-ray or lung exam reveals, and which kind of germ is responsible for your infection.

During a physical exam, your doctor will check your vital signs and listen to your lungs with a stethoscope. If your doctor suspects pneumonia, they may order further diagnostic tests, such as a chest X-ray to help determine the extent of the infection. Pulse oximetry measures the oxygen level in your blood which may be low if pneumonia is affecting your lungs.

Your doctor will outline a plan that's specific to you, considering the type of pneumonia you have, the severity of the condition, your age, and your overall health.

From there, you'll know whether you can be treated at home or need to go to the hospital, and whether you require antibiotics. Learn More About Pneumonia Treatment. Recovery depends on what type of pneumonia you have and how severe it is, and the underlying condition of your lungs. Per the NHLBI, most people with bacterial pneumonia treated with antibiotics begin to improve and have fewer symptoms after one to three days.

It's important, though, to continue taking the full course of antibiotics, even if you're feeling better. Otherwise, the pneumonia could return. Practice good hygiene. Simple precautions, such as washing your hands frequently, covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and disposing of used tissues cut down exposure and spread of germs. Get vaccinated. Pneumococcal vaccines protect against one of the most common causes of bacterial pneumonia.

The flu shot can help avoid influenza -related pneumonia and COVID vaccines can lower your risk for pneumonia related to the coronavirus. Turowski says. Complications are more common in children, seniors, and people who are already challenged with other serious diseases, according to the NHLBI.

Possible complications include the following:. Anyone can get pneumonia, but as noted above, young children and adults older than 65 are especially susceptible to developing an infection. The ALA offers a thorough review of pneumonia, explaining exactly what it is, the symptoms, treatment options, and tips on prevention. The site also presents questions to ask your doctors to determine your risk and vaccines to consider.

American Thoracic Society. This nonprofit focuses on improving care for pulmonary lung-related diseases, critical illnesses, and sleep-related breathing disorders.

As part of its patient education information series, they provide an extensive summary of pneumonia, covering causes, diagnosis, treatment, and concerns. The CDC not only delivers the essential facts on causes, management, and prevention, the federal agency also connects to studies on the spread of the illness and methods to reduce its prevalence.

The CDC stresses that smoking is a prominent risk factor for lung infection and offers resources and support to quit smoking , including advice from former smokers. Healthy Children. Children under age 2 and people over 65 are two groups that are most likely to develop pneumonia. This organization, created by the American College of Pediatrics, covers the essentials that parents need to know when it comes to their kids and pneumonia. Recommendations on vaccinations are detailed.

This site addresses all major pneumonia concerns, including risk factors, screening and protection, symptoms and complications, diagnosis, and treatment. The NHLBI also explains how to live with the infection, how to participate in clinical trials for new medication, and methods to manage the illness.

Stop Pneumonia. It focuses on promoting interventions to protect against, prevent, and treat the illness. The site reviews important vaccines and practices that can help ward off the disease for all young people. Senior Living. Those over age 65 have a higher risk of getting pneumonia than younger adults. They may be especially susceptible to community-acquired pneumonia, spread among large populations of elderly people in settings such as assisted living facilities.

This organization, devoted to finding the best products and services for seniors, publishes advice on how older adults should handle prevention and care.