Dr Lalitha Badul
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be mild or so severe that you have to go to the hospital.
It happens when an infection causes the air sacs of the lungs to fill up with fluid or pus. That can make it hard for you to breathe in enough oxygen to reach your bloodstream.
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Anyone can get this lung infection. You can get pneumonia in one or both lungs. You can also have it and not know it. If your pneumonia is caused by a bacteria or virus, you can spread it to someone else.
Causes
Bacteria, viruses, or fungi can cause pneumonia.Treatment
If you have bacterial pneumonia, you’ll get antibiotics. Make sure you take all of the medicine your doctor gives you, even if you start to feel better.
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If you have viral pneumonia, antibiotics won’t help. You’ll need to rest, drink a lot of fluids, and take medicines for your fever.
You may need to go to a hospital if your symptoms are severe or if you have other conditions that make you more likely to have complications.
With any kind of pneumonia, you’re going to need lots of rest. You might need a week off your usual routines, but you might still feel tired for a month.
Disclaimer: The views in this blog are not the views of the Estcourt and Midlands News and any advice herein should be followed after proper consultation with an expert in the subject matter discussed in the blog.
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