Living With Pneumonia

If you have pneumonia, you can take steps to recover from the infection and prevent complications.

• Get plenty of rest.
• Follow the treatment plan your doctor gives you.
• Take all medicines as your doctor prescribes. If you’re using antibiotics, continue to take the medicine until it’s all gone. You may start to feel better before you finish the medicine, but you should continue to take it. If you stop too soon, the pneumonia may come back.
• Talk to your doctor about when to schedule followup care. Your doctor may order a chest x ray to make sure the infection is gone.

It may take time to recover from pneumonia. Some people feel better and are able to return to their normal routines within a week. For other people, it can take a month or more. Most people continue to feel tired for about a month. Talk to your doctor about when you can go back to your normal activities.