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Information on Zika virus. Provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Information on Zika virus. Provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you have pneumonia, follow your treatment plan, take all medicines as prescribed, and get follow-up medical care. If you have pneumonia, limit contact with family and friends. To keep the infection from spreading to other people, cover your nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing, get rid of used tissues right away, and wash your hands.

Pneumonia can be very serious and even life-threatening. Vaccines can help prevent some types of pneumonia. Good hygiene (washing your hands often), quitting smoking, and keeping your immune system strong by getting regular physical activity and eating healthy are other ways to lower your risk of getting pneumonia.

Treatment for pneumonia depends on your risk factors and how serious your pneumonia is. Many people who have pneumonia are prescribed medicine and recover at home. You may need to be treated in the hospital or an intensive care unit (ICU) if your pneumonia is serious.

Your doctor will diagnose pneumonia based on your medical history, a physical exam, and test results. Sometimes pneumonia is hard to diagnose because your symptoms may be the same as a cold or flu. You may not realize that your condition is more serious until it lasts longer than these other conditions.

The signs and symptoms of pneumonia can be mild or serious. Young children, older adults, and people who have serious health conditions are at risk for developing more serious pneumonia or life-threatening complications.

Your risk of pneumonia may be higher because of your age, environment, lifestyle habits, and other medical conditions.

Pneumonia occurs when certain bacterial, viral, and fungal infections cause inflammation in the air sacs, or alveoli, of the lungs. Some of the more common causes in the United States include Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus bacteria, the influenza or flu virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

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