bacterial pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics -- usually by mouth. for more severe pneumonia you may need to go to the hospital to be treated. hospital treatment may include oxygen therapy to increase oxygen in the blood intravenous (given through a needle in your vein) antibiotics and fluids. pain relievers and medicine to reduce fever may also be given. with treatment bacterial pneumonia usually begins to improve within 24 to 48 hours. viral pneumonia is usually less serious. a stay in the hospital is rarely needed. antibiotics cannot be used to treat viral pneumonia but may be given to fight a bacterial infection that is also present. other drugs such as those listed above may be used to lessen symptoms. if you are given antibiotics make sure you take all of the medicine even if you feel better. if you stop taking the medicine too early the infection can come back and may be harder to treat. for both viral and bacterial pneumonia: drink warm fluids to relieve coughing. rest. don't rush your recovery. it can take weeks to get your full strength back. don't smoke.
how is pneumonia treated?