early treatment for pneumonia is most effective. see a doctor right away if you think you might have pneumonia. exactly which drug is used to treat pneumonia depends on the type of germ and on your doctor's treatment strategy. in most cases treatment must be continued until most symptoms are gone. this is to be sure that all the germs are killed. full recovery may not occur until after the treatment is completed. antibiotics can cure bacterial pneumonia and make recovery from mycoplasma pneumonia much quicker. antiviral drugs can be used to treat certain types of viral pneumonia but there is not yet any treatment that works against all causes. supportive treatment often helps. this can include medicines that ease chest pain and relieve violent coughing. sometimes oxygen is needed. in all cases a proper diet speeds recovery. young healthy people can feel perfectly fine only a week after recovery from pneumonia. a middle-aged person may not regain full strength for several weeks. in all cases plenty of rest is needed. people generally can return to work as soon as they feel up to it but they will need to take it easy at first.
what are the treatments for pneumonia?