What you need to know about pneumonia

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by a chest infection. It sometimes follows flu, but can also be a complication of COVID-19. It's also possible to catch pneumonia without having flu or COVID-19 first. We'll help you recognise the symptoms of pneumonia, and explain how it might be avoided.

Symptoms of pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of lung tissue, and has similar symptoms to bronchitis - an infection of the larger tubes in the lungs, called bronchi.

However, people tend to feel even more unwell with pneumonia than with bronchitis. Pneumonia, like other chest infections, may require hospital treatment.

In serious cases, pneumonia, can make you cough up bloody or rust-coloured spit and mucus - this is not a symptom of bronchitis.

While anyone can get pneumonia, some people are more vulnerable than others.

Susceptible groups for pneumonia include:

• People over 65.

• Children under two years of age.

• People with long-term health diagnoses.

• People who have compromised immune systems.

Most cases of pneumonia are caused by bacteria or viruses. Bacterial pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics. All types of pneumonia respond well if you get bed rest and plenty of fluids.

When do I need medical help?

Dr Andy Whittamore, Clinical Lead, Asthma + Lung UK explains that viral infections are not treated with antibiotics.

"However, I'd still advise you call your doctor if the infection goes on for more than a few days, causes difficulty breathing or chest pain, and especially if there's blood in your spit," he says.

Pneumonia and the elderly

If you're elderly, it's even more important that your pneumonia is recognised and treated, as you have a higher chance of developing severe pneumonia. This can sometimes cause long-term and life-threatening complications, such as breathing issues and organ failure.

As you get older, your body may struggle more to fight the infection, as your immune system weakens over time. Many older people live in nursing homes and have extended stays in hospitals, and this is where pneumonia often passes between people. These are both dangerous environments to contract pneumonia. People in nursing homes are likely to have underlying conditions, while hospitals often carry strains of pneumonia that are more difficult to treat with antibiotics.

The stakes are high for the elderly, so being extra careful to reduce the chances of catching it are all the more important.

How to prevent pneumonia

Whilst not all cases of pneumonia are preventable, there are things you can do to reduce your chance of getting it.

Stay active

Exercise helps keep your lungs working at their best - whether it's 10K runs or a short daily walk. As long as you get breathless, or break a sweat it counts. Experts recommend doing 150 minutes, over the course of a week.

When we move, we make our muscles stronger - and we also make them more efficient. For those of us with breathing issues, or conditions such as asthma, it also confronts a fear of getting breathless. This helps improve our confidence - making the next time we exercise a tiny bit less intimidating.

It's harder to stay active in the winter than it is in the summer. In particular, people with lung problems sometimes find that cold weather makes breathlessness, or a cough, worse.

Smoking can also contribute to breathlessness and coughing. Doctors and pharmacists are always happy to help you find a suitable way to quit, or you can refer yourself to a quit smoking service on the NHS.

Keep warm

Whittamore advises that both heating your house and wrapping yourself up in warm clothes, can reduce your chance of getting chest infections. Keeping warm is particularly important if you're over 65, have health conditions or aren't very mobile - in this case, you should try to make sure your home is heated to at least 18°C.

A report by Public Health England also found a link between cold homes, and conditions including asthma and pneumonia.

Treat underlying conditions

People with underlying respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD and pulmonary fibrosis have a higher likelihood of getting pneumonia. But taking steps to help when it is warmer, reduces this chance when cold, wet weather really sets in.

"The message I give to people with an underlying condition is to stay on top of their disease as much as they can," says Whittamore.

He explains that staying on top, means taking medicine prescribed for the condition. If your symptoms seem bad at the moment - for example, using a salbutamol (blue ‘reliever’) inhaler three times a week or more - see a doctor or asthma nurse to get more help.

If symptoms seem worse, it might be because your lungs are already a little bit infected or inflamed, which can make it easier for new infections such as pneumonia to take hold. Solving these before winter sets in reduces your chance of getting chest infections - especially pneumonia.