Pneumonia how much rest

This would be a good time to think about quitting for good. Get lots of rest. You may need to stay in bed for a while. Get as much help as you can with meal preparation and household chores until you are feeling stronger.

It is important not to overdo daily activities until you are fully recovered. Recovering from Pneumonia It may take time to recover from pneumonia. Possible Pneumonia Complications People who may be more likely to have complications from pneumonia include: Older adults or very young children.

People whose immune system does not work well. People with other, serious medical problems such as diabetes or cirrhosis of the liver. Possible complications include: Respiratory failure, which requires a breathing machine or ventilator.

Sepsis, a condition in which there is uncontrolled inflammation in the body, which may lead to widespread organ failure. Acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS , a severe form of respiratory failure.

Lung abscesses, which are infrequent, but serious complications of pneumonia. They occur when pockets of pus form inside or around the lung. These may sometimes need to be drained with surgery. Our service is free and we are here to help you by phone, web chat or email. Previous: Pneumonia Symptoms and Diagnosis. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration , and get plenty of rest to help your body recover. Read more about stop smoking treatments and how to stop smoking.

Contact a GP or online if, after following these self-help measures, you're feeling worse or you're not feeling any better. The doctor will probably arrange a follow-up appointment for you about 6 weeks after you start your course of antibiotics. In some cases, they may arrange follow-up tests, such as a chest X-ray , if:. Some people may be advised to have a flu vaccination or pneumococcal vaccination after recovering from pneumonia. You should be given antibiotics as soon as possible if your pneumonia is likely to be caused by a bacterial infection.

You will probably not be given antibiotics if the cause is likely to be a virus, such as coronavirus. Jenkins says that the data so far show that being overweight, i. Professor Jenkins says we need to wait a little longer before we fully understand the medium to long term consequences when people are on the road to recovery. Jenkins says the lingering symptoms of pneumonia vary a lot depending on the severity of it. If someone is discharged from hospital after contracting pneumonia, she recommends plenty of sleep, eating a nutritious diet and not overdoing it socially.

Some people are more likely to catch pneumonia or to be badly affected if they do. Your child could be contagious until the symptoms go away, in about weeks. Once the fever goes down and your child stops coughing up phlegm, it should be safe for them to meet other people.

Although you might think that your child is fully recovered once the symptoms go away, the effects of pneumonia can actually last longer. Children can still feel weak and tired for a while after the infection is gone.

Their bodies have worked so hard to clear the infection that they may need some time to get back to normal. You should expect it to take around weeks for your child to feel back to normal. Pneumonia can also have some longer term effects on the lungs. Some children will continue to cough for a while after the infection has gone.