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Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, causing them to fill with fluid or pus.

Zyvox

Linezolid

600mg

This antibiotic is indicated for serious bacterial infections developed to target resistant organisms and support recovery during acute illness.

From$7.00/ tabletView

Ceftin

Cefuroxime

250 · 500mg

Indicated to address bacterial infections to support the immune system in eradicating pathogens.

From$3.49/ tabletView

Key takeaways

  • Cough, fever, breathlessness, chest pain or new confusion can suggest pneumonia, but presentation varies with age and underlying health.
  • Oxygen level, breathing rate, examination and sometimes chest imaging help determine severity and whether hospital care is needed.
  • Antibiotics treat bacterial pneumonia, not viral causes; likely organism, severity, allergies and resistance risk guide the regimen.

The listings below do not confirm pneumonia or identify its cause; treatment requires assessment of severity and likely organism.

How is pneumonia assessed?

Clinicians consider oxygen saturation, breathing effort, blood pressure, alertness and ability to drink as well as chest findings. Older adults may present with weakness or confusion rather than high fever. Imaging and microbiology tests are used when they will clarify the diagnosis, severity or organism.

How is treatment selected?

Supportive care and treatment of the cause are both important. Suspected bacterial pneumonia may need an antibiotic, but the setting, recent healthcare exposure, other illnesses and local resistance patterns affect selection. Viral, fungal and aspiration pneumonia require different decisions, and severe illness may need oxygen and hospital monitoring.

When to seek urgent care

Call emergency services for severe breathlessness, blue or grey lips, new confusion, fainting, coughing blood or rapidly worsening chest pain. Infants, frail older adults, pregnancy and significant immune suppression warrant earlier assessment.