Other Pneumonia Treatments, Beside Home Treatment

Usually, persons otherwise healthy and with a strong immune system, can be treated at home. The treatment will include antibiotics, rest, fluids and home care. For the more complicated cases, additional treatments can be provided: oxygen or other medications to breathe through an inhaler or nebulizer to help wheezing symptoms and shortness of breath.

If the patient's health doesn't improve with home treatment, symptoms aggravate or complications are developed, he or she will have to go to a hospital. In the hospital, the treatment may include:

• * Antibiotics administered directly into the blood stream, intravenously.
• * IV administered fluids, in case the patient can't drink because of weakness or shortness of breath.
• * Respiratory therapy for the removal of the mucus from the lungs. This therapy may include deep breathing exercises, postural drainage, spirometry, and chest physiotherapy, which involves striking the chest with a cupped hand or applying a vibrating device to the chest to loosen mucus. Chest physiotherapy is not necessary in most cases, but it may be helpful for people with other lung conditions, such as bronchiectasis.
• * Oxygen therapy. If the doctor believes that the patient's cells are not properly oxygenated. This is usually done through a nasal tube or a face mask. In case of children, a tent that fits over the crib is used to give oxygen.

Usually, pneumonia is a condition that is treated on short term. But when the condition repeats itself frequently, it can produce serious long term complications like COPD. If a person suffers from a severe, chronic disease, the newly acquired pneumonia may be difficult to treat or may chose not to treat it. This is conversation that the patient should have with his doctor and should also include the possibility of creating an advance directive.