October 2025

Anyone can get pneumonia, an infection in one or both lungs that causes the air sacs to fill with fluid or pus. Doctors can usually treat pneumonia with antibiotics or antiviral medications. Serious cases may require hospitalization and even lead to death. Even less serious cases can take weeks or months for full recovery.

Here’s some common pneumonia symptoms and tips for prevention:

Pneumonia symptoms

Depending on your age, health, and what causes your pneumonia, you may have mild or severe symptoms, including:

• Chest congestion and pain that gets worse when you cough.
• Coughing, often with mucus that is yellow, green, or bloody.
• Fever and/or sweating and shaking chills.
• Loss of appetite.
• Low energy and fatigue.
• Shortness of breath, rapid breathing, or wheezing.

Older adults may have confusion, weakness, and a lower-than-normal body temperature instead of a fever. Babies may have restlessness, vomiting, low energy, and trouble breathing.

Risks of pneumonia

Each year, pneumonia causes some 1.4 million visits to the emergency department and more than 41,000 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Children age 2 and younger, adults over 65, and those with other health issues are more likely to develop serious pneumonia, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

What causes pneumonia?

According to the American Lung Association (ALA), more than 30 types of germs can cause pneumonia. Bacteria and viruses are the most common causes, while fungal infections can also cause pneumonia.

Pneumonia spreads through the air through coughs and sneezes, and from touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

When to see a doctor for pneumonia?

If you have any symptoms of pneumonia, call your doctor. The ALA recommends that you see a doctor or get care right away if you have:

• Trouble breathing.
• High fever.
• Chest pain.
• Cough with mucus that’s severe or gets worse.
• Get a bluish color on your lips and fingertips.

Top tips to prevent pneumonia

• Wash your hands often. Especially before eating, cooking, or caring for someone sick.
• Sneeze and cough properly. Cover your mouth with a tissue or use your elbow when coughing or sneezing.
• Clean and disinfect well. The CDC recommends washing high-touch surfaces with warm, soapy water and using a disinfecting spray to kill bacteria and viruses.
• Practice social distancing. Avoid people who are sick, and avoid socializing when you are sick.
• Avoid cigarette smoke/smoking. Smoking makes it harder to fight off infections.
• Get vaccinated against bacterial infections. According to the CDC, the Hib, pneumococcal, and whooping cough vaccines protect against bacterial pneumonia.
• Get vaccinated against viral infections. Some viruses also cause pneumonia. To help prevent these infections, get vaccinated against the flu, COVID-19, RSV, measles, and chickenpox.

Your doctor or pharmacist can help you decide which vaccines are appropriate for you and your family and when you need them. Some are part of routine childhood immunizations, while others are among the most important vaccines for older adults.