Can you get walking pneumonia twice

Infection from fungi or parasites can also cause pneumonia. Pneumonia can also be categorized by the number of segments of the lobes in your lungs that are infected. If more segments are infected, whether in one lung or both lungs, the disease is likely to be more serious. You can catch pneumonia by coming into contact with infectious viruses or breathing in infectious air droplets. The symptoms are not necessarily more severe because both lungs are infected.

Double pneumonia does not mean double seriousness. You can have a mild infection in both lungs, or a serious infection in both lungs. If you have trouble breathing or severe chest pain, see a doctor as soon as possible, or go to the emergency room.

Pneumonia symptoms often resemble those of the flu or a cold. But if your symptoms are severe or last for more than three days, see a doctor. Untreated pneumonia can do permanent damage to your lungs. According to Dr. The treatment plan will depend on the cause and severity of the infection, and your age and general health. Your treatment may include over-the-counter drugs to relieve pain and fever. These could include:. Your doctor may also suggest a cough medicine to help manage your cough so that you can rest.

You can help yourself have a smoother recovery. Viral pneumonia can be treated with anti-viral drugs and medication aimed at easing your symptoms. Antibiotics are not effective in treating viruses. It's common for a person with pneumonia to start out with something milder like a cough or sore throat — which also can happen in other infections.

But pneumonia is a bit worse because the infection goes down into the lungs. When pneumonia is caused by bacteria, a person tends to become sick quickly, develop a high fever, and have difficulty breathing. When it's caused by a virus, the illness comes on more gradually and might be less severe.

Someone's symptoms can help the doctor identify the type of pneumonia. Mycoplasma pneumoniae , for example, often causes headaches, sore throats, and rash in addition to the symptoms listed above. The routine vaccinations that most people receive as kids help prevent certain types of pneumonia and other infections.

If you have a chronic illness, such as sickle cell disease, you may have received extra vaccinations and disease-preventing antibiotics to help prevent pneumonia and other infections caused by bacteria. People should get a pneumococcal vaccination if they have diseases that affect their immune system like diabetes , HIV infection , or cancer , are 65 years or older, or are in other high-risk groups. Depending on the bugs that are likely to affect them, these people also may get antibiotics to prevent pneumonia, as well as antiviral medicine to prevent or lessen the effects of viral pneumonia.

Doctors recommend that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu shot. That's because someone with the flu could then come down with pneumonia. Call your doctor's office or check your local health department to see when these vaccines are available. Because pneumonia is often caused by germs, a good way to prevent it is to keep your distance from anyone you know who has pneumonia or other respiratory infections.

Use separate drinking glasses and eating utensils; wash your hands often with warm, soapy water; and avoid touching used tissues and paper towels.

It feels more akin to a bad cold, and despite what the term "walking" implies, taking care of yourself is the best path to recovery. Albert Rizzo, senior medical advisor to the American Lung Association. Rizzo notes that walking pneumonia is treatable with antibiotics if your doctor believes bacteria to be the cause.

Over-the-counter medications can also be used to relieve symptoms, such as antihistamines for nasal congestion or cough medications to help ease the cough and loosen any mucus sputum. Most people start to feel better within three to five days, but a cough from pneumonia can last weeks or months after treatment. Just like typical pneumonia, walking pneumonia spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. To reduce your risk of infection, follow these tips and learn more about avoiding pneumonia :.

Learn more: 5 questions about pneumonia to ask your doctor. People in these groups are more likely to need hospital treatment if they develop pneumonia. A doctor may be able to diagnose pneumonia by asking about your symptoms and examining your chest. Pneumonia can be difficult to diagnose because it shares many symptoms with other conditions, such as the common cold , bronchitis and asthma. A doctor may also take your temperature and listen to your chest and back with a stethoscope to check for any crackling or rattling sounds.

They may also listen to your chest by tapping it. Lungs filled with fluid produce a different sound from normal healthy lungs. If you have mild pneumonia, you probably will not need to have a chest X-ray or any other tests.