How is pneumonia treated?

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on April 30, 2025
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Pneumonia is a respiratory tract infectious disease that requires the timely selection of antimicrobial drugs and anti-inflammatory treatment, as well as the choice of symptomatic treatment medications. Symptoms of pneumonia include fever, headache, nausea, sore throat, cough, expectoration, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. The pathogens causing the infection vary, and so do the antibiotics used to treat them. For common bacterial infections, penicillin antibiotics or cephalosporin antimicrobial drugs can be selected. During an acute fever phase, antipyretic analgesics may be chosen or physical cooling methods may be employed.

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Written by Yang Feng
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Adult pneumonia symptoms

The main clinical symptoms of pneumonia include cough, expectoration, asthma, chest pain, chills, high fever, etc. If the pneumonia patient has some complications from other systems, symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness may also occur. Once pneumonia is diagnosed, active antimicrobial treatment is necessary, and pneumonia can be cured. Additionally, for patients with low immunity or those who frequently suffer from respiratory diseases, annual influenza and pneumonia vaccinations can be administered for preventive measures.

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How many doses are there for the pneumonia vaccine?

Currently, there are two types of vaccines commonly used to prevent pneumococcal diseases. One type is the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine, suitable for high-risk populations over two years old. The other type includes the 7-valent or 13-valent conjugate vaccines, used for vaccinating infants under two years old. The vaccination schedule for the 7-valent or 13-valent vaccines follows a "three plus one" program, which means three primary immunization doses with at least one month between each dose, followed by a booster dose. For the 23-valent vaccine, high-risk individuals over two years old generally require only a single dose; however, immunocompromised patients may need a booster shot, typically recommended five years after the initial vaccination.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Is the pneumonia vaccine self-funded?

The pneumonia vaccine is primarily aimed at preventing pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most significant and common bacterium causing pneumonia worldwide. This bacterium is also the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia in children and is the main pathogen causing otitis media, meningitis, and bacteremia in children. Currently, there are two types of pneumonia vaccines available in China: the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine, which is suitable for people over two years old, and the 7-valent vaccine, which is suitable for infants under two years old. According to the regulations on vaccine distribution and vaccination management implemented in our country, vaccines are clearly divided into two categories: the first category includes vaccines provided free by the government to citizens, who are required to be vaccinated according to government regulations; the second category includes other vaccines that are paid for and voluntarily received by citizens. The pneumonia vaccine belongs to the second category, which is a self-funded vaccine.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
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What department should I go to for pneumonia?

Pneumonia, as the name suggests, is inflammation of the lungs and belongs to the category of respiratory diseases. Therefore, the primary department to consult is Respiratory Medicine. In places where there is no Respiratory Medicine department, such as community health service centers or township health clinics, patients would have to consult the general internal medicine department instead. Of course, if the symptoms of pneumonia are severe and the condition is critical, and it happens outside of regular outpatient hours, then the patient must be seen by the emergency medicine department. The emergency medicine department will manage and triage pneumonia patients, and then decide their next steps, such as whether to transfer them to the ICU, a regular Respiratory Medicine department, or keep them for observation in the emergency department.

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Are pneumonia symptoms contagious?

The main clinical symptoms of pneumonia include chills, high fever, cough, expectoration, shortness of breath, chest pain, etc. Pneumonia is a common infectious disease of the respiratory system, and it can be transmitted through the respiratory tract. However, pneumonia is not classified as a contagious disease; it is merely an infectious disease. It tends to be more prevalent during the flu season, so pneumonia is contagious, but it is not considered a contagious disease.