A viral pneumonia can make you feel pretty sick for a few days with fever, cough, and generalized fatigue. Viral pneumonia goes away on its own. Bacterial pneumonia, if left untreated can make someone a lot sicker. Without antibiotics bacterial pneumonia can result in a blood infection, or even an abscess in the lung.
Without antibiotics bacterial pneumonia can result in a blood infection, or even an abscess in the lung. Both of these are considered life threatening illnesses. Thus, if you are having symptoms of pneumonia, you should be evaluated by a doctor right away. I suggest that you schedule an appointment with your primary care physician (such as a family doctor or internal medicine doctor). He or she can take a more detailed history of your symptoms and perform a thorough physical exam. If your doctor is concerned about pneumonia, you may need to get a chest x-ray. If the chest x-ray shows an area of infection, you will need to take antibiotics. Good luck, and I hope you feel better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a home test for pneumonia?
Is pneumonia contagious from person to person?
Is Cold air bad if you have pneumonia?
Is a lung infection and pneumonia the same thing?
How long does it take for pneumonia to stop being contagious?
How do you treat pneumonia without antibiotics?
How do you know you have pneumonia?
Can you treat pneumonia at home?
Can you go to work with walking pneumonia?
Can you drink when you have pneumonia?
Can you die if you have pneumonia?
Can pneumonia go away on its own?
Can lungs heal after pneumonia?