Pneumonia is an infection that affects the lungs and can be very serious for some people. So how long is pneumonia contagious and what can you do to treat and prevent it?
Pneumonia is caused primarily by bacteria, though viruses and fungi can also cause it. Its symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sweating, chills, chest pain, fatigue or muscle aches. Since these symptoms are similar to a cold or flu, many people don’t realize they have pneumonia. If you experience any of these symptoms for more than 10 days, or if they get more severe as time goes by, see a doctor in case you do have pneumonia.
If you have a bacterial-based pneumonia, there are some antibiotics that will treat it. If it is viral pneumonia, you may be given an antiviral medication to speed your recovery. You can also help to relieve your symptoms by using over-the-counter medicines for coughing. Make sure to take all prescribed medications—if you stop using an antibiotic early, it could make you immune to the antibiotic.
Pneumonia is contagious, so you need to take steps to prevent from spreading it. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize they have it and spread it unknowingly. But once a person has been diagnosed, it is contagious for the first 2 days or so after taking antibiotics. If you have a viral pneumonia, it may be contagious for longer.
Pneumonia is most serious for people over age 65 or under 2 years old, since their immune systems tend to be weaker than the rest of the population. Still, people of any age can catch serious cases of pneumonia.
If you catch pneumonia, you’ll likely be sick for several days. You can prevent it by washing your hands regularly and avoiding people you know are infected. Don’t touch your mouth or nose, especially in public places, and don’t share utensils or cups with other people.
But if you do catch it, how long is pneumonia contagious? It’s contagious for about 2 days after you’ve been on antibiotics, though many people don’t know they have it and spread it anyways.