Pneumonia Dubai | 20 April 2022
Dr Karin Vela can often diagnose pneumonia based on the symptoms and by examining your chest. But you may need to have a chest X-ray to confirm that you have it.
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell whether you have pneumonia or another kind of chest infection. If it’s not clear, Dr Karin Vela may do a blood test or take a sputum sample to help decide if you need antibiotics.
How is pneumonia treated?
Pneumonia can be serious so it’s important to get treatment quickly. The main treatment for pneumonia is antibiotics, along with rest and drinking plenty of water. If you have chest pain, you can take pain killers such as paracetamol. Treatment depends on how severe your pneumonia is. Treatment with antibiotics should be started as soon as possible after diagnosis. If you’re admitted to hospital, this should be within 4 hours of admission.
Mild pneumonia
If you have mild pneumonia, you may be able to manage it at home with treatment from Dr Karin Vela, especially if you have support from family and friends. She will prescribe a 5-day course of antibiotics, which you’ll probably take as tablets. If you don’t start to feel better after 3 days, tell her – you may need a longer course of antibiotics.
More severe pneumonia
Some people are too ill to be treated at home and need to go to hospital.
If you’re too ill to drink and take tablets, you can have fluids and antibiotics through a drip in your arm. You’ll also be given oxygen if you need it, and the hospital staff can regularly check your temperature and breathing.
You’ll usually be given 2 different kinds of antibiotics at the same time, usually for 5 to 7 days but possibly up to 10 days. But you won’t necessarily have to stay in hospital that long.
People who are in hospital for other medical problems and then develop pneumonia have a high risk of becoming very ill. They may need different, more powerful antibiotics.
It’s very important to finish your full course of antibiotics – don’t stop taking your antibiotics before the end of the course, even if you start to feel better.
Dr Barbara Karin Vela is an International Member of Royal College Of General Practitioners, UK
Pneumonia Dubai | 20 April 2022