FACT SHEET FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES
Pneumonia: A guide to hospital care
What is pneumonia? What do I need to do next? Pneumonia [noo-mohn-yuh] is an infection of the lungs. The infection causes the small air sacs in your lungs 1 Work with your healthcare providers to fill up with fluid or pus. This makes it harder for while you’re in the hospital. You’ll recover you to breathe, and usually causes coughing and other fastest if you and your healthcare providers work together. symptoms that reduce your energy and appetite. 2 Learn from your healthcare providers. Pneumonia can be serious. About 1 in every 5 people They’ll help you with: with pneumonia needs to be in the hospital. ––How to breathe deeply to help clear Fortunately, with good hospital care when needed, your lungs. most patients with pneumonia make a full recovery. ––What you can do to prevent blood clots. ––Learning more about pneumonia. How serious is pneumonia? ––Information about quitting smoking, if you Pneumonia can be serious. About 1 out of every 5 or someone in your household smokes. people with pneumonia needs to be in the hospital. ––Things you need to know or do when you Pneumonia is most serious in these people: go home. 3 Speak up! Don’t worry about being a •• Young children (ages 2 years and younger) bother. Ask: • • Older adults (ages 65 and older) ––How you’re doing, and how much •• People with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and longer they think you’ll need to stay in heart disease the hospital. ––Any questions or concerns you have about •• People with lung diseases such as asthma, cystic your care, your treatment, or going home. fibrosis, or emphysema •• People with weakened immune systems •• Smokers and heavy drinkers How long will I need to be in the hospital? Why do I need to be in Most people are well enough to leave the hospital the hospital? within about 3 days. Many factors contribute to your In the hospital, your healthcare providers can monitor treatment plan, however. Some people can go home your breathing to make sure you’re getting enough earlier, and some need to stay longer. Talk with your oxygen. They can give you medicines that wil help healthcare providers about how long you need to stay. you fight the infection faster, and closely watch other signs such as your heart rate, temperature, and eating, to see if you’re getting better.
1 In the hospital...
Day Tests and Treatments Medicines Diet and Activity
Day 1 •• You may receive a chest Your medicines may include: •• It’s important to drink plenty X-ray, have blood drawn, of fluids and eatas much •• Antibiotics to control the and be asked to spit into a infection in your lungs. These as you can. You need the cup. Healthcare providers are usually given through an nutrition to help you get will listen to your breathing, IV (intravenous) line. better. Ask your doctor if and check your heart rate, there are any foods you • Medicine to help prevent blood pressure, and how • should avoid. much oxygen your lungs blood clots while you’re lying •• Resting is important, but you are getting. in bed. still need to move. Increase • Medicine to manage fever •• Based on your condition, • your activity as soon as you or pain. Be sure to tell your youwill be given treatments, are able. Your nurse may healthcare providers if your such as a breathing have you sit in a chair for 20 medicine is not controlling treatment or extra minutes during a meal, or your pain. oxygen. You may be given walk to the bathroom. immunizations for influenza •• Any medicines you take at (the flu) and for pneumonia. home. Your nurse will ask for The pneumonia vaccine a list of all the medicines you may help protect you from were taking at home. getting pneumonia again.
Day 2 Your blood pressure, heart •• You will continue to receive •• Try to eat at least half of the rate, and oxygen level will all an antibiotic and medicines food that’s brought to you. If be checked frequently to see to reduce fever and pain. you feel sick to your stomach if there are any changes in Discuss your pain goal with (nauseated), ask your nurse your condition. Unfortunately, your nurse and ask for it to if you can have medicine to this may happen even at be written on the board in treat it. If there’s a food you night, but care providers will your room. think you’d like to eat, let your nurse know. try to disrupt your sleep as •• You may also continue to little as possible. If you are take medicine to prevent •• You will be asked to get as receiving oxygen, the oxygen you from developing a blood much activity as possible level will be reduced as your clot. Once you’re able to without tiring yourself condition improves. walk more, the blood clot out. You may be asked to medicine will be stopped. walk down the hall while your oxygen is monitored. This will help your doctor determine if you will need oxygen at home.
Day 3 If you have been receiving •• Your doctor may change your •• Your healthcare providers and after extra oxygen, the goal on IV antibiotic to an oral one. will encourage you to Day 3 will be to improve Being able to take medicines increase your activity. The enough that you don’t need by mouth is a step toward goal is for you to slowly it anymore. If you still need going home. Your nurse gain your strength back by oxygen, your doctor may will teach you about the increasing your activity level order it for home use. You antibiotic pill. each time you walk. may also have blood drawn so •• You may also still need •• You may still get tired easily the doctor can tell how you medicine to manage fever or so remember not to push are responding to treatment. pain. Discuss your pain goal yourself too hard and get lots And, you may be allowed to with your nurse. of rest when you need to. go home! 2 After the hospital...
What can I expect when I go home? How can I prevent pneumonia in Even though you’re well enough to go home, you may the future? still need some time to completely recover. Here are You know how serious pneumonia can be. Here are some some things you can expect: things you can do to avoid getting pneumonia again:
•• Your cough and fatigue should improve, but •• Get all vaccines recommended by your doctor. may last up to a few weeks. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone over the age of 6 months. A pneumonia vaccine •• You’ll need extra rest. You may need a little help is recommended for people who from family or friends when you first go home. Try have already had pneumonia and to increase your activity every day, but don’t push others at a high risk of getting it. too hard. Ask for Intermountain Healthcare’s •• Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic for you Pneumococcal Vaccines fact sheet for to continue at home. It is important that you take more information. the antibiotic as prescribed until it is all gone. •• Stay away from smoke and bad air. –– If you smoke, now is the best time to stop. When should I call my doctor? Smoking damages your lungs’ ability to fight germs and doubles the risk that you’ll get Once you get home, follow your doctor’s pneumonia again. instructions and pay attention to your –– symptoms. Call your doctor or go to the Stay away from other people’s cigarette smoke, too. emergency room if you notice that: –– Wear a mask when cleaning or working in dusty or moldy places. •• Your cough is worse or you cough up blood or rust-colored mucus. –– Avoid spending too much time outdoors on a “bad air” day. •• Your breathing is more difficult— for example it’s faster, more shallow, or more •• Keep your immune system strong. Get plenty painful than before. of rest and physical activity, and eat a healthy diet •• You become lightheaded or very weak. (with lots of fruits and vegetables).
•• You develop a fever higher than 102° F •• Wash your hands often — especially after being or you have shaking chills. around someone who is coughing and sneezing. •• You have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. •• You have increased pain. Where can I learn more? •• You develop a serious side effect to your medicine — such as vomiting, frequent Ask about these fact sheets: diarrhea, or a bad rash.
3 Questions for my doctor
My follow-up appointment
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