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Pneumonia: questions to ask your doctor

Last published:Feb 01, 2022

If you've been diagnosed with pneumonia, you may want to ask your doctor some questions to find out more about your illness.

Here are some suggestions:

  • Are there treatments that can help me feel better?

  • Do I need to take antibiotics?

  • Do I need to stay in the hospital?

  • Can my family and friends catch pneumonia from me?

  • What should I be eating and drinking?

  • When can I go out or go back to school or work?

  • How long will my coughing last?

  • How long will it be before I feel like my usual self?

  • Should I have a chest x-ray to see if the pneumonia has gone away? If yes, when should I have this x-ray?

  • How will I know if I am getting worse? If I do get worse, how will I know when to come back to see you or seek emergency treatment?

  • Is there any particular reason why I got pneumonia? Is my immune system working properly?

  • What can I do to keep from getting pneumonia again?

  • Should I get the pneumonia and flu vaccines?

The patient information from BMJ Best Practice from which this leaflet is derived is regularly updated. The most recent version of Best Practice can be found at bestpractice.bmj.com. This information is intended for use by health professionals. It is not a substitute for medical advice. It is strongly recommended that you independently verify any interpretation of this material and, if you have a medical problem, see your doctor.

Please see BMJ's full terms of use at: bmj.com/company/legal-information. BMJ does not make any representations, conditions, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that this material is accurate, complete, up-to-date or fit for any particular purposes.

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