{"id":11342,"date":"2020-05-11T13:00:16","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T17:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=11342"},"modified":"2022-05-04T09:14:48","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T13:14:48","slug":"is-pneumonia-contagious","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/is-pneumonia-contagious\/","title":{"rendered":"Is pneumonia contagious? Who is at risk and how to prevent it"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"#is-pneumonia-contagious\">Is pneumonia contagious?<\/a> | <a href=\"#symptoms-of-pneumonia\">Symptoms<\/a> | <a href=\"#how-does-pneumonia-spread?\">How does pneumonia spread?<\/a> | <a href=\"#types-of-pneumonia\">Types of pneumonia<\/a> | <a href=\"#covid-19-and-pneumonia\">COVID-19 and pneumonia<\/a> | <a href=\"#pneumonia-risk\">Who is at risk of pneumonia?<\/a> | <a href=\"#how-long-is-pneumonia-contagious\">How long is pneumonia contagious?<\/a> | <a href=\"#prevention\">prevention<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pneumonia is an infection that affects the lungs. Breathing becomes difficult for an <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">infected person<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with pneumonia because <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">air sacs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the lungs, also known as <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">alveoli<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, begin to fill with fluid. Pneumonia can be <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">life-threatening<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Nearly 50,000 people in the US die from this illness every year, according to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/dotw\/pneumonia\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Center for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disease Control<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CDC<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Any <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">respiratory infection<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be concerning, especially with the looming threat of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">coronavirus<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. But is pneumonia contagious? Read on to learn who is at risk for contracting pneumonia and how to prevent it from spreading.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"is-pneumonia-contagious\">Is pneumonia contagious?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are more than 30 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">causes of pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are the most <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">common causes of pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">United States<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, according to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/pneumonia\/causes.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CDC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Bacterial and viral <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">forms of pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are contagious. However, pneumonia caused by the inhalation of chemical <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">irritants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, fungi or <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">aspiration pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (inhaling food or liquid) is not contagious.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"symptoms-of-pneumonia\">How do I know if I have pneumonia?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pneumonia symptoms<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may present within 24 hours or come on slowly. They could resemble cold- or flu-like symptoms. Common <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">symptoms of pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> often include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coughing\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fever<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trouble breathing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chest pains<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loss of appetite<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diarrhea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nausea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vomiting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cyanosis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cough itself may be \u201cwet\u201d or \u201cproductive,\u201d in which yellow, green, or even brown mucus is coughed up from the lungs. Hemoptysis (coughing up blood, bloody mucus, or <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">phlegm<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/stop-coughing-at-night\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">coughing at night<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can also occur during a bout of pneumonia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/fever-temperature\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">high fever<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, upward of 105 degrees, can be a reaction to the body fighting an infection associated with pneumonia. Therefore, chills, sweating, and shaking are also possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chest pains<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including sharp or stabbing feelings when coughing or trying to take a deep breath, are common once pneumonia develops. An individual with pneumonia may experience rapid or <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">difficulty breathing<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shortness of breath<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, particularly feeling like they can\u2019t catch their breath. Furthermore, cyanosis (low oxygen in the blood) may occur, in which the lips, fingertips, or skin may turn blue from a lack of oxygen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/bronchitis-vs-pneumonia\/\"><b>Bronchitis vs. pneumonia: Compare causes and treatments<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-does-pneumonia-spread?\">How is pneumonia spread from person to person?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contagious varieties of pneumonia are transmitted from person to person through airborne particles. Coughing and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sneezing<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> into the air can directly contaminate another person. Similar to the spread of a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/coronavirus-symptoms-vs-cold-and-flu\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">common cold, flu, and COVID-19<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, airborne particles can land on a surface and indirectly infect someone. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Walking pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is another way of saying mild pneumonia that might feel like a chest cold. However, if you are infected, even if you are asymptomatic, you can still spread the viruses or bacteria that can <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cause pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"types-of-pneumonia\">Types of pneumonia<\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bacterial pneumonia<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some bacteria are more contagious than others. Mycobacterium and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mycoplasma<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are known for how easily they can spread. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Streptococcus pneumoniae<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> causes <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lung.org\/lung-health-diseases\/lung-disease-lookup\/pneumonia\/what-causes-pneumonia\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">most cases<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bacterial pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This respiratory illness is contagious and likely to affect <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">older people<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and individuals with impaired <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">immune systems<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bacteria can find a way into the lungs and cause an infection, especially in individuals who are on respirators, suffering from other illnesses, or hospitalized. Hospital-acquired pneumonia is a term used in individuals who are already ill and get pneumonia while undergoing medical treatment in the hospital.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/xenleta-bacterial-pneumonia-treatment\/\"><b>FDA approves Xenleta to treat <\/b><b>bacterial pneumonia<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Viral pneumonia<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Viral pneumonias<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are also contagious and are caused by viruses. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/what-is-the-flu\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Influenza or \u201cthe flu\u201d<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">common cause<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">viral pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in adults. However,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/rsv\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> respiratory syncytial virus <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(RSV), <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/covid-19-vs-sars\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">coronaviruses<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (COVID-19 is simply one type of the many coronaviruses) and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/cold-vs-flu\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">common cold<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can also <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cause pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In addition to fluid collecting in the lungs, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lung tissue<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> becomes inflamed and irritated with most pneumonias.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"covid-19-and-pneumonia\">COVID-19 and pneumonia<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COVID-19 can cause lung complications, such as pneumonia. According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/profiles\/details\/panagis-galiatsatos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Panagis Galiatsatos<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, M.D., M.H.S., a leading lung disease expert at John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, \u201cThe pneumonia that COVID-19 causes tends to take hold in both lungs. Air sacs in the lungs fill with fluid, limiting their ability to take in oxygen and causing shortness of breath, cough, and other symptoms.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonmethodist.org\/blog\/articles\/2021\/jul\/covid-pneumonia-how-long-does-recovery-take\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COVID-19 pneumonia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> typically occurs in both lungs and has the ability to cause short-term lung damage. COVID pneumonia may cause increased heart rate and low blood pressure, in addition to symptoms like shortness of breath and cough.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you think your pneumonia may have resulted from COVID-19, it\u2019s important to reach out to your medical care provider or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/pharmacy-near-me\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">local pharmacy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/coronavirus-test\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">testing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"pneumonia-risk\">Who is at high risk of pneumonia?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cases of pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be mild to severe and even <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">life-threatening<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, depending on one\u2019s physical condition as well as the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">type of pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> they have. Anyone\u2014young or old\u2014can get this respiratory condition. However, some <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">risk factors<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can make someone more susceptible to developing pneumonia:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People 65 years of age and older<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patients with a preexisting respiratory illness, such as COPD or asthma<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Underlying <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">health problems<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">heart disease<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HIV\/AIDS<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those with weakened <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">immune systems<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as patients undergoing chemotherapy, recovering from surgery, taking immunosuppressant drugs, or breathing on a ventilator<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People with overall poor health\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People who smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A medical professional can diagnose pneumonia with a physical examination or <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">chest X-ray<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/pneumonia-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prescribe medication<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as necessary.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, children are more likely to get pneumonia than adults. Pneumonia is the number one cause of childhood deaths in the world. Although child mortality rates from pneumonia are significantly less in America because of available health care,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thoracic.org\/patients\/patient-resources\/resources\/top-pneumonia-facts.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> pneumonia is the number one reason why children are hospitalized<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">United States<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Children 5 years old and younger are at higher risk for pneumonia than older children.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-long-is-pneumonia-contagious\">How long is pneumonia contagious?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The average time an individual is contagious from pneumonia is approximately 10 days. However, some <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cases of pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (particularly pneumonia associated with tuberculosis) can be contagious for several weeks, depending on the form of pneumonia and the type of medical treatment recommended.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-do-antibiotics-work\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antibiotics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can significantly decrease the contagiousness of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bacterial pneumonias<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. After starting antibiotics, an individual is still contagious for another 24 to 48 hours. Once the fever associated with the illness is gone, the pneumonia is less likely to be contagious. Coughing can continue for several weeks due to lingering inflammation, even after effective treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHome remedies such as the use of honey to relieve coughing and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/zinc\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">zinc<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to boost the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">immune system<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, especially during a case of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">viral pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,\u201d can be helpful tools, according to <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/corvushealth.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kate Tulenko<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, MD, the founder and CEO of Corvus Health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting medical treatment can reduce the duration of illness and the risk of spreading it to other people. If your fever returns or if lingering symptoms fail to go away, ask a healthcare provider for advice.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"prevention\">How to prevent pneumonia, and the spread of it<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some pneumonias are preventable. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/prevnar-13-vs-pneumovax-23\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vaccinations<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are available to prevent pneumonia caused by some viruses and bacteria. Also, living a healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced diet and regularly exercising can minimize the risk of contracting pneumonia. Routine exercise can increase lung health and resistance to infections.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A healthy lifestyle also includes refraining from smoking and drinking too much alcohol to help keep the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">immune system<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> healthy. Getting plenty of rest and drinking water is yet another way to help prevent illnesses like pneumonia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practicing thorough <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-to-wash-your-hands\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hand washing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can also reduce your exposure to germs that can <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cause pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, especially during cold and flu season. If you cough or <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sneeze<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, do your best to do so into a disposable tissue or the elbow of your sleeve, followed by washing your hands. Be sure to disinfect frequently used surfaces, such as telephones, countertops and doorknobs, to prevent the spread of germs that can <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cause pneumonia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lastly, if people in your community are sick, do your best to practice <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/social-distance-coronavirus-isolation-precautions\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">social distancing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when possible. Reducing your exposure to bacteria and viruses while living a healthy and active lifestyle can play an essential role in maintaining wellness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is pneumonia contagious? | Symptoms | How does pneumonia spread? | Types of pneumonia | COVID-19 and pneumonia | Who is at risk of pneumonia? | How long is pneumonia contagious? | prevention Pneumonia is an infection that affects the lungs. Breathing becomes difficult for an infected person with pneumonia because air sacs in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":11344,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8029],"tags":[10965,11169],"coauthors":[8861],"class_list":["post-11342","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-education","tag-asthma","tag-cold-flu","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Is Pneumonia Contagious? Risks, treatment, and prevention<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Some forms of pneumonia are contagious. 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