• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Moet Ik Naar De Dokter

Het hulpmiddel met antwoord op de vraag of u naar de dokter moet

  • en
    • nl
    • ar
    • de
    • pl
    • tr
    • ru
    • ua
  • Health complaints
  • About us
    • What is Do I need to see a doctor?
    • Scientific validation
    • The story behind Do I need to see the doctor?
  • Contact
  • en
    • nl
    • ar
    • de
    • pl
    • tr
    • ru
    • ua

Pneumonia

Return to overview

Pneumonia means your lung tissue and your alveoli are infected. The tissue may be infected in part of the lung, in all of the lung, or in both lungs. The infection is caused by a virus, bacteria or fungal infection. Examples of such a virus or bacteria are the influenza virus and the pneumococcal bacteria. Pneumonia caused by a fungal infection is the least common and usually occurs in people with a compromised immune system.

Your upper respiratory tract will usually become infected first, resulting in a cold or sore throat. Pneumonia can develop if the infection spreads to the lower respiratory tract up to the alveoli. The infection causes the mucous membrane to swell and produce more mucus. This ends up in the alveoli and will make you feel short of breath. Bacteria can get in if the mucus builds up in your lungs for an extended period of time. This will worsen the infection.

Anyone can get pneumonia. However, there are certain risk groups who are more prone to it, including:

  • Alcoholics.
  • Smokers.
  • Drug addicts.
  • The elderly.
  • People with diabetes (mellitus).
  • People with COPD.
  • People with a compromised immune system. For example, because they’re undergoing chemotherapy or have been diagnosed with HIV.
  • People who have had a stroke.
  • People who are bedridden.
  • People with asthma.
  • Young children.
Overzicht gezondheidsklachten

People with pneumonia will suffer from:

  • Fatigue.
  • A cough.
  • Altered or accelerated breathing.
  • Pain when inhaling and exhaling.
  • Chest pain.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • A drowsy and sluggish feeling.
  • A rise in your body temperature (a measured temperature above 38 degrees).

Pneumonia can make you feel very unwell and can be accompanied by side effects like headaches and a poor appetite.

Overzicht gezondheidsklachten

If pneumonia has been diagnosed, we recommend that you:

  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Exercise three times a week, but don’t overdo it.
  • Have plenty to drink.
  • Stop smoking and avoid smoke inhalation.
  • Take paracetamol for severe pain. Read the package leaflet before taking paracetamol. This will ensure you’re taking the correct dose.

Your symptoms will usually go away on their own. Your body temperature will drop after 2 to 3 days. The coughing symptoms can last for a few weeks. Pneumonia caused by bacteria is more serious and is usually treated with a course of antibiotics. This is not prescribed if the pneumonia is caused by a virus.

Overzicht gezondheidsklachten

Do you suspect you have pneumonia? Then we would recommend contacting your GP to prevent your symptoms from getting worse. You should contact your GP immediately if:

  • You are very short of breath.
  • You have a wheeze.
  • You’re having trouble breathing.
  • You’re coughing up blood.
  • You’re drowsy or confused.
  • You have a fever which doesn’t improve or comes back after you’ve had a few fever-free days.
  • You’re suffering from chills.
  • You’re losing weight.
  • You’re suffering from coughing complaints for a long time.

Have you already been to your GP, or have you already been prescribed a course of antibiotics? Then visit your GP again if:

  • Your symptoms have not improved after three days.
  • You’re becoming increasingly unwell, despite the course of antibiotics.
Overzicht gezondheidsklachten

Primary Sidebar

Determine within 1 minute whether you need to see a doctor

We immediately provide you with an advice

Start

Download our free app

Button naar Google Play Store Button naar App Store

Footer

Top 5 complaints

  • Coronavirus
  • Stomach ulcer
  • Flu
  • Hay fever
  • Sore throat

Contact

Prins Willem-Alexanderlaan 705
7311 ST Apeldoorn

Volg je ons al?

  • Cookie statement
  • Terms and conditions of use
  • Responsible disclosure

© Copyright 2023 - Moet Ik Naar De Dokter

Moet ik naar de dokter? maakt gebruik van cookies
Om gebruik te kunnen maken van 'Moet ik naar de dokter?' worden cookies gebruikt. Hierdoor kunnen wij onze dienstverlening verbeteren en u in de toekomst beter tot dienst zijn. Als u de cookies afwijst kan dat het gebruik van onze website negatief beïnvloeden.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Bekijk instellingen
{title} {title} {title}