Pneumonia is a lung infection that can make you very sick. You may cough, run a fever and have a hard time breathing. For most people, pneumonia can be treated at home. It often clears up in 2-3 weeks. But older adults, babies, and people with other diseases can become very ill. They may need to be in the hospital.
You can get pneumonia in your daily life, such as at school or work. This is called community-based pneumonia. You can also get it when you are in a hospital or nursing home. This is called hospital-based pneumonia. It may be more severe because you are already ill.
Pneumonia usually starts when you breathe the germs into your lungs. You may be more likely to get the disease after having a cold or the flu. When you have mild symptoms, your doctor may call it “walking pneumonia”.