Course of a delayed pneumonia

The course of a delayed pneumonia is significantly longer and more severe than that of an acute disease. A simple pneumonia heals completely after three weeks at the latest. If, on the other hand, the disease is carried forward, the affected persons suffer from the symptoms for a very long time, which do not improve over time but tend to get worse and worse.

Causes for a delayed pneumonia

A delayed pneumonia lasts considerably longer than a normal pneumonia, which is usually cured after a few weeks. In the case of a delayed infection, those affected suffer from the symptoms for more than three weeks, which hardly improve at all without appropriate treatment. The prognosis depends on the stage of the infection at which drug therapy is administered. In order to avoid serious consequences, those affected should consult a doctor as soon as possible if symptoms persist or become more severe.

Consequences of a delayed pneumonia

If treatment is not carried out or is inadequate, the bacteria can multiply unhindered in the body and spread from the lungs to other organs. This can lead to serious complications. In the worst case, a delayed pneumonia can even be fatal.

Possible consequences of a delayed pneumonia are lung abscesses, pleurisy or fluid accumulation in the lungs (pleural effusion). Those affected feel exhausted and have difficulty breathing. From the lungs, the inflammation can spread to the heart, where it can cause a dangerous inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis).

If the bacteria get into the bloodstream, they can quickly spread throughout the body. This often leads to blood poisoning (sepsis). Sepsis is a serious disease that must be treated quickly, otherwise it can lead to multiple organ failure and death. In order to avoid such complications, a doctor should be consulted if the symptoms persist and effective treatment should be started promptly.

How contagious is this?

When pneumonia is spread, living bacteria are still present in the body, which multiply and spread throughout the body. For this reason, pneumonia is just as contagious as acute pneumonia. Via a droplet infection, the pathogens are transmitted to other people and infect their throat and pharynx. However, not every person who comes into contact with the germs actually falls ill with pneumonia. Especially children, elderly people and people with a weakened immune system or accompanying diseases are particularly at risk and have an increased risk of infection.