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Pneumonia Recovery Time
When a person is diagnosed with pneumonia, the time it takes to recover will depend on several factors, including the cause of the infection, how serious the symptoms are, and what other medical conditions a person has.
For example, viral pneumonia is not treated with antibiotics (although an antiviral medication may be prescribed), and it usually improves in one to three weeks. For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics are used. A person with pneumonia usually starts to recover three to five days after the medicines are started.
People with pneumonia can usually return to normal activities within a week. Tiredness and a mild cough can take longer to get better -- in some cases, taking upwards of a month or longer. People who are treated in the hospital may need at least three weeks before they can go back to their normal routines.
(Click Pneumonia Treatment to learn more about the time it takes to recover from pneumonia. This article also features an in-depth discussion on all the types of treatment available for this condition.)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD