Chronic Pneumonia at 20x Magnification
Treatment for pneumonia varies depending upon the cause, with antibiotics being the primary therapy utilized for bacterial and mycoplasma forms. Bed rest and the ingestion of lots of fluids are usually recommended for other varieties of the illness, though over-the-counter medications may also be used to provide symptomatic relief. With adequate treatment, most healthy individuals recover fully from pneumonia. However, more than 60,000 Americans die of the disease each year.