Pneumonia Treatment in Sharjah

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection of the lung tissue itself, deeper than the airways. The tiny air sacs where oxygen passes into the blood fill with fluid, pus and inflammatory cells, and that patch of lung becomes solid. Doctors call this consolidation, and it is what shows up as a white area on a chest X-ray. Because the affected part of the lung takes in less air, pneumonia often lowers the oxygen level in the blood, which explains the breathlessness and exhaustion that set it apart from an ordinary cough and cold.

Bacteria are a common cause, and viruses such as influenza can cause pneumonia directly or open the way for a bacterial infection on top. Treatment at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah is led by the hospital's pulmonologist, working with radiology and, for the most unwell, the intensive care team.

Who needs it

Pneumonia treatment is for anyone whose chest infection has spread into the lung tissue. Typical signs are fever or shivering, a cough that brings up discoloured phlegm, breathlessness, a sharp pain on one side of the chest when breathing in, and a fast heartbeat. In older adults the picture can be quieter, with new confusion, falls or loss of appetite as the first clue.

Some people are more likely to develop pneumonia or to become seriously unwell with it:

• Adults over 65 and very young children
• People living with diabetes, kidney disease, heart failure, asthma or COPD
• People with a weakened immune system
• Current and former smokers, including shisha, dokha (midwakh) and vaping
• Construction and industrial workers regularly exposed to dust and fumes

For the milder airway infections that clear with supportive care, see chest infection treatment.

What happens

The pulmonologist listens to your chest, checks temperature, pulse, blood pressure and breathing rate, and measures your oxygen level with a small fingertip clip. A chest X-ray confirms pneumonia and shows which part of the lung is involved and whether fluid has collected around it. Blood tests show how strongly the body is reacting and how the kidneys are coping, and a phlegm sample can help identify the organism. A CT scan is used for selected cases where the X-ray leaves questions open; the chest imaging page explains how the two compare.

The pulmonologist then judges severity from your breathing, oxygen level, blood pressure, alertness, age and other conditions, and explains the decision with you:

• Treatment at home suits many people with milder pneumonia: antibiotic tablets matched to the likely cause, rest, fluids, fever relief and a planned review.
• Treatment in hospital suits people with low oxygen, fast breathing, dehydration or other conditions that raise the risk. Antibiotics may be given through a drip, with oxygen through nasal tubes or a mask and close monitoring.
• Intensive care is for severe pneumonia, when the lungs need extra breathing support; the hospital's ICU approach is described under respiratory failure management.

Preparing for it

Bring a list of your regular medicines, any antibiotics taken in the past few weeks, and any recent chest X-rays or scans, since comparison with an older image is often useful. Mention recent travel, a recent hospital stay, and your work, especially if it involves dust, fumes, birds or air-conditioning maintenance. A family member who has seen how the illness developed is a welcome addition, particularly for an older patient.

Afterwards

Most people start to feel better within a few days of starting the right antibiotic, while tiredness and a lingering cough often take longer to settle. Finish the whole antibiotic course as prescribed, drink plenty of fluids in the UAE heat, and rest before returning to work. Sitting up and taking regular deep breaths helps the affected lung reopen.

A follow-up review checks that the infection has settled. For some people, particularly older adults and smokers, a repeat chest X-ray is arranged once the lung has had time to heal, to make sure the shadow has cleared completely. This is also a good moment to plan pneumococcal and flu vaccination, which help protect against future pneumonia, and to get support to stop smoking.

Contact the hospital if your fever returns, your cough or breathlessness worsens after first improving, or you are unable to keep your antibiotic down. Call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department if you are breathless at rest, your lips turn blue or grey, you have chest pain, you cough up blood, or you become confused or drowsy.

Cost and insurance

Most UAE insurance plans cover a pulmonology consultation, chest X-ray, blood tests and antibiotics for pneumonia. A CT scan, hospital admission and intensive care usually need pre-approval from your insurer. The team at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.