• Have a healthy lifestyle (sleep, diet, physical exercise, etc.), especially during the winter. See our sheet Strengthening your immune system for more information.
• Not smoking helps prevent pneumonia. Smoke makes the airways more vulnerable to infections. Children are particularly sensitive to it.
• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or with an alcohol-based solution. The hands are constantly in contact with germs which can cause all kinds of infections, including pneumonia. These enter the body when you rub your eyes or nose and when you put your hands to your mouth.
• When taking antibiotics to treat an infection, it is important to follow the treatment from start to finish.
• Observe hygiene measures posted in clinics and hospitals such as washing hands or wearing a mask, if necessary.

• Vaccine against influenza. The influenza virus can cause pneumonia either directly or indirectly. Thus, the flu shot reduces the risk of pneumonia. It must be renewed every year.
• Specific vaccines. The vaccine pneumococcal protects with varying effectiveness against pneumonia in Streptococcus pneumoniae, most common in adults (it fights 23 pneumococcal serotypes). This vaccine (Pneumovax®, Pneumo® and Pnu-Immune®) is especially indicated for adults with diabetes or COPD, people with weakened immune systems and those 65 years of age and older. Its efficacy has been convincingly demonstrated in elderly people residing in long-term care facilities.

   

  The vaccine Prevenar® offers good protection against meningitis in young children, and mild protection against ear infections and pneumonia caused by pneumococcus. The Canadian National Advisory Committee on Immunization advocates its routine administration to all children 23 months of age or younger to prevent meningitis. Older children (24 months to 59 months) can also be vaccinated if they are at high risk of infection. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends this vaccination.

   

  In Canada, routine immunization againstHaemophilus influenza type B (Hib) to all infants from the age of 2 months. Three conjugate vaccines are licensed in Canada: HbOC, PRP-T and PRP-OMP. The number of doses varies depending on the age at the first dose.

First of all, it is important to observe a period of rest.

During illness, avoid exposure to smoke, cold air and air pollutants as much as possible.

If the symptoms of pneumonia persist with the same intensity 3 days after the start of treatment with antibiotics, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.