how do you catch pneumonia

Pneumonia is usually caught from the germs that cause it , not from cold weather or being outside in the rain. It can spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and sometimes by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

How it spreads

• Bacteria and viruses are the most common causes of contagious pneumonia.

• You can inhale tiny droplets from someone nearby who is sick, especially in close-contact or poorly ventilated spaces.

• Some infections spread when you touch saliva or mucus on shared surfaces and then touch your face.

• Fungal pneumonia is different; it usually comes from breathing in fungi from soil or animal droppings rather than from another person.

• Aspiration pneumonia can happen when food, drink, or vomit gets into the lungs; this is not the same as catching it from someone else.

What does not cause it

• Cold air, wet hair, or being chilled does not directly cause pneumonia. The real cause is infection from bacteria, viruses, or fungi.

Lowering your risk

• Wash your hands often.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Keep up with vaccines for flu, COVID-19, and pneumococcal disease when appropriate.

When to get help

If someone has a cough plus fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, or worsening fatigue, they should seek medical care promptly because pneumonia can become serious.

TL;DR

You usually catch pneumonia by being exposed to the infectious germs that cause it, mainly through droplets, close contact, or contaminated hands and surfaces—not from cold weather.