Pneumonia - Prognosis

The prognosis for pneumonia varies widely depending on the type of infection. The recovery rate is nearly 100 percent, for example, in cases of "walking pneumonia." By contrast, people with pneumonia caused by Staphylococcus pneumoniae stand only a 60 percent to 70 percent chance of survival. For the most common form of pneumonia, caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, the survival rate is about 95 percent.

People who are very young or very old are likely to experience complications from pneumonia. Their immune systems may not be completely healthy. Their bodies may find it difficult to fight off infections related to those that cause pneumonia.

Pneumonia can also lead to other complications that are more serious than the original infection. People with chronic illnesses, such as cirrhosis of the liver or congestive heart failure, or who have weakened immune systems are especially at risk for such complications.