Pneumonia Treatment & ICU in Mohali | Dr. Rahul Katyal

Name: Pneumonia Treatment in Mohali — When to Be Admitted and What to Expect
Creator: Dr. Rahul Katyal

Understanding Pneumonia

What Is Pneumonia — and What Are the Types?

Pneumonia is an infection of the lung tissue in which the tiny air sacs (alveoli) fill with fluid or pus, causing cough, fever, chest pain and breathlessness. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses or, less commonly, fungi. Most people recover fully, but pneumonia can be serious — especially in older adults, people with diabetes, heart or lung disease, or a weakened immune system.

Community-Acquired (CAP)

The most common type, caught in day-to-day life outside hospital. Often bacterial (e.g. pneumococcus) and usually responds well to timely antibiotics.

Hospital-Acquired (HAP)

Develops 48 hours or more after hospital admission, including ventilator-associated pneumonia. Often involves more resistant organisms and needs broader antibiotics.

Aspiration Pneumonia

Occurs when food, saliva or stomach contents are inhaled into the lungs — a risk after stroke, in swallowing disorders and reduced consciousness.

Viral & Post-COVID

Influenza, COVID-19 and other viruses can cause pneumonia. Some patients develop lingering post-COVID lung inflammation needing specialist follow-up.

Home or Hospital?

When Home Treatment Is Enough — and When You Need Admission

Many mild pneumonias recover safely at home. The key is recognising the warning signs that mean you need hospital assessment.

✅ Home Treatment May Be Enough

Otherwise healthy, younger adult
Normal oxygen levels and comfortable breathing
Able to eat, drink and take oral antibiotics
No confusion; stable blood pressure and pulse
CURB-65 score of 0–1

🚨 Hospital Admission Needed

Breathlessness at rest or SpO2 below 92%
Confusion, drowsiness or new disorientation
Very fast breathing or low blood pressure
Unable to keep fluids or medicines down
Older age, diabetes, heart or lung disease; CURB-65 ≥ 2

Severity Assessment

CURB-65 and PSI — Explained Simply

Doctors use simple scores to judge how serious a pneumonia is and where it should be treated.

CURB-65

CURB-65 gives one point each for these five features:

Letter	Meaning
C	Confusion (new)
U	Urea raised in blood tests
R	Respiratory rate ≥ 30/minute
B	Blood pressure low (systolic <90 or diastolic ≤60)
65	Age 65 or over

Interpreting the score: 0–1 suggests mild pneumonia, often manageable at home; 2 suggests hospital assessment; 3 or more suggests severe pneumonia that may need ICU care. The score guides decisions but is always combined with clinical judgement.

PSI (Pneumonia Severity Index)

The PSI is a more detailed score that combines age, other illnesses, examination findings and test results to place patients in risk classes I–V. Higher classes indicate a higher risk and a stronger case for admission or intensive monitoring. Dr. Katyal uses these tools together with a full assessment to decide the safest place for your care.

Critical Care

ICU Management of Severe Pneumonia

Severe pneumonia can cause respiratory failure, sepsis or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), all of which need intensive care. In the ICU, treatment focuses on supporting oxygen and breathing while antibiotics take effect:

🌬️ Oxygen & Ventilation

Controlled oxygen, high-flow oxygen, non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP/CPAP) and, when needed, invasive mechanical ventilation.

💉 Targeted Antibiotics

Prompt, appropriate antibiotics guided by cultures and local resistance patterns, adjusted as results return.

🩺 Sepsis & Organ Support

Fluids, blood-pressure support and close monitoring of the kidneys and other organs when pneumonia triggers sepsis.

⚡ Rapid In-House Lab

An on-site laboratory returns arterial blood gases, cultures and blood counts quickly — critical when decisions cannot wait for external labs.

Gini's ICU is led by Dr. Rahul Katyal, Director of Critical Care, with round-the-clock intensivist cover and direct connection to the emergency department for fast admission. [CONFIRM: ICU bed count]

Learn about our ICU & Critical Care →

Your Specialist

Meet Dr. Rahul Katyal

Dr. Rahul Katyal

MBBS, MD Pulmonary Medicine & Non-Invasive Cardiology

Director of Critical Care · Gini Advanced Care Hospital, Mohali

Dr. Katyal manages pneumonia across the full range of severity — from advising on safe home treatment for mild cases to leading intensive care for patients with respiratory failure and sepsis. His dual training in pulmonary medicine and non-invasive cardiology is especially valuable in older and diabetic patients, where the line between a lung and a heart cause of breathlessness must be judged carefully.

View Full Profile →

FAQ

Pneumonia — Frequently Asked Questions

Can pneumonia be treated at home?+

Many cases of mild community-acquired pneumonia in otherwise healthy people can be treated at home with oral antibiotics, rest, fluids and fever control. Home treatment is safe when oxygen levels are normal, breathing is comfortable, the person can eat and drink, and there are no high-risk features. Older adults, and those with diabetes, heart or lung disease, or low oxygen usually need hospital assessment.

When does pneumonia need hospital admission?+

Admission is advised when there is breathlessness at rest, an SpO2 below 92%, confusion, very high or very low blood pressure, a high breathing rate, an inability to keep fluids down, or a CURB-65 score of 2 or more. Severe pneumonia with respiratory failure or sepsis needs ICU care with oxygen or ventilation support. Call +91 82888 43800 for urgent breathlessness.

What is the CURB-65 score?+

CURB-65 is a simple severity score for pneumonia. One point each is given for Confusion, raised Urea, Respiratory rate 30 or more per minute, low Blood pressure, and age 65 or over. A score of 0–1 suggests mild disease that may be managed at home, 2 suggests hospital assessment, and 3 or more suggests severe pneumonia that may need ICU care.

How long does pneumonia take to recover?+

Fever usually settles within a few days of the correct antibiotic, but full recovery of energy and cough can take several weeks. Older adults and those with lung disease recover more slowly. A follow-up review and, in some cases, a repeat chest X-ray are advised to confirm resolution and to rule out an underlying problem.

What is post-COVID pneumonia?+

Some patients develop lingering lung inflammation or infection after COVID-19, causing persistent cough, breathlessness and low oxygen. Dr. Katyal assesses these patients with a chest CT, oxygen monitoring and lung function testing, and manages both the acute infection and any longer-term lung damage.

This patient-education page is part of Gini Health's commitment to clear, evidence-based information for the Mohali and Chandigarh Tri-City community.

Contributing — Gurjot Narwal, Founder