The ankh is the Egyptian symbol of life, also reffered to as the Key of Life. Somehow it has also become a goth/vampire symbol. Because of this, most people aren't aware that it was once a part of Egyptian culture, and wear an ankh, proudly proclaiming their obsession with the dark. This makes it difficult for the rest of us enlightened ankh wearers.
If the pneumonia is severe enough for hospitalization, the standard treatment is intravenous antibiotics for 5 - 8 days. In cases of uncomplicated pneumonia, many patients may need only 2 or 3 days of intravenous antibiotics followed by oral therapy.
Determining the Need for Hospitalization. Up to 10% of all adult hospitalizations in the U.S. are due to community-acquired pneumonia. Studies indicate that many patients do not need to be hospitalized for pneumonia, and can be safely treated at home. Likewise, many patients who are admitted to the hospital could be released sooner. A number of strategies are being devised to determine when and which patients can be safely discharged.