Eddie Howe well being defined as he battles pneumonia an infection with a 14% loss of life charge

Eddie Howe is set to miss a number of games following a shock pneumonia diagnosis, Newcastle United has confirmed. It’s a condition that has laid low a fit and healthy former footballer and in some cases it can be deadly.

The 47-year-old sensationally took the Magpies to this season’s Carabao Cup and is understood to be recovering in hospital after feeling unwell “for a number of days”.

The condition is fairly common, but its severity can range dramatically. In the UK, around 25,000 people a year die from the pneumonia and the number of people who pass away from it annually in Britain is higher than anywhere else in Europe.

Newcastle said that Eddie is ‘recovering,’ in hospital but offered little into the details of his condition.

The club said: “Newcastle United can announce that Eddie Howe is recovering in hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia. The club continues to extend its best wishes and support to Eddie and his family as he continues his recovery. Get well soon, gaffer.”

Dr Gareth Nye, a biomedical science lecturer at the university of Salford, said that, “Pneumonia is usually caused by infection with viruses or bacteria and impacts the lungs primarily and annually results in about four million deaths [worldwide].

“It can be caused by common bacterial or viral infections like flu but in these cases your body causes damage to the underlying lung tissue while trying to remove the infection.”

Ending up in hospital is not unusual, with just under half of people who get it are admitted.

Dr Nye continued: “In the UK it is diagnosed in up to 12% of adults via the GP and up to 42% of these are admitted to hospital, where the death rate is between 5% and 14%.

“Pneumonia deaths in the UK have declined due to antibiotic availability and vaccines but is still serious in the very old, the very young, and the chronically ill. Risk factors for pneumonia in the general population include diabetes, heart failure or a history of smoking.”

He also outlined some of the key symptoms to look out for.

He explained: “These include a prolonged cough which may be bringing up yellow or green phlegm, finding it hard to breath or exercise, chest pain or a high temperature. You may also have ‘flu like’ symptoms such as feeling tired and aching. You should always seek medical assistance if you’ve had a cough for over three weeks or you begin coughing up blood.

“Treatment for bacterial pneumonia is antibiotics but If the pneumonia is severe, the affected person is generally hospitalised and given oxygen therapy to support the body. Patients will normally fully recover after two-four weeks of treatment.”

In a statement released on the club’s website, Howe said: “A huge thank you to everyone connected with Newcastle United and the wider football community for your messages and warm wishes. They have meant a lot to me and my family.

“I also want to pay tribute to our incredible NHS and the hospital staff who have treated me. I’m immensely grateful for the specialist care I’m receiving and, after a period of recovery, I look forward to being back as soon as possible.”

Newcastle plays Crystal Palace on Wednesday.