Pneumonia is the name of the pathology that generates a respiratory condition. There is an infection in the lung, so it is also named pneumonia. This can be a significant disorder if a young child suffers from it. You must visit a specialist if you feel that your child has difficulty breathing normally since this is the most characteristic symptom of the disease.
Pneumonia usually starts after an infection in the upper respiratory tract, the throat, or the nose. The symptoms are present after 2 or 3 days of a cold or sore throat. However, it can also be due to various viruses, bacteria, and parasites.
If you want to know more about this respiratory disorder, at FastlyHealwe wish to offer you all the information about pneumonia in children: symptoms, causes, and treatment.
Main symptoms of pneumonia
The symptoms of pneumonia in children can vary depending on the age of each one and the cause of the disorder. Among the most common signs are:
- Fever
- Top
- Shaking chills
- Nasal congestion
- Vomiting
- Abdominal or chest pain
- Fast breathing
- Wheezing
- Snorting and trouble breathing normally
Among the symptoms of pneumonia in older children, we find a lack of appetite and, in extreme cases, a bluish or grayish coloration in the hands and lips.
If your child is young and has one or more of these symptoms, you must have him checked out by a professional. In this way, they will be able to identify the cause of the disorder and give you the appropriate treatment for the child.
Some causes of pneumonia
Different agents can cause pneumonia. Here we explain the leading causes of pneumonia:
- One of the causes of pneumonia in children is a bacterial infection, mainly Streptococcus pneumonia. In these cases, younger children get sick quickly, a high fever appears suddenly, and breathing is rapid; however, when the disorder is in the lower part of the lungs, it can cause abdominal pain, fever, and breathing is more typical.
- In most cases of pneumonia, they are due to a virus, frequently the flu virus, which makes the symptoms appear in children more gradually. Symptoms are generally milder, although wheezing is more typical in viral pneumonia.
- Pneumonia caused by mycoplasma is more common in older children and adolescents. It causes headaches, sore throat, rash, and other typical symptoms of pneumonia. Pneumonia caused by chlamydia in babies causes conjunctivitis; irritated eyes and a high body temperature do not usually appear.
- On the other hand, there are exceptional cases in which pneumonia is caused by a fungus or parasite, affecting mainly children with meager defenses, for example, HIV-positive infants.
For these pathogens to cause pneumonia, they must be very aggressive, and your immune system must be weak. Do you wonder why he gets sick so often? It can be a symptom of low defenses.
Although one of the entry mechanisms is through the air you breathe, the main invasion route is carried out by microorganisms that generally remain colonizing the throat or nose, which have an easier time reaching the lungs when your defenses are low.
Treatment to fight pneumonia
If it’s pneumonia caused by bacteria, your pediatrician will likely give your child a course of antibiotics. On the other hand, if a virus causes the pathology, it will only give you other guidelines to improve the patient’s symptoms.
It is recommended that you keep the little one well hydrated and do nebulization if the specialist recommends it since it clears the respiratory system and makes the child breathe more normally.
On the other hand, it is not advisable to use antitussives because they can affect the defense reflex of the body itself and worsen the general picture. This is because secretions are not eliminated by not coughing, and everything is retained in the body, which can significantly worsen health. You should never self-medicate your child; you must leave the treatment in the hands of a registered person.
How to avoid pneumonia?
It is essential to mention that pneumonia as such is not contagious; what if it can happen is that the microorganism is transmitted, especially in viral cases, but unless your health is vulnerable, the most common thing is that it causes a typical infection with rapid treatment without evolving to pneumonia. However, it is worth taking preventive measures.
The first thing you should do is make sure that your child is up to date with the updated vaccination program since all the vaccines that minors need can significantly help them not get pneumonia and other conditions.
Maintaining good hygiene is essential if you want your baby not to get sick. It would help if you washed your hands and the children adequately to avoid germs. Try not to share cups or utensils with others and regularly clean the places that the little one frequents.
If there are smokers in the house, it is necessary to eliminate that vice and that the home is smoke-free. This is because many specialists consider that if a child lives in contact with this substance, they are more likely to get sick and have pneumonia.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Pneumonia in children: symptoms, causes and treatment, we recommend entering our Lung and respiratory tract category.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.