All about Pneumonia in Children

Pneumonia is a fairly common respiratory infection in children that causes inflammation of the tissues at the level of the lungs, generating symptoms similar to those of the flu, which at the beginning are usually mild and as the days go by they can get worse. Childhood pneumonia can be a serious and life-threatening disease, so the faster it is diagnosed, the lower the risk of complications.

Generally, pneumonia is caused by bacteria, however, it can also occur due to viruses or fungi, and usually affects children less than 1 year old, which is why children should be dressed to prevent their appearance Appropriate form according to the season of the year, avoid sudden changes in temperature and air currents.

Signs and Symptoms 

The main signs and symptoms of pneumonia in children are:

• Preceded by a common cold or flu;
• Fever above 38º for more than 3 days;
• Increased respiratory rate;
• Cough with yellowish phlegm;
• Lack of appetite;
• Complained in the chest when breathing;
• Faster and shorter breathing, with the opening of the nostrils;
• The effort to breathe causing sinking of the ribs;
• Tiredness and weakness that can be noticed by the lack of desire to play.

Babies and children with these symptoms should be evaluated by a pediatrician as quickly as possible, to prevent the disease from progressing and becoming complicated and may cause respiratory arrest, so ideally, the treatment should be initiated within the first 48 hours.

In the case of the baby, when he manifests a fever above 39º, he refuses to eat, vomits or has diarrhea, he must be taken to the hospital, since he may need to remain hospitalized. A serious type of pneumonia is SARS, learn more about its symptoms and how it is treated. 

In the case of the baby when he has a fever above 39º, refuses to eat, has vomiting and diarrhea, he must go to the hospital immediately, since he may need to be hospitalized.

Diagnosis

The pediatrician can reach the diagnosis of pneumonia by observing the symptoms and by requesting a chest x-ray, in order to evaluate the presence of secretions and regions of the lung that are not receiving air.

The increase in the respiratory rate in infants and children generally indicates the presence of pneumonia, being sufficient for the doctor to reach a diagnosis when:

• Babies up to 2 months of age: 60 or more inspirations per minute;
• Babies from 2 months to 1 year: 50 or more inspirations per minute;
• Children from 1 to 5 years: 40 or more inspirations per minute.

It is important to check the respiratory rate of the baby when it is calm as it happens during sleep, for example.

Children Under 1 year have a Higher Risk of Pneumonia

Children under 1 year are at greater risk of developing pneumonia mainly when: they are born with less than 2 kg; in cases where they have malnutrition; when they are not breastfed; babies exposed to cigarette smoke; and when there is a lot of smoke due to burning wood or manure. In addition to this, babies and children who do not get the measles and whooping cough vaccine are also more likely to get pneumonia.

Types of pneumonia in children

The types of pneumonia are classified according to the cause. The type of microorganism involved, the place where the child was infected, and how the infection occurred is taken into consideration. The types of pneumonia are:

• Bacterial pneumonia: it is an infection caused by bacteria and the treatment is carried out with antibiotics. Learn more about the transmission and treatment of bacterial pneumonia.
• Viral pneumonia: it is caused by viruses and treatment is longer because there are no antiviral remedies for all existing viruses;
• Pneumonia  aspiration: it arises after aspirating a liquid as its own vomit, can be caused by a virus, bacteria;
• Atypical pneumonia: it is caused by microorganisms different from those of common pneumonia such as Mycoplasma pneumonia;
• Community or out-of-hospital pneumonia: a serious lung infection that is taken outside the hospital or in the first 48 hours of hospitalization;
• Hospital or nosocomial pneumonia: when pneumonia develops while the individual is hospitalized or up to 2 weeks after discharge.

Pneumonia is a contagious disease but it is not common for children to transmit it to other individuals. The most common type of pneumonia in children is viral, which occurs as a result of badly cured flu.

How to Treat Pneumonia in Children 

The treatment for childhood pneumonia lasts about 2 weeks, and normally the child does not need hospitalization and can be treated at home with oral antibiotics such as Amoxicillin, Clarithromycin, Erythromycin or Azithromycin, in the case of bacterial pneumonia. In the case of viral pneumonia, it will depend on the type of virus since there are no antiretrovirals for everyone, for example in the case of influenza A, amantadine or rimantadine can be used.

These medications are prescribed by the pediatrician and the dose varies according to the child's weight. In addition to medications, some care must be maintained at home to speed up the recovery process such as:

• Perform nebulizations with physiological serum, according to the doctor's instructions;
• Maintain a good diet, which should include the intake of fruits mainly those rich in vitamin C such as oranges and strawberries;
• Maintain good hydration, offering milk and water in sufficient quantity;
• Maintain rest and avoid public spaces such as nursery or school;
• Dress the child according to the season of the year;
• Avoid drafts during and after bathing.

The hospitalization is reserved for the most serious cases in which it is necessary to do physiotherapy for childhood pneumonia, receive oxygen, or make an intravenous antibiotic.

Symptom improvement usually occurs around the 2nd day of treatment, but the pediatrician should perform a chest x-ray and a physical exam to confirm the cure of the disease.