Chronic Pneumonia in Children
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lung and is most commonly caused by an infection. It is possible to have pneumonia without any symptoms, especially in its beginning stages, or with walking pneumonia. Sometimes a child may continue on with her usual activities, so it is possible that her parents may be unaware that she has pneumonia.
Other People Are Reading
-
Signs and Symptoms
-
The age of the child and the cause for the pneumonia both contribute to what signs are exhibited when the child is sick. Common signs of pneumonia often include fever, coughing and green or grey sputum. Additional signs to consider are unusual rapid breathing, wheezing, chest pain, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and vomiting. The location of the pneumonia in the lung shows different signs, as well. If the pneumonia is in the lower part of the lungs, the child may not have any breathing difficulty but instead, have a fever, abdominal pain and vomiting. If there is a question of pneumonia, the doctor will most likely ask for a chest X-ray, after a full examination, to determine the diagnosis.
Cause
-
Viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites all can lead to pneumonia. If a child has had pneumonia often and more chronically, there is usually something else that is causing it. It could be due to a weakened immune system or breathing in a foreign object into the windpipe. It may not be pneumonia at all and instead be asthma or a chronic lung condition. The only way to really know the cause of chronic pneumonia is to consult with your family doctor, pediatrician or a pulmonologist.
-
Viral vs. Bacterial
-
When pneumonia is caused by a bacterial infection, the child usually becomes sick comparatively quickly, exhibiting a sudden onset of high fever and unusually rapid breathing. When pneumonia is caused by a virus, symptoms in the child will most likely appear more gradually and are often less severe than in bacterial pneumonia. Viral pneumonia may last longer than bacterial pneumonia. Bacterial pneumonia can be cured within one to two weeks with the help of antibiotics. Only time, rest and drinking a lot of liquids will help one heal from viral pneumonia.
Contagious
-
Viral and bacterial pneumonia are not contagious but the bacterial or viral infections that cause the pneumonia are. The fluid of the infected person's mouth or nose can be spread easily.The illness can be transmitted when a person coughs or sneezes or when a person drinks from a cup or touches used tissues of an infected person.
Prevention
-
Staying indoors during the cold, winter months creates a breeding ground to catch viruses and bacterial infections. Teach your children to cover their mouths and noses when they cough or sneeze. Also, make sure they do not share drinking or eating utensils. As always, wash your hands often with soap and water, especially if you are handling an infected person's dirty tissues.
It may be recommended that children who are at special risk for pneumonia or have a chronic illness get additional vaccines or medication.
-
