Toddler Pneumonia Symptoms
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, and for toddlers, it comes in two types: bacterial and viral. Pneumonia often occurs in the winter and spring months and can develop after a toddler has had a cold or an upper respiratory infection. A mild form of pneumonia is referred to as walking pneumonia.
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General Symptoms
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General symptoms of pneumonia in toddlers include a moderate to severe cough, a medium to high fever and labored, rapid breathing.
Bacterial Pneumonia Symptoms
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The symptoms of bacterial pneumonia often rapidly appear and can include the general symptoms plus chest wall pain, a rapid heart beat, fatigue, weakness, restlessness, irritability, nausea and vomiting and diarrhea.
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Viral Pneumonia Symptoms
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Viral pneumonia is the most common cause of pneumonia in toddlers. Shortness of breath, little mucus when coughing and the general symptoms of a cough, fever and labored, rapid breathing often occur with viral pneumonia. These symptoms come on slowly and often go from mild to severe.
Diagnosis
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Doctors will look at a toddler's symptoms, examine the toddler and often take a chest X-ray and do blood work to determine if he has pneumonia and what type he has.
Treatment
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If a toddler has bacterial pneumonia, she will be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics are not used to treat viral pneumonia because they have no effect on the virus that is causing the pneumonia. Cough and cold medicines are not recommended for children under 4.
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