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Neonatal Pneumonia Signs & Symptoms

Newborn babies are highly susceptible to infection, as the responsibility for respiration and other functions of the organs is passed to the infant. Conditions that may lead to infection can even arise while the baby is still in the womb prior to birth. Pneumonia is a common result of neonatal infection and is responsible for many infant deaths within the first month, especially in cases of low birth weight or maternal malnutrition.

  1. Symptoms

    • Respiratory difficulties that arise soon after birth may be due to a variety of causes. It is therefore not always easy to ascertain whether pneumonia has developed in the newborn. However, according to Roger G. Faix, M.D., there are recognizable symptoms consistent with neonatal pneumonia that may be indicative of respiratory infection, which may in turn develop into pneumonia. These symptoms can include: elevated respiratory rate; grunting when exhaling; increase of mucous and other fluid substances in the airways; and unstable body temperature.

    Difficulties in Diagnosing

    • According to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, there are many causes of respiratory infections in newborn infants. The presence of sepsis (infection) in the mother can be passed on to the unborn infant, where symptoms may begin developing before exposure to external septic sources. In cases of suspected lung problems unrelated to pneumonia, newborns are often placed in ICU with an endotracheal tube.

    Causes

    • Tracing the source of infection that leads to pneumonia in newborns is very difficult. Infection within the first 48 hours of birth (early onset) is complicated by the variety of possible avenues of entry. Unless a baby requires incubation due to suspected disease or illness, she is generally not isolated. Therefore, infection can come from airborne bacteria or bacteria commonly found on the skin (staphylococcus epidermis). Late onset infections are also difficult to trace, often for the same reasons.

    Treatment

    • Antibiotics are generally prescribed for neonatal pneumonia. Ampicillin and gentamicin are commonly used until more specific infectious bacteria can be identified. When response to antibiotics is not favorable, macrolides such as erythromycin may be prescribed. Suspected congenital (inherited) pneumonia will often require mechanical ventilation. Any antimicrobial therapy for neonatal pneumonia will generally last between five days and three weeks.

    Prevention

    • According to the American Academy of Family Physicians group, B streptococcal infection is the most common cause of newborn death from infection. Identifying the presence of this organism in the mother and beginning prenatal treatment procedures may help to prevent the development of infection in the baby. Anogenital cultures from the mother can often detect signs of streptococcal infection within 35 to 37 weeks of gestation. Premature labor and signs of bacterial infection in previous births can also be indications that would require testing of the mother.

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