Pneumonia in Young Children

Pneumonia is a common illness, and young children can be particularly hard-hit. While most cases are mild and resolved easily, occasionally a child may contract a serious case and require more medical attention than a dose of antibiotics. Accurate and speedy diagnosis can make all the difference. Knowing the symptoms of the various types of pneumonia and seeking appropriate medical treatment will most likely prevent a serious bout of pneumonia.

Identification

• Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by a virus, bacteria, fungi or parasites. The air sacs in the lungs--the alveoli--become irritated, inflamed and filled with fluid. The usual culprit in pneumonia is a virus, however. The incubation period depends on the type of pneumonia. For instance, pneumonia caused by RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) has a four- to six-day incubation period, whereas walking pneumonia has an 18-hour to 72-hour incubation period.

Symptoms

• The symptoms children with pneumonia display vary, but in general they include fever, cough, cough that produces mucus, rapid or labored breathing, noisy breathing or wheezing, chest pain, abdominal pain, lethargy, poor appetite, in-drawing of muscles around ribs upon inhalation, and in extreme cases, bluish lips and fingernails. In bacterial cases, the onset of the illness is rapid, and noted for fever and rapid breathing. With viral cases, the symptoms set in more gradually and wheezing is common.

Types

• Pneumonia caused by mycloplamsa is known as "walking pneumonia." This illness involves a sore throat and headache in addition to typical pneumonia symptoms. In infants, a case of pneumonia caused by chlamydia will include pink eye and mild illness with the possibility of a normal body temperature. With pertussis or whooping cough, long coughing spells, blue lips and fingernails and the characteristic whoop sound while coughing are notable.

Prevention/Solution

• Prevention includes vaccines for Haemophilus influenza, pertussis and pneumococcus organism (PCV). A flu vaccine is recommended especially for children with chronic illnesses or asthma, and also for healthy children ages 6 months to 19 years of age. Premature infants whose immune systems are frail should receive preventative care and treatment for RSV. While pneumonia itself is not generally contagious, the viruses that cause them are, and care should be taken around sick people to limit exposure. Don't share eating or drinking utensils, and wash hands frequently.

Treatment

• Diagnosis of pneumonia requires a physical exam, blood tests or a chest X-ray, and a culture of mucus produced by coughing. Most often, pneumonia is treated at home with oral antibiotics. Hospitalization may be required for bacterial cases, pertussis, or those involving high fevers, respiratory distress or vomiting that prevents oral treatment. Also, hospitalization might be necessary if oxygen is needed, or the infection has spread to the bloodstream or if it is a recurrent case of pneumonia. At home, fluids should be encouraged. Chest pain might be eased by warm compresses. No over-the-counter medicines should be administered without a doctor's consent.

Warning

• Seek immediate medical attention if your child has trouble breathing or very rapid breathing, if his lips and fingernails become bluish, or if he has a fever over 102 degrees F, or over 100.4 degrees F in babies younger than 6 months old.