Infection of one or both lungs is called pneumonia or chest infections, in simple terms. This infection can be caused by bacteria, a virus or tuberculosis. Pneumonia causes the airways to swell up and make excess mucus that in turn causes cough, breathing difficulty. Pneumonia can sometimes cause complications that, if not treated adequately, can lead to lung damage.

When a child suffers from recurrent pneumonia (3 episodes in a year) or persistent pneumonia (no resolution of symptoms with antibiotics) assessment by a pulmonologist is vital. These children require more advanced evaluation and different set of tests for diagnosis and treatment.

Signs and symptoms of Pneumonia

• High grade fever
• Cough with or without expectoration
• Breathing difficulty –children may have fast breathing and skin on the ribs may sink in with breathing or nostrils may flare with breathing in. In infants fast breathing may lead to head bobbing
• Chest pain while coughing
• Irritability, listlessness, lethargy

What causes Pneumonia?

Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria or viruses that are present in the air and are often inhaled into the lungs to cause infection. Infants and young children are at higher risk of pneumonia as their immune system is still immature. Young children usually acquire infections at school or in day care while in infants, infections are more often acquired by infected family members.

In some infants, food or milk can enter the trachea (windpipe) and travel deep into the airway to cause infection. To know more about ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA, click here.

Treatment of Pneumonia

Pneumonia can be mild or severe depending on the level of difficulty in breathing and requirement of oxygen.

In mild cases, antibiotics and anti-fever medicines can be given at home with special attention to maintaining diet and water intake. Parents should keep a check on the fever and watch for any signs of breathing difficulty. They must report to the hospital in case of fast breathing. Chest recessions, nose flaring, irritability or lethargy.

In severe cases, children need hospital care and sometimes ICU care. In such cases, blood tests and x-rays are done to assess the severity of infection and intravenous antibiotics are given along with oxygen. These children need vigilant monitoring of their heart rate and oxygen levels in the hospital as they are at risk of developing complications.