Signs of severe pneumonia in children

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Cao Thi Thanh - Pediatrician - Pediatrics - Neonatology Department - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital

Pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of death among children worldwide. The cause of pneumonia can be viral, bacterial, or fungal. Childhood pneumonia can be prevented by vaccination, adequate nutrition, and addressing environmental factors.
Pneumonia has mild to severe symptoms and is common in infants and young children. To avoid possible unfortunate consequences, the following article will help parents detect the signs of severe pneumonia in young children.

1. Signs of pneumonia in children

If a child has pneumonia, the signs and symptoms commonly experienced will depend on the child's age, the cause of the illness (what bacteria or virus causes pneumonia), the severity of the infection, and the severity of the infection. any other underlying medical conditions the child has.
Pneumonia in infants and children under 1 month of age, with symptoms such as:
Shortness of breath - moaning or moving head up and down with each breath; Contraction of the intercostal muscles (the soft part between the ribs recedes when the child breathes in); Rapid breathing; Stop breathing; Difficulty breastfeeding; No wet diapers for 12 hours or more; Fever or temperature that goes up and down a lot; Irritability and poor sleep; Cyanosis of the lips or under the tongue. As well as the above symptoms, children over 1 month of age have additional symptoms such as:
Cough a lot, although it may be mild; Shortness of breath and contraction of the muscles under the chest when breathing; Breathe hard and make a wheezing sound. Symptoms of Pneumonia in Toddlers and Older Children: Older children with pneumonia will have infant-like symptoms and additional symptoms such as:
Complaints of pain in the chest or abdomen; Vomiting after coughing; Refusing to eat or drink. Parents need to take the child to a medical facility immediately if the child shows signs of severe pneumonia, such as:
The child stops breathing for 20 seconds. This is really important for very young or premature babies because it may be the only symptom that parents can detect signs of severe pneumonia. The child has a fever and difficulty breathing. Babies whine or contract their chest muscles when they breathe, making the parents look like they're breathing through their belly. The lips or under the tongue turn blue-violet.

2. Causes of severe pneumonia in children

Pneumonia is caused by a number of infectious agents including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The most common are:
Streptococcus pneumoniae - the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in children. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) - the second most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. Respiratory syncytial virus is the most common viral cause of pneumonia. In HIV-infected infants, the fungus Pneumocystis jiroveci is one of the most common causes of pneumonia, responsible for at least a quarter of pneumonia deaths in HIV-infected children.

3. What factors increase the risk of children getting pneumonia?

While most healthy children can fight off pathogens with their natural defenses, children with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of developing pneumonia. A baby's immune system can be weakened by malnutrition or undernutrition, especially in infants who are not exclusively breastfed. Children with pre-existing medical conditions, such as HIV infection and measles, also have an increased risk of developing pneumonia.
The following environmental factors also increase a child's chance of developing pneumonia:
Indoor air pollution from cooking and heating fuels from organic materials (such as wood or manure). Live in large families. Parents smoke.

4. What should parents do to prevent pneumonia for children?

Preventing pneumonia in children is an important goal of a strategy to reduce child mortality. Getting vaccinated against Hib, pneumococcal, measles, and pertussis is the most effective way to prevent pneumonia.
Adequate nutrition is the key to improving children's natural defenses, parents should start with exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. In addition to being effective in preventing pneumonia, proper nutrition also helps reduce children's speed of recovery and shorten the duration of illness if children have pneumonia.
Addressing environmental factors such as indoor air pollution (no smoking in the home) and promoting good household hygiene, especially in large families, also help reduce the number of children getting pneumonia .
In children with HIV, the antibiotic cotrimoxazole is given daily to reduce the risk of pneumonia.
In addition, parents should also add some supporting foods containing lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, B vitamins,... The need for nutrients at the same time supports the immune system, enhances resistance, reduces the risk of upper respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, flu.
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References: Blf.org.uk and Who.int