Pneumonia – keeping it at bay

The cold season, which tends to bring its fair share of trouble, is here. This is when our immunity against the biting cold is truly tested. The chilly weather may bring your child a few shivers leading to sneezes then coughs. You may dismiss it as a common cold and give a little mild medication. However, before long your child experiences laboured breathing, fever and tiredness. When you finally take your child to the doctor, you are shocked to learn that they have pneumonia.

This contagious disease can be serious particularly in newborns whose immune systems are vulnerable. Statistics show that about 2 million children under five years succumb to the disease each year, accounting for around one in five incidents globally. However, it is a curable illness and the vast majority of pneumonia in children is mild or easily treatable.

What it is
Pneumonia is the inflammation of lungs, which can be caused by a variety of micro-organisms, including viruses, bacteria and fungi. Often, pneumonia begins after an upper respiratory tract infection (an infection of the nose and throat). When this happens, symptoms of pneumonia begin after two or three days of a cold or sore throat. Children exposed to inhaled irritants, such as tobacco smoke or toxic fumes are at a higher risk of developing pneumonia.

Symptoms

• Fever
• Worsening cough
• Loss of appetite or poor feeding in infants
• Wheezing
• Increased breathing rate
• Abdominal pain
• Retractions (laboured breathing)
• Nasal flaring
• Cyanosis (a bluish discolouration of the skin most easily observed on the lips, tongue and fingernails.
• Decreased breath sounds
• Chest pain
• Vomiting
• Decreased activity

Pneumonia facts

• Children who get pneumonia more than once in a single year may have a weak immune system.
• Most children with pneumonia can be treated at home. Some do need to be admitted to the hospital for antibiotics, fluids, oxygen therapy, or for additional help with their breathing.
• Fever can sometimes be the only symptom of pneumonia in children.
• The length of the pneumonia depends on the specific organism causing it. Most pneumonia commonly last two to three weeks.

Prevention

• When breast-feeding, avoid exposure to unhealthy smoke and fumes
• Teach children to wash their hands after coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of germs
• Keep your child up to date with their immunisations. Yearly vaccines may be beneficial in some children. Talk to your family doctor
• Teach your children not to share eating or drinking utensils, toys and food/drinks with other children

Treatment at home

• Ensure they have plenty of rest
• Make sure they drink small amounts of fluids regularly so as not to be dehydrated
• They may be more comfortable sleeping on a propped up pillow so that they are not laying completely flat
• After consulting your doctor, you may give pain killers for chest pain

Seek medical advice if your child:
» Is less than one year old
» Becomes dehydrated
» Has severe breathing problems
» Is unable to take medicine by mouth

While in hospital
Antibiotics may be given directly into a vein through a drip (intravenous). These will only be given if the pneumonia is thought to be bacterial.

Your child may need oxygen to help them to breathe more easily.

If your child is dehydrated, they will need to be given fluids through a drip (intravenous therapy).

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