Pneumonia in children

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What is it about ?

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract, and to be more precise, an infection of the small airways and airways of the lungs. The airways are divided into upper and lower airways.

  • The upper respiratory tract consist of the nose and throat. Colds and angina are therefore infections of the upper respiratory tract.
  • The lower respiratory tract are formed by the bronchioles and lung tissue (the pulmonary alveoli), where carbon dioxide (CO2) is exchanged for oxygen (O2). Bronchitis and pneumonia are therefore infections of the lower respiratory tract.

Young children are more susceptible to a progression from a common upper respiratory infection to pneumonia.

Causes of pneumonia

Pneumonia can be caused by:

  • viruses (about 1/3 of cases);
  • bacteria (1/3 of cases);
  • a combination of both.

The virus Common pathogens are RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), rhinovirus and para-influenza virus.
The bacteria pathogens are often the pneumococci and the mycoplasmas.

What is its frequency?

Thanks to the pneumococcal vaccination in infants, pneumonia due to pneumococci are now much rarer in young children.

About 3.5 to 4% of children under 5 are affected by pneumonia each year, while in slightly older children (from 5 years old), they are only 1.5%.

How to recognize it?

The main symptoms of pneumonia in children are:

  • fever ;
  • cough ;
  • rapid shallow breathing or difficulty breathing;
    • in this case, the child can use auxiliary muscles to breathe better, such as the muscles between the ribs.
    • The wings of the child’s nose flap when he breathes.
  • chest or stomach pain;
  • wheezing ;
  • general state of ill-being: lethargy, apathy, poor appetite, crying and lack of playfulness.

However, the clinical picture can be quite uncertain, especially in young children.

How is the diagnosis made?

  • The doctor usually makes the diagnosis based on the complaints described by parent (s) and symptoms observed during the exam.
  • THE’lung auscultation is not always obvious, because a sick infant or toddler is constantly crying and fussing.
  • Doctor measure the level of oxygen in the blood with an oximeter placed on the child’s finger or toe.
  • If the child is seriously ill, a x-ray of the lungs will be performed. Blood will also be him taken to control inflammation rates.

What can you do ?

What can your doctor do?

Antibiotic treatment

If the doctor suspects pneumonia, he will always initiate antibiotics (usually amoxicillin).

Home treatment

A child whose general health is still good and who has no respiratory problem can be treated at home with an antibiotic syrup.

If the child is receiving treatment at home, the doctor should monitor the progress of symptoms.

  • If there is no improvement after two days, additional examinations will have to be done or the doctor will refer the child to the hospital.
  • Likewise, if the child falls ill again after an improvement in complaints, additional examinations are also necessary.
Hospitalization

Children under 6 months of age or those who are very sick will be sent to hospital for infusion therapy. Hospitalization may also be required if there is an underlying (significant) infection or if the child refuses to drink the syrup.

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Sources