Everyone deserves care, especially children. If we are not taking care of our children, they will definitely suffer from some health issues. Whenever the weather changes, the problem of pneumonia is quite common in children. In some children, it is very common, and in some, it can be controlled with general medication only. But as a parent, we need to be sure about all the symptoms of pneumonia in a child.
If you are feeling that your child is going through a certain condition and you want to check them out for pneumonia symptoms, stay tuned with us. Here we are sharing the symptoms of pneumonia in a child in detail so that you can easily reach out to the doctor and get treatment as soon as possible.
Pneumonia is an infection that will affect one or both of the lungs. It is caused by various types of bacteria, viruses, or other less common types of infections. In this condition, the air sacs in the lungs become inflamed and fluid occupies a place in them. As a result, a person suffers from different conditions, including chest pain, issues while breathing, cough, fever, and so on.
It is not possible that your child will suffer from stage 4 pneumonia immediately. Only from stage 1 do the symptoms appear. There are four stages of pneumonia:
Congestion is the primary stage, and in this condition, the lungs become very heavy. It happens when infectious fluid occupies a place in the air sac and your children will experience a cough and a feeling of heaviness in the chest. Sometimes they may have to deal with rapid breathing as well.
Red hepatization is a second stage and in this condition, red blood cells and immune cells enter into the lungs already having fluid and the lungs appear red in this condition. Even if your child is on medication and improving, they will experience other symptoms such as fever, sweating, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, and so on. Sometimes they also have blue lips or blue nails, which indicate the low level of oxygen in the blood.
Gray hepatization is the third stage, and in this condition, the red blood cells disintegrate. The lungs appear greyish in color and your child may still have some symptoms. They may have a constant cough or any other condition, too.
Resolution is the last stage, and your children will start feeling better after the infection. They may have a productive cough that needs to be removed from the lungs, but the condition is under control and by taking enough precautions they will be able to get rid of it.
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After analyzing stage 1 to stage 4 of pneumonia, you might be thinking of symptoms of pneumonia in children. Well, these are as follows:
Fever is a primary symptom of pneumonia in children. You will notice that there is a sudden rise in their body temperature, and sometimes it leads to 103 degrees Fahrenheit. If the condition is so, it is advisable to approach the doctor immediately.
With the weather changing, coughing is common, but if it is persistent, you cannot avoid it. Sometimes you will notice your child coughing up mucus and not feeling well for a while. Also, in some cases, due to persistent cough, there is blood in the mucus.
Shortness of breath cannot be ignored and it is important that you pay attention to your child. Sometimes it happens that due to pneumonia, your child is not able to breathe properly and they will suffer from other conditions too. Therefore, if they are facing difficulties in breathing along with a cough, they should approach the doctor.
Sweating is also very common in children suffering from pneumonia. They will also suffer from hot or cold sweat. Sometimes, they start feeling cold and, the very next moment, they start feeling hot. This is the primary sign of pneumonia, which calls for an emergency.
Changes in lip and nail color are also noticeable in children. It happens due to less availability of oxygen in the blood. The lips and nails appear to be blue with pneumonia.
Vomiting will also occur as a symptom of pneumonia. It is critical to understand that if your child has pneumonia, they will not want to eat anything and will puke out the food they had previously. Therefore, it is advisable to pay attention to all the changes happening in your child’s body.
Due to a persistent cough, your child will not be able to sleep peacefully at night. Sometimes you will notice that they are up and crying because they are not able to sleep properly.
Weight loss is also a very common condition in children suffering from pneumonia. When your child is suffering from pneumonia, they are not in the state of eating something. This leads to weight loss and the bacteria that occupy a place in their bodies is also responsible for it.
In some children, it has been seen that with pneumonia they experience a running or watery nose as well. This is a major concern because it leads to a sore throat as well.
Note: Thanks to medical facilities right now, vaccination is available to protect children against pneumonia. Ask the doctor after the birth of your child when you are supposed to take them for the same vaccination. This will keep them safe.
After analyzing the symptoms, the doctor you are approaching will diagnose your child with the same. They generally advise you to get an x-ray and some blood tests to determine the child’s current condition. This will help them analyze the actual condition and start the treatment immediately.
The treatment for pneumonia entirely depends on the condition. In most cases, doctors suggest children are on medication for a while, and if the case is very serious, they take them under observation. Make sure to follow all the guidelines as suggested by the doctor during treatment.
Here we have discussed symptoms of pneumonia in children and hope right now you are aware of the same. If your child is suffering from pneumonia, do approach the doctor promptly.
If you are searching for the best healthcare center where you can take your child, then ML Spine and Orthopaedic Centre (the best orthopedic hospital in Jaipur) is one of the best centers you can visit. Here you will be able to find different doctors for treatment. Discuss the condition with them and start the treatment.
बच्चों में Food Allergy के लक्षण, क्या आपके बच्चे को है ये समस्या ?
Q. 1 How do doctors diagnose a child for pneumonia?
Ans: A doctor diagnoses a child for pneumonia with an x-ray and some blood tests. This will help them to know the actual condition of the child before starting treatment.
Q. 2 What type of food is recommended for a child when they are fighting pneumonia?
Ans: Food with fewer spices and no oil is recommended for children when they are fighting pneumonia. Also, it is suggested to keep them away from dairy products.
Q. 3 Is it possible for a child to recover from pneumonia?
Ans: Pneumonia is not a fatal condition if you are getting treatment on time. If you get late reaching the doctor, the process will take time, but it will cost your child’s life.
Q. 4 Does my child require emergency medical facilities if they are suffering from pneumonia?
Ans: The possibility is there that your child may require emergency medical facilities. To keep you on the safe side, after analyzing them for pneumonia symptoms, first, take them to the doctor immediately.
Q. 5 What antibiotics are best to treat pneumonia?
Ans: The antibiotics that are recommended to treat pneumonia include azithromycin and erythromycin. In children, the doctor suggests amoxicillin initially.