MANAGEMENT OF PNEUMONIA IN CHILDREN
Pneumonia is the second major killer of Nigerian children after Malaria . Medical experts are worried about the rate at which Nigerians , particularly children , are losing their lives to the disease . Each year , about 146 , 370 children lose their lives to the disease . This number is unacceptable for a disease that can be prevented with simple precautions like immunisation and good hygiene .
CAUSES
Bacterial pneumonia: This is caused by a bacterial infection , which usually affects one lobe or section of the lung . Bacterial pneumonia can affect children of any age and they can develop very quickly. The disease is most likely to be associated with a very high fever and a cough that is productive of sputum (phlegm ), although children tend to swallow sputum rather than cough it up .
VIRAL PNEUMONIA: It is caused by a virus and it is probably the most common type of pneumonia affecting children of any age , although it tends to affect infants and preschool - aged children most frequently .
Other forms of pneumonia are caused by Mycoplasma, fungi and immune depression.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
The following are clues that your child may have pneumonia: fever , coughing ( sometimes with pus -coloured phlegm ), shortness of breath and sometimes painful breathing .
DIAGNOSIS
The doctor can diagnose pneumonia based on the child ’s symptoms , physical examination , complete blood count and chest X - ray results .
COMPLICATIONS
Pneumonia does not usually result in complications, but this depends on what is causing the condition and how long it takes to treat it. Complications of bacterial pneumonia can include septicaemia , lung and brain abscess , meningitis and even death .
TREATMENT
Medical intervention is always required for bacterial pneumonia, but , in most cases , children can be treated at home . In addition to antibiotics , a patient will need plenty of rest and he or she will have to keep taking in fluids . A penicillin - based antibiotic is the standard treatment that doctors use for bacterial pneumonia.
However , antibiotics will not help viral pneumonia. Usually, children with viral pneumonia would get better by themselves over a period of time . Most children would have a cough that lasts for some weeks after the infection . The age of the child and the severity of the illness would dictate whether hospitalisation is necessary or not .
Children may need to go to a hospital if they are less than one - year - old , have severe breathing difficulty or are dehydrated .
PREVENTION
Although the organisms that cause pneumonia are contagious , the viruses or bacteria can spread to others through coughing and sneezing . Children who have pneumonia could infect other people by the time they start to manifest the symptoms . Vaccines are available against the common types of pneumonia. Avoiding cigarette smoke will also reduce you and your child ’ s predisposition to this infection.
Handwashing is also a very important preventive method .
Pneumonia is the second major killer of Nigerian children after Malaria . Medical experts are worried about the rate at which Nigerians , particularly children , are losing their lives to the disease . Each year , about 146 , 370 children lose their lives to the disease . This number is unacceptable for a disease that can be prevented with simple precautions like immunisation and good hygiene .
CAUSES
Bacterial pneumonia: This is caused by a bacterial infection , which usually affects one lobe or section of the lung . Bacterial pneumonia can affect children of any age and they can develop very quickly. The disease is most likely to be associated with a very high fever and a cough that is productive of sputum (phlegm ), although children tend to swallow sputum rather than cough it up .
VIRAL PNEUMONIA: It is caused by a virus and it is probably the most common type of pneumonia affecting children of any age , although it tends to affect infants and preschool - aged children most frequently .
Other forms of pneumonia are caused by Mycoplasma, fungi and immune depression.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
The following are clues that your child may have pneumonia: fever , coughing ( sometimes with pus -coloured phlegm ), shortness of breath and sometimes painful breathing .
DIAGNOSIS
The doctor can diagnose pneumonia based on the child ’s symptoms , physical examination , complete blood count and chest X - ray results .
COMPLICATIONS
Pneumonia does not usually result in complications, but this depends on what is causing the condition and how long it takes to treat it. Complications of bacterial pneumonia can include septicaemia , lung and brain abscess , meningitis and even death .
TREATMENT
Medical intervention is always required for bacterial pneumonia, but , in most cases , children can be treated at home . In addition to antibiotics , a patient will need plenty of rest and he or she will have to keep taking in fluids . A penicillin - based antibiotic is the standard treatment that doctors use for bacterial pneumonia.
However , antibiotics will not help viral pneumonia. Usually, children with viral pneumonia would get better by themselves over a period of time . Most children would have a cough that lasts for some weeks after the infection . The age of the child and the severity of the illness would dictate whether hospitalisation is necessary or not .
Children may need to go to a hospital if they are less than one - year - old , have severe breathing difficulty or are dehydrated .
PREVENTION
Although the organisms that cause pneumonia are contagious , the viruses or bacteria can spread to others through coughing and sneezing . Children who have pneumonia could infect other people by the time they start to manifest the symptoms . Vaccines are available against the common types of pneumonia. Avoiding cigarette smoke will also reduce you and your child ’ s predisposition to this infection.
Handwashing is also a very important preventive method .
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