![]() ![]() ![]() My next RN Remedies blog post will cover pneumonia prevention and how to care for a child with pneumonia.You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĭE Shane Ray, out of NFL since 2019, signs with BillsīUFFALO, N.Y. I encourage you to share it with other parents and caregivers. Hospitalized children with pneumonia may require supplemental oxygen, IV antibiotics and medication and frequent breathing treatments.ĭuring the flu season it’s important to recognize whether your child has pneumonia and other illness like the flu. Some children require hospitalization with more severe forms of pneumonia. Breathing treatments such as nebulized breathing, oral steroids or inhalers.Your child’s pediatrician may recommend other therapies such as, It is sometimes difficult to determine viral from bacterial pneumonia so doctors may opt to treat with antibiotics. Most of the time viral infections need to “run their own course” or go away on their own with supportive therapies alone (controlling fever or pain, giving fluids, keeping the child comfortable). If your child has viral pneumonia, antibiotics will not be prescribed because they don’t work on viruses and antiviral medications are infrequently used in children. If your child gets bacterial pneumonia, they’ll be prescribed antibiotics to be taken for one to two weeks. Wheezing or other type of “funny” sounding breathing.Low-grade or high fevers (maybe with chills or body aches).Symptoms of pneumonia commonly include a combination of the following: ![]() Bacterial pneumonia has a quick onset with a high fever and viral pneumonia develops more gradually and usually looks less serious. Symptoms depend on the age of the child and the agent causing the pneumonia (virus vs. Pneumonia usually starts as an upper respiratory tract infection (in the nose and throat) and a few days later, develops into a lower respiratory tract infection in the lungs. One of the symptoms of pneumonia is low-grade or high fever. If you think your child may have “walking pneumonia” they should still be evaluated by their doctor and stay home from school. This form of pneumonia is a lesser severe form and children tend to feel well enough to attend school or play despite having a lung infection. You may have heard the term, “walking pneumonia?” This is a specific type of pneumonia generally caused by the “mycoplasma” bacteria. Your child’s pediatrician may also order a sputum (mucous) culture or blood tests. Pneumonia often causes “crackly” and other abnormal chest sounds when you listen to the lungs with a stethoscope. It is usually diagnosed with a combination of a physical exam and a chest x-ray. It can be caused most commonly by viruses or bacteria, but can also be caused by fungi or parasites. Pneumonia is an infection in either one or both lungs. The condition can be more serious than a regular cold. What about an infection in the lower respiratory tract? This is called pneumonia, which is when fluid and pus fill the lungs. Most of the time, children that had viral illnesses in the upper respiratory tract and they got better quickly with supportive care. When I worked in primary care pediatrics, I cared for many children who had a runny noses, coughing, congestion and fever. The weather is cold and the runny noses and coughing have started. ![]()
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