Pneumonia of the lungs in newborns - infectious inflammation of the lung tissue - is one of the most common infectious diseases. It is dangerous for any baby, especially when it comes to bilateral pneumonia in newborns. Unfortunately, statistics today are as follows: pneumonia in newborns is diagnosed in 1% of full-term and 10-15% of premature babies.
Types and causes of pneumonia in newborns
In medicine, the following types of pneumonia are distinguished depending on the cause of the disease:
- congenital transplacental (the causative agent penetrates the baby through the placenta from the mother);
- intrauterine antenatal, is caused by pathogens that have penetrated into the fetal lungs from amniotic fluid;
- intranatal, occurs when the baby passes through the mother's birth canal, infected with microorganisms;
- postnatal pneumonia, in which infection occurs after birth in a maternity hospital, in the department of neonatal pathology (nosocomial), or at home.
The most common causes of pneumonia in newborns are:
- infections of toxoplasmosis, listeriosis, rubella, herpes (with congenital transplacental pneumonia in newborns);
- streptococci of groups B and O, gestal mycoplasmas, tuberculous and hemophilic rods (with antenatal and intranatal pneumonia);
- streptococcus group B, cytomegalovirus, chlamydia, fungi of the genus Candida and herpesvirus type II (with intranatal pneumonia);
- Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, intestinal yucca, proteas, staphylococci (with nosocomial aspiration pneumonia in newborns);
- mixed bacterial-bacterial, viral-bacterial.
Acquired home pneumonia most often occur against the background of acute respiratory viral infection caused by adenoviruses.
Secondary pneumonia, which is a manifestation or complication of sepsis, aspiration syndrome, is often caused in newborns by streptococci, staphylococci or gram-negative flora.
Symptoms of pneumonia in newborns
Signs of pneumonia in a newborn in case of intrauterine infection doctors will find even before discharge, because often the first signals of pneumonia begin to appear immediately after the birth of the child.
If the mother and child are discharged home, during the first month they must be accompanied by a doctor for patronage. He will look after the state of the baby, and he needs to talk about all the alarming symptoms, for example, about the child's lethargy, frequent regurgitation and liquid stool, rejection of the breast, fast fatigue when sucking.
If the child has a fever, do not wait for another doctor to come. Urgently call an ambulance. Cough in infants may be mild, but it is important to pay attention immediately to coughing. Also, alert the appearance of discharge from the nose in the child and shortness of breath. Shortness of breath leads to symptoms of blue on the feet, on the face and hands. The sick child has a faster appearance of diaper rash.
To be afraid to pass pneumonia at the child it is not necessary, in fact signs of illness or disease rarely arise without rising of temperature. And it needs to be periodically measured for prevention purposes.
The doctor, who regularly examines and listens to the child, can easily detect pneumonia.
What treatment is prescribed for pneumonia in newborns?
Antibiotics of a wide spectrum of action are always used for the treatment of pneumonia. The child needs careful care to avoid overcooling and overheating. It is important to monitor the hygiene of his skin, often change the position of his body, feed exclusively from the horn or using a probe. Applying to the breast of a sick infant, doctors will be allowed only if it is in a satisfactory state, namely, with the disappearance of intoxication and respiratory failure.
In addition to these treatments, physiotherapy (microwave and electrophoresis), vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, B6, B15, the use of immunoglobulins, mustard and hot wraps twice a day, transfusions of blood plasma are prescribed.
Consequences of pneumonia in newborns
Children who have had pneumonia (especially bilateral pneumonia in newborns) are prone to repeated illnesses. After discharge for them should be repeatedly conducted courses of vitamin therapy, give bioregulators (extract of aloe and eleutterococcus) for 3-4 months. And within 1 year the child will be under clinical supervision.