Signs of pneumonia in children

Inflammation of the lungs, or pneumonia, is a disease that many have heard of. It can develop in a child with weakened immunity, after hypothermia, as well as in a child who has had an acute respiratory viral infection. But this should not be frightened, because according to statistics, only 0.5% of the total number of affected children develops this disease. Symptoms of pneumonia in children may differ depending on age, so if you suspect this ailment, you need to seek medical help urgently.

Signs of pneumonia in a child under one year of age

Very often, especially in infants, the first symptoms of this formidable disease are mistaken for an ordinary cold. Even experienced parents are not in a hurry to seek help from a doctor, whereas precious time can be missed. Signs of pneumonia, both in a one-year-old child and a young child, are manifested in the following:

• cyanotic skin;
• body temperature in the range of 37-38 degrees;
• strong and paroxysmal cough;
• rapid accumulation of sputum;
• refusal of food, tearfulness, irritability.

If you start treating this disease in time, the signs of pneumonia in infants quickly go to recession, and treatment is recommended to be carried out at home. Inflammation of the lungs is treated with antibiotics, even in such small children, so compliance with the regime of the day, proper nutrition, as well as the introduction of foods containing lactobacilli in the diet is mandatory. When all these simple rules are fulfilled, the baby will feel much better in a couple of days, and the general course of treatment will be from 5 to 7 days.

Symptoms of pneumonia in children from a year

Symptoms of pneumonia in children 2 years and older do not differ much from those that are present in infants. Here, one can also observe symptoms typical for pneumonia:

1. Increased body temperature. This is one of the first signs in children, which adults pay attention to when they are pneumonia. The temperature fluctuates between 37 and 38 degrees, and by evening, as a rule, it is higher than in the morning. However, there are exceptions, when the child may have decreased or, conversely, a very high (up to 40 degrees) body temperature.
2. Persistent cough. In a child, for example, 3 years and older, the primary signs of pneumonia are a strong, pertussis or paroxysmal cough and pallor of the nasolabial triangle. In toddlers, it can be both dry and with sputum secretion. It can contain impurities of pus, mucus or blood. With such symptoms, the doctor must send the crumb to the X-ray of the lungs.
3. Pain in the chest and lack of air. Common signs of pneumonia in children 5-6 years old and toddlers of close age are pain under the shoulder blades, with coughing or breathing, with one of the sides, and also, especially with walking or physical exertion, the state of "lack of air".
4. External signs. If the baby is silent, not complaining at all, then it is possible to suspect pneumonia due to rapid fatigue of the crumbs, severe sweating, rapid rapid breathing and capriciousness. In children, the accuracy of movements decreases and there may be a violation of coordination, that sometimes leads to a dead end parents and others.
5. Refuse to eat. This sign, as a rule, is accompanied by a digestive disorder, nausea and vomiting. And even if the baby manages to feed a little, he will lose weight quickly enough.

So, parents need to remember that any deviations in the behavior of the child should be alarming, and especially when they concern health. Cough, fever, lack of air, rapid breathing - these are the symptoms in which a doctor's consultation should be immediate.