If your child's pneumonia is caused by bacteria, they will be prescribed antibiotics. In mild cases of bacterial pneumonia, this medicine can be taken orally at home. Children with bacterial pneumonia usually improve within 48 hours of starting antibiotics. It is very important to complete the whole course of antibiotics, even if your child seems much better. Treatment will continue for 3 to 7 days. Your child may continue to cough for up to three weeks after treatment, but this is nothing to worry about if they are otherwise getting better.
Children who are very unwell with bacterial pneumonia may be admitted to hospital for antibiotics given directly into a vein through a drip intravenous or IV therapy. Some children may also need oxygen or extra fluids. Viral pneumonia is usually not as severe as bacterial pneumonia.
However, recovery can be slower, taking up to four weeks. Antibiotics do not cure viruses and are not given for viral pneumonia. After a doctor has diagnosed your child with mild pneumonia, you can usually care for them at home.
Keep your child up to date with their immunisations and yearly influenza shots. The best way to avoid getting pneumonia is to avoid getting respiratory infections. Teach your child not to share food, drinks and eating utensils with other children.
This can be difficult in younger children, especially those at child care or kindergarten, as they often put shared toys in their mouths. Immunised children will have a much smaller risk of becoming infected with pneumonia in these instances. Good hygiene is important for preventing the spread of pneumonia, so teach your child to wash their hands thoroughly after coughing orsneezing to prevent the spread of germs.
We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers. To donate, visit www. Almost everyone fully recovers with proper medical care. Pneumonia caused by a virus is often less severe than when caused by bacteria. The symptoms usually start out like the flu. They slowly get worse over a few days. Pneumonia caused by bacteria can come on suddenly with a high fever, fast breathing and coughing. To check for bacterial pneumonia, a chest X-ray, blood and other tests may be done. Pneumonia caused by bacteria is treated with an antibiotic.
Symptoms should improve within 12 to 36 hours after starting the medicine. It is important to take the full course of antibiotic as prescribed. Stopping the medicine early may cause the infection to come back. It may also make the medicine not work as well for your child in the future. When a child is infected, his lungs are filled with fluid and it becomes difficult to breathe.
Children whose immune systems are immature i. As pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, the most common symptoms are coughing, trouble breathing and fever. Children with pneumonia usually experience fast breathing, or their lower chest may draw in or retract when they inhale in a healthy person, the chest expands during inhalation.
Pneumonia is contagious and can be spread through airborne particles a cough or sneeze. It can also be spread through other fluids, like blood during childbirth, or from contaminated surfaces.
Sometimes they may use chest x-rays or blood tests for diagnosis. In countries without strong health care systems i. For instance, a 5 month old child who takes 50 breaths per minute would be breathing too fast, and could have pneumonia. The treatment for pneumonia depends on the type of pneumonia.
In developing countries, a large number of pneumonia cases is caused by bacteria and can be treated with low cost antibiotics. Yet only one third of children with pneumonia receive the antibiotics they need because they lack access to quality health care.
Other causes of pneumonia are viruses or mycobacteria e. Tuberculosis in particular often remains un-diagnosed. Children with severe pneumonia often require oxygen because the inflammation of their lungs prevents enough oxygen from entering the bloodstream.
However, in many countries without strong health systems oxygen is only available at higher level health facilities and hospitals. Pneumonia can be prevented in the first place by increasing protective measures, such as adequate nutrition, and by reducing risk factors like air pollution which makes the lungs more vulnerable to infection and using good hygiene practices.
Studies have shown that improved handwashing with soap reduces the risk of pneumonia by up to 50 per cent by lowering exposure to bacteria. Pneumonia caused by bacteria is easily preventable with vaccines. However, in , 71 million children did not receive the recommended three doses of the primary vaccine to prevent pneumonia PCV.
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