Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. If a person has pneumonia, his or her lungs won’t function properly as they used to. Why is it so? This is because the mucus created by the fluid blocks the alveoli and makes it hard for oxygen to get deep into the lungs. Pneumonia can happen to people of any age, from babies to old people.
According to the World Health Organization, pneumonia is dangerous for children, and it claims the life of a child every 20 seconds and 16 percent of them are of children under the age of 5. It is a serious illness, and it can be severe not only in children but older people too.
Symptoms of pneumonia
The symptoms generally start off like a flu which includes coughing with phlegm, fever, fatigue and also chest pain, but it often needs antibiotic treatment. The child may also lose their appetite and are less energetic than usual.
For babies, they may see pale and limp, and they cry more.
You may also notice other more specific symptoms too, such as:
- A cough
- Fast labored breathing
- Widening of the nostrils
- Wheezing
- Bluish complexion and nails
- Increased activity of the muscles below and between the ribs and above the collarbone
- Chills
- Vomiting
- A headache
Take your child to the doctor ASAP
If you think your child has pneumonia, take him or her to the doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will also most probably do a chest X-ray which will show if there’s fluid in your child’s lungs, which is a sign of pneumonia.
Some kids will end up in the hospital if their pneumonia is severe and if they find difficulty in breathing.
How to treat pneumonia?
There are a few ways of treating pneumonia.
- Chest X-ray: The doctor will use invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.
- Sputum Culture: The test will be performed on the material that is coughed out from the lungs and into the mouth and is often performed to determined if any infection is present.
- Blood test: Blood count for evidence of any infection
- CT Scan: A chest CT scan will be performed, and the test will take images of the structures in the chest
- Pleural Fluid Culture: A culture of fluid sample will be taken from the pleural space, which is the space between the lungs and the chest walls to identify the infection.
- Pulse Oximetry: This is a small machine that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood.
- Bronchoscopy: This is a procedure used to look inside the airways of the lungs.
Again, it is a common thing for kids to develop a cough, so, do not worry or panic if your child is having one. Just be aware if the condition gets any serious. If you don’t feel right, bring him or her to the doctor.
For more articles, stories, and products: browse through our website https://www.mamahood.com.sg/