Technical Names: Pneumonitis
NickNames: Pneumonia, Lung Infection
What it is: infection of the lung
Typical Ages for Illness: Any
Typical Symptoms: cough, fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, decreased activity level and appetite, respiratory symptoms including shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, grunting or wheezing sound, breathing fast. Chest pain common when coughing a lot. Some children with more serious signs of respiratory distress will look gray or blue around the mouth.
Etiology: Many different germs can cause this including viruses, bacteria, fungus. Viruses are the most common pathogen for all ages.
Seasonal Issues: Can occur year round but more common in winter months
How’s It Spread? Person to person by direction contact with respiratory secretions – getting coughed or sneezed on, touching an object that was coughed or sneezed on.
Incubation Period: Develops 1 to 6 days after the onset of a viral infection like a cold or flu.
Diagnosis: Some cases of pneumonia can be diagnosed by the physical exam and others require a X-ray.
Symptom Duration:Before treatment, pneumonias are preceded by a bad cold or flu-like illness. Once treatment starts, the cough can take 1-2 weeks to improve.
Treatment:
- antibiotics may be needed
- +/- breathing treatments such as inhalers or nebulizers
- fluids
- rest
- tylenol or motrin for fever and discomfort
- in cases of severe pneumonia, some kids do need to be hospitalized
Call Your Pediatrician if your child has:
- high fever, or fever not gone in 2-3 days
- vomiting or diarrhea and can’t hydrate well
- lethargy
- sick appearance
- trouble breathing despite treatment
- blue or gray color to lips or fingernail beds
Prevention:
- stay home if sick
- good hand washing
- having the child cover his or her mouth when coughing, if possible
- cleaning toys and objects likely contaminated by respiratory droplets
School and After school Activity Issues
- may return to school when fever free for 24hours and able to eat and drink normally
- avoid large groups of kids if cough is not controlled to prevent further spread
- if on antibiotics, needs to be on them for 24 hours before returning to school
- activities should be curtailed until the child has the energy to participate without becoming winded or fatigued.
Internet Resources:
For Parents
For Kids and Teens
KidsHealth Pneumonia Info for kids
KidsHealth Pneumonia Info For Teens
Comments are closed