Everything You Need To Know About Pneumonia In Children
Pneumonia (pneumonia) is a terrible disease that is the leading cause of death from infectious diseases in children. The disease is often fatal, especially in children under the age of five. Regardless of which country in the world the child is in.
World Pneumonia Day was launched in 2009. This is celebrated every year on November 12th. The aim of this event is to sensitize people to the consequences of this disease.
Many people are not aware that pneumonia can be prevented and even cured. This means that there are solutions that can prevent so many children from dying from this disease.
Every year millions of children die from pneumonia. However, if more awareness is created, then it is entirely possible to decrease that value. Efforts to solve this problem have been made between 2000 and 2015 and these have produced positive results.
How does pneumonia develop in children?
Pneumonia is an infectious disease that affects the airways. Children and adults can get sick from it. However, children under five and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. Furthermore, the susceptibility of patients from rural and low-income areas increases.
In this regard, experts recommend that several aspects need to be considered in order to improve the prognosis for people affected by pneumonia. As already known, early diagnosis is the best way to fight any disease. For this very reason, certain population groups are more affected than others.
To treat cases of pneumonia, strict antibiotic treatment must be carried out. Nevertheless, the best remedy is and remains prevention. Pneumonia is a disease that can be easily prevented with a vaccination.
Pneumonia is caused by viruses. Because of this, it can affect any child, no matter what country they are in.
The viruses infect the airways at the lower level of the lungs. This means that the system is being profoundly damaged. That’s why the disease can be so complex. In some cases, the disease can also be caused by bacteria.
Pneumonia Symptoms
Not all cases of pneumonia show the same symptoms. The course of the disease can therefore be very different from child to child.
Often times, pneumonia develops right after catching a cold. Because of this, many people often mistake symptoms for flu. The most common symptoms of pneumonia include:
- to cough
- High and persistent fever
- Shortness of breath or hyperventilation
- General malaise and weakness
- stomach pain
- Whistling sound in the lungs
- Irritation in the throat
- Nausea and vomiting due to phlegm
- Loss of appetite
What to do in case of pneumonia
If pneumonia is suspected, you should see a specialist as soon as possible. The doctor usually recommends a chest x-ray. This recording will reveal a possible infection of the lungs. This suspicion is then confirmed by a blood test.
In most cases, antibiotics are only prescribed if the pneumonia is bacterial in origin. However, it is difficult to tell when it is a virus or a bacteria that is causing the pneumonia.
If the patient is a child, the pediatrician must consider several factors before starting treatment.
The authorities responsible for raising awareness of pneumonia consider prevention to be the most important tool. Hand washing, breastfeeding and vaccination are the most important measures in this regard. It is also important to provide the necessary resources, including antibiotics, to treat the disease.
In order to be able to reduce pneumonia in a broader spectrum, the specialists undoubtedly recommend vaccination. Because this is an extremely important step in coping with the disease. It is also important to check the water quality and, if necessary, strive to improve it.
Furthermore, pollution reduction and better hygiene in public places are required to prevent pneumonia and other diseases. However, it should be remembered that disease prevention always begins at home.
