Pneumonia In Children

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Pneumonia (noo-MOH-nyah) is an infection in one or both lungs. Often, pneumonia begins after an infection of the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat). This causes fluid to collect in the lungs, making it hard to breathe. The most common causes of pneumonia are germs, such as viruses and bacteria. Children who have a hard time fighting infections or have lung problems are more likely to develop pneumonia.
  
  
• The most common signs and symptoms of pneumonia are cough, fever, irritability, trouble breathing, and poor appetite or feeding. Many children can be treated without having to stay in the hospital. If the pneumonia is severe, a caregiver may want your child to stay in the hospital for treatment. Troubled breathing, loss of too much water from his body, high fever, and the need for oxygen or medicines are reasons to stay in the hospital. Cure from pneumonia is better when found and treated as soon as possible.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Keep a current list of your child's medicines: Include the amounts, and when, how, and why they are taken. Bring the list and the medicines in their containers to follow-up visits. Carry your child's medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists. Give vitamins, herbs, or food supplements only as directed.
  
  
• Give your child's medicine as directed: Call your child's primary healthcare provider if you think the medicine is not working as expected. Tell him if your child is allergic to any medicine. Ask before you change or stop giving your child his medicines.
  
  
• Do not give aspirin to children under 18 years of age: Your child could develop Reye syndrome if he takes aspirin. Reye syndrome can cause life-threatening brain and liver damage. Check your child's medicine labels for aspirin, salicylates, or oil of wintergreen.
  
  
• Ibuprofen or acetaminophen: These medicines are given to decrease your child's pain and fever. They can be bought without a doctor's order. Ask how much medicine is safe to give your child, and how often to give it.
  
  
• Read the ingredient labels of all medicines that you give to your child: If your child is using medicine for other symptoms such as cough or cold, read the medicine labels carefully. Many of these medicines may also have ibuprofen or acetaminophen in them. Adding these medicines to the ibuprofen or acetaminophen that your child has already taken may cause him to get too much medicine. Taking too much ibuprofen or acetaminophen could harm your child.

Ask for more information about where and when to take your child for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services for your child, ask for information.

Breathing and coughing:

• Have your child take a deep breath then cough. Have your child do this when he feels the need to cough up the mucus in his throat. This will help get rid of the mucus in the throat and lungs, making it easier to breathe.
  
  
• Help remove the mucus from your child's nose using a bulb syringe.
  
  
  • Ask for bulb syringes at a pharmacy or grocery store. Squeeze the bulb and gently put the tip into one of your child's nostrils (nose openings). Close the other nostril with your fingers. Release the bulb so it sucks up the mucus.
    
    
  • You may need saline (saltwater) nose drops to loosen the mucus in your child's nose. Put three drops into one nostril. Wait for one minute so the mucus can loosen up. Then use the bulb syringe to remove the mucus and saline.
    
    
  • Empty the mucus in the bulb syringe into a tissue. You can use the bulb syringe again if the mucus did not come out. Do this again in the other nostril. The bulb syringe should be boiled in water for 10 minutes when you are done, and then left to dry. This will kill most of the bacteria in the bulb syringe for the next use.
  
  
• Let your child lie with the head of the crib or bed up. Your child may be able to breathe better when lying with the head of the crib or bed up. You can do this by placing pillows or blankets under your child's back. Make sure your child's head does not flop forward. If this happens, your child will not be able to breathe properly.
  
  
• Run a cool mist humidifier. This will help increase air moisture in your child's room. Follow the humidifier instructions carefully for running and cleaning it. Direct the mist stream towards your child's face, but keep the humidifier out of your child's reach.

Diet:

• Your child may become tired easily when feeding. If you bottle feed or breast feed, you may need to feed your child more often in smaller amounts. Use a bulb syringe to remove mucus from your child's nose before feeding him. Removing mucus may help your child breathe and eat better. You should also do this before putting your child to bed, as it may help him sleep better.
  
  
• Your child may not want to eat solid foods while sick. While this is okay, be sure that he drinks plenty of fluids. Ask your caregiver how much liquid he should drink every day. Good liquids for most children to drink include water, apple juice, gelatin, broth, popsicles, and clear soda. When your child starts eating solid foods again, give him foods that are easy to digest. Yogurt, applesauce, and pudding are good for your child. Feed him small meals frequently.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• Your child cannot stop coughing.
  
  
• Your child has a fever.
  
  
• Your child has diarrhea or is vomiting.
  
  
• Your child is tugging at his ears or has ear pain.
  
  
• Your child is under three months old and has a fever.
  
  
• You have any questions or concerns about your child's illness, treatment or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• It becomes harder for your child to breathe or he is wheezing.
  
  
• Your child has a fever.
  
  
• Your child has any of the following signs of dehydration (loss of body fluids):
  
  
  • Crying without tears.
    
    
  • Dizziness.
    
    
  • Dry mouth or cracked lips.
    
    
  • More irritable or fussy than normal.
    
    
  • More sleepy than usual.
    
    
  • Sunken soft spot on the top of the head if your child is less than one year old.
    
    
  • Urinating less than usual or not at all.
  
  
• Your child's lips or nails are bluish in color.
  
  
• Your child's skin between the ribs and around the neck is pulled in with each breath.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Pneumonia In Children (Aftercare Instructions)