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Pneumonia

Introduction:

It is an infection of lungs caused by microorganism such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Although different microorganisms can cause pneumonia, and different types of pneumonia may affect children in different age group, but most common pneumonia is caused by virus. Some of the common viruses responsible for causing pneumonia include adenoviruses, influenza viruses (flu), rhinovirus and respiratory syncytical virus (RSV).

Sign and Symptoms:

In initial stage the infection begins nose and throat and depending upon the age and physical health of child the additional symptoms of pneumonia develop fever, cough, rapid breathing or breathing with grunting, chills, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, poor feeding and chest pain.
Sometimes the child may also start breathing rapidly.
Pneumonia caused by bacteria is relatively quick and child feels high fever and rapid breathing.
Pneumonia caused by viruses, is less severe than the pneumonia caused by viruses and symptoms appear gradually in this case.
Sometimes in the case of pneumonia caused by a specific microorganism, the additional symptom specific to that microorganism appears and can easily be diagnosed.

Incubation:

The incubation period may vary from person to person as well as the type of bacteria or virus causing pneumonia. The incubation period for the most of the bacteria and viruses is in the range of one day to one week.

Pneumonia types:

Depending upon the affected area of lung, pneumonia can be either

Lobar pneumonia or
Bronchopneumonia.

Contagiousness:

Some of the viruses responsible for causing upper respiratory infection (Infection of throat and nose) are contagious in nature. To prevent spreading the virus, it is best to keep the patient away from general public and family members. It is also necessary to keep your child away from any person who has infection of throat and nose.

In general pneumonia is not contagious, but the viruses and bacteria causing pneumonia may infect other persons. Other persons in family should avoid coming in contact with the child if the child is suffering from nose and throat infection. Other family members should not use other common use clothes, towels and other items.

Mortality rate:

For hospitalized patients, required hospitalization for pneumonia, the mortality rate is around 10 % to 25%. If patients are hospitalized for other conditions, the mortality rate is higher than 25%.
For stillborn and very early infants the death rate due to pneumonia is about 20%.
For AIDS patients, the mortality rate due to pneumonia may be higher and up to 50%.

Risk Factors for Recurrent Pneumonia in Children:

Some children are at more risk of pneumonia than others and risk factors include

Inborn lung and heart defects.
Impaired immune system
Problem in muscle co-ordination.
Asthma.
GERD.
Certain genetic disorders including cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease.

Treatment:

Several antibiotics are available for treating pneumonia. It is the choice of doctor to decide most effective antibiotic for treating a particular patient of pneumonia and the choice depends on various factors including age of patient, severity of problem and other associated symptoms.

Side Effects:

The most common side effects of these antibiotics include gastrointestinal distress, allergic reaction and skin rashes.

Prevention:

Children should be given vaccines to prevent infections caused by viruses or bacteria.
Children should be given immunizations against haemophilus influenza and pertusis.
Tuberculosis screening should be carried out annually in children of high risk areas for preventing active tuberculosis and pneumonia.

Summary:

Pneumonia, a lung infection is common in children and should be treated as soon as the first symptoms appear. The prevention of pneumonia can also be encouraged by vaccinations for various viruses and bacteria.

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