What is Pneumonia ?
Pneumonia is a
respiratory infection that may be bacterial or viral. The infection causes
inflammation of one or both lungs as the tiny air sacs within the lungs get
filled with fluid, making it difficult for the lungs to function properly.
Who is at risk ?
Infants, neonates,
premature babies and children between 24-59 months are most likely to suffer
due to their low immunity. Getting wet in the rain will not trigger pneumonia
but exposure to sudden temperature change can be a risk factor. Damp, heat, air
pollution, smoking and overcrowding are conducive to the growth of bacteria,
viruses or fungi. Other high-risk factors include malnutrition, deficiency of
vitamin A&D and zinc, weakened immune systems, co-morbid pulmonary illness,
other systemic illnesses and anticancer drugs.
Symptoms :
In bacterial pneumonia,
signs include high fever (more than 102° F), difficulty in breathing, fast
respiratory rate, noisy breathing, severe chest pain, body ache, wheezing,
severe weakness, inability to feed, excessive drowsiness, excessive sweating,
coughing up blood and respiratory distress. A child with chest in-drawing and
cyanosis (blue tinge to the skin) indicates severe pneumonia. Viral pneumonia,
often called walking pneumonia, has less florid symptoms. Symptoms like high-grade
fever (less than 102° F), preceding upper respiratory tract infection, coughing
up small amounts of mucus, muscle ache and fatigue are common.
Treatment :
If symptoms persist,
the child must be taken to the doctor. Hospitalisation may be required to
administer intravenous antibiotics or oxygen support. Viral pneumonia doesn’t
require intensive care and treatment since viruses don’t respond to vaccines
and antibiotics.
Complications :
About half the number
of children who survive pneumonia suffer some after-effect, which may be mild
or temporary. But 22 per cent of survivors end up with a moderate or severe
disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The
complications of untreated or neglected pneumonia can result in disabilities
such as deafness, brain damage, seizures and, in severe cases, even death.
Prevention :
Adequate breastfeeding
for the first sixmonths helps improve an infant’s natural defences. All
children should receive adequate nutrition, especially vitamin A & D and
Zinc. Environmental factors such as pollution, smoking, overcrowding,
sanitation and hygiene should be addressed to reduce the risk.
Bacterial pneumonia is the leading cause of pneumonia deaths in
children and accounts for highest number of pediatric hospitalisations. There
have been many instances when antibiotic treatments fail because of delay in
treatment or administration of inappropriate antibiotics. Lately, the
increasing number of disease-causing strains and antibiotic-resistant bacteria
have been a matter of concern.
In such cases, prevention of pneumonia through vaccination (Hemophilus
influenzae B vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine) is recommended. Pneumococcal
Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), the latest pneumococcal vaccine, is highly effective
against 13 serotypes of pneumococcus including serotype 19A, which is emerging
as one of the important strains to cause pneumococcal disease in children less
than five years of age. In addition, the vaccine is a potent tool for
protection against the even more serious meningitis and blood infection
(septicemia) caused by the same bacteria.
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