Normally, the small sacs in the lungs are filled with air. In someone who has pneumonia, the air sacs fill up with pus and other fluid. Viruses, like the flu or RSV respiratory syncytial virus , cause most cases of pneumonia. Kids with pneumonia caused by a virus usually have symptoms that happen over time and tend to be mild. Less often, bacteria can cause pneumonia. When that happens, kids usually will become sick more quickly, starting with a sudden high fever, cough, and sometimes fast breathing.
Types of bacterial pneumonia include pneumococcal pneumonia, mycoplasma pneumonia walking pneumonia , and pertussis whooping cough.
Doctors will do an exam to look for pneumonia. They'll listen to the lungs and might order a chest X-ray. People who have viral pneumonia do not need antibiotics. Antibiotics only work against bacteria, not viruses. Doctors treat bacterial pneumonia with an antibiotic taken by mouth. Usually, this can be done at home. The antibiotic they use depends on the type of bacteria thought to have caused the pneumonia.
Tips and Tools. Our Mission. Find a Pediatrician. Text Size. Pneumonia in Children. Page Content. Pneumonia treatment When pneumonia is caused by a virus, usually there is no specific treatment other than rest and the usual measures for fever control. These include children with: Sickle cell anemia Heart disease Lung disease Kidney failure Damaged or no spleen Organ transplant HIV human immunodeficiency virus infection It's also recommended for children taking medications or who have diseases that weaken their immune system.
The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
Follow Us. Back to Top. Chronic Conditions. Common Surgical Procedures. Developmental Disabilities. Emotional Problems. From Insects or Animals. Genitals and Urinary Tract. Learning Disabilities. Sexually Transmitted. Vaccine Preventable Diseases. Your child will need rest to help them recover from pneumonia. Encourage them to drink fluids and eat healthy small meals. If your doctor has given your child antibiotics, make sure they take all the doses until finished.
It is wise to keep your child with pneumonia away from other children, to limit the spread of infection. A child usually takes a couple of weeks to fully recover.
Over that time the infection-fighting immune system will be cleaning up the pneumonia. Coughing up phlegm is part of the cleaning up process. The cough may last up to 4 weeks but should gradually be getting better over this time. A long-lasting cough, coughing up phlegm, or repeated pneumonia can be a sign of bronchiectasis. This is a type of scarring in the lungs. A small number of children may need specialised treatment for complications. A very small number of children may get very sick.
Breastfeeding your baby protects them from getting pneumonia by boosting their infection-fighting immune system. Breastfeeding beyond 4 months of age offers the best protection.
Make sure your child's environment is smoke-free. This will help reduce the chance of your child getting pneumonia. If you want to give up smoking:. Immunisation helps to prevent some serious causes of pneumonia, in particular, immunisation against the following diseases:.
Make sure your child keeps up with their treatment for any long-lasting chronic conditions such as asthma. Keeping the house warm and well-insulated will also decrease your child's risk of developing pneumonia. Read about keeping your home warm and dry. Make sure everyone in your family washes their hands regularly and thoroughly, and dries them well including but not only before preparing food and eating. Make sure your child has a healthy balanced diet and maintains a healthy weight.
Being underweight or overweight can increase your child's risk of getting pneumonia. Paediatric Society of New Zealand. Best practice evidence-based guideline: Wheeze and chest infection in infants under 1 year. Diagram labels were added to the original. A New Zealand Herald article, written by 3 New Zealand paediatricians, discusses the serious consequences pneumonia can have and how it can be prevented. This page last reviewed 16 March Do you have any feedback for KidsHealth?
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