Newborn pneumonia symptoms

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on September 27, 2024
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If a newborn gets pneumonia, it can manifest as coughing, although some newborns may not cough at all, showing only symptoms like spitting white foam. Some may have a mild fever, while others may experience slightly rapid breathing. More severe cases can present with cyanosis of the lips, unhealthy-looking facial complexion, or a bluish purple facial color. These are signs of severe pneumonia. Additionally, there might be a decrease in urine output, poor responsiveness, etc. The symptoms of pneumonia in newborns are relatively less typical than those in older infants and toddlers.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Do newborns with pneumonia have a red complexion?

Neonatal pneumonia generally does not cause a flushed face; instead, it may lead to cyanosis or blueness. Neonatal pneumonia can present with fever, coughing, and shortness of breath, but these symptoms might not be typical and could merely show as rapid breathing and severe vomiting. The physical signs of neonatal pneumonia are also not obvious, and it is difficult to hear wet rales in the lungs. When a newborn has pneumonia, due to the obstruction of gas exchange in the lungs, the infant will breathe faster to improve the hypoxic condition, thus presenting shortness of breath and a tendency to vomit easily. When a baby has pneumonia, they are prone to hypoxia, and the face and lips may turn blue or cyanotic, rather than red.

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Written by Yang Feng
Pulmonology
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Newborn pneumonia symptoms

Neonatal pneumonia is primarily aspiration pneumonia, which differs from the symptoms of pneumonia in adults. Neonates do not exhibit signs such as coughing or expectoration. Instead, they often show symptoms of anorexia, vomiting, gasping, and fever. During physical examination, wet rales can be heard through auscultation. Once pneumonia is diagnosed, the first step is to clear the newborn's respiratory tract to maintain its patency. At the same time, selecting appropriate antimicrobial drugs to actively control the infection can lead to recovery. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Gao Shan Na
Neonatology
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Is neonatal pneumonia serious?

Neonatal pneumonia can be mild or severe. Severe pneumonia is mainly characterized by cough, shortness of breath, significant tracheal tug signs, and some babies may have cyanosis around the lips, which indicates hypoxia. This type of pneumonia is serious and requires timely medical attention at a hospital. Common manifestations of mild pneumonia include slight shortness of breath, occasional white foam from the mouth, or some babies having phlegm sound in the throat. Chest X-rays show imaging changes in mild cases. Even with mild pneumonia, it is important to seek timely medical care and intervention to shorten the recovery time. Severe pneumonia, however, requires a longer recovery time.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
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How to Prevent and Care for Neonatal Pneumonia

Prevention and care of neonatal pneumonia mainly involve paying attention to the following points: First, pay close attention to the feeding methods to prevent the child from aspirating and causing aspiration pneumonia; Second, ensure that the baby is kept warm to prevent catching colds which could lead to secondary viral or bacterial infections, worsening the condition; Third, be vigilant about preventing cross-infection in terms of hygiene. This includes maintaining hand hygiene and ventilating rooms frequently; Fourth, follow the doctor's orders for treatment and medication, especially if the child has pneumonia and is usually hospitalized. If it is a mother-baby room, follow the doctor’s instructions to properly administer medication to the child to prevent aspiration during medication, which could worsen the condition.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
1min 14sec home-news-image

Obvious symptoms of neonatal pneumonia

The clinical manifestations of neonatal pneumonia vary greatly and can usually be divided into three scenarios. The first scenario involves congenital pneumonia, which generally occurs within 24 hours after birth due to intrauterine infection. There is often a history of asphyxia, and after birth, the symptoms can include significant shortness of breath, moaning, cyanosis, and even respiratory distress. The baby may also exhibit unstable body temperature and poor responsiveness. The second scenario is pneumonia acquired during the delivery process. Typically, the clinical symptoms appear later, arising several days or weeks post-birth. It is usually characterized by reduced appetite, coughing, and varying degrees of fever. The third scenario is pneumonia acquired after birth, where onset is relatively sudden. Symptoms may include fever or hypothermia, frothy spit, phlegm, and in some cases, coughing. Generally, the responsiveness is relatively poor in these cases. Due to the large variety of clinical symptoms resulting from different types of infections at different stages, it is crucial to carefully distinguish between them and seek timely medical examination and treatment at a hospital.