symptoms of pneumonia in children

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 08, 2024
00:00
00:00

Pneumonia in small children commonly occurs in infants and toddlers under two years old, often starting abruptly. It usually begins with symptoms of an upper respiratory infection several days before onset. The main clinical symptoms are as follows: First, there is fever, which can be irregular, remittent, or persistent; in newborns or severely malnourished children, the body temperature may not rise or may be below normal. Second, there is coughing, which is generally frequent; initially, it is a dry, irritating cough, but during the peak of the illness, the cough may subside, returning with phlegm during the recovery period. Third, shortness of breath arises, typically after fever and coughing; sometimes it is accompanied by general symptoms such as listlessness, reduced appetite, restlessness, mild diarrhea, or vomiting.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
57sec home-news-image

What department should I go to for pneumonia?

Pneumonia, as the name suggests, is inflammation of the lungs and belongs to the category of respiratory diseases. Therefore, the primary department to consult is Respiratory Medicine. In places where there is no Respiratory Medicine department, such as community health service centers or township health clinics, patients would have to consult the general internal medicine department instead. Of course, if the symptoms of pneumonia are severe and the condition is critical, and it happens outside of regular outpatient hours, then the patient must be seen by the emergency medicine department. The emergency medicine department will manage and triage pneumonia patients, and then decide their next steps, such as whether to transfer them to the ICU, a regular Respiratory Medicine department, or keep them for observation in the emergency department.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
46sec home-news-image

Symptoms of pneumonia cough in children

Pneumonia in infants commonly occurs in young children, especially those under two years of age. The onset of the disease is usually rapid, starting with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections that gradually evolve into more pronounced respiratory symptoms. The cough is frequent, initially a dry, irritating cough, that progressively worsens as the disease advances. In cases of severe pneumonia, the cough may actually lessen. During the recovery phase, the cough gradually diminishes and rattling sounds can be heard in the throat due to mucus. After the mucus is cleared, there may still be occasional bouts of irritating dry cough, which will slowly subside.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Hu Xue Jun
Pulmonology
56sec home-news-image

Is pneumonia serious?

Is pneumonia serious, and what will happen if it worsens or goes untreated? Severe pneumonia can lead to septic shock and can even be life-threatening. If pneumonia is not treated or not treated thoroughly, it can deteriorate into the following conditions: First, it can cause lung abscesses and empyema, and even lead to pericarditis, meningitis, and more; Second, the infection can enter the bloodstream, causing bacteremia and even septic shock; Third, the patient's continuous high fever can lead to febrile convulsions and even the possibility of coma; Fourth, extensive pneumonia can reduce the function of the alveoli, causing hypoxia and carbon dioxide retention. Hypoxia can affect the function of the nervous system, and patients with severe pneumonia may experience drowsiness, irritability, and even convulsions and coma.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
59sec home-news-image

How many shots are in the pneumonia vaccine?

Currently, there are two general types of vaccines for preventing pneumococcal pneumonia. One type is the 23-valent vaccine, suitable for high-risk populations over two years old. The other type includes the 7-valent or 13-valent vaccines, which are for preventing pneumococcal infections in infants under two years old. Infants under two usually follow a "three plus one" vaccination regimen, which involves three primary immunization doses with at least one month between each dose, followed by a booster shot. Additionally, adults over two years old or other high-risk groups are advised to take the 23-valent vaccine, which requires only a single dose. However, those who are frail or have poor immune responses may need a second booster dose five years after the initial vaccination.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
1min 24sec home-news-image

Can pneumonia vaccines prevent mycoplasma pneumonia?

Can pneumonia vaccines prevent Mycoplasma infections? First, we need to understand what pneumonia vaccines are. In our country, the most commonly used pneumonia vaccines are aimed at Streptococcus pneumoniae, which are divided into polysaccharide vaccines and conjugate vaccines. Polysaccharide vaccines are mainly suitable for individuals over two years old and include the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine. This vaccine can prevent infections caused by twenty-three serotypes that often lead to S. pneumoniae infections, with over 90% of pneumonia caused by these twenty-three serotypes. However, the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine does not prevent infections caused by other serotypes of S. pneumoniae. Additionally, the conjugate vaccine only prevents infections caused by either seven or thirteen serotypes. Since Mycoplasma is neither a bacterium nor a virus, it cannot be prevented by pneumonia vaccines, and currently, there is no vaccine available specifically for Mycoplasma infections.