How to take care of children with pneumonia

Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
Updated on September 11, 2024
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Children with pneumonia need comprehensive and general treatment, and care should be mindful of the following: First, indoor air should be circulated, with a temperature of 18~20°C and humidity at about 60%. Second, provide a nutrition-rich diet. For severe cases where the child has difficulty eating, parenteral nutrition can be given. Third, frequently change the child's position to reduce pulmonary congestion and facilitate the absorption of inflammation. Fourth, pay attention to isolation to prevent cross-infection. Additionally, it is important to monitor and supplement electrolytes and fluids, correct acidosis and electrolyte imbalances. Appropriately supplementing fluids helps moisten the airways, but care should be taken with the speed of fluid administration, as too fast a rate can increase the burden on the heart.

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Written by Yang Feng
Pulmonology
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Symptoms of pneumonia in children

Pneumonia is a particularly common infectious disease of the respiratory system, and infants and young children are especially susceptible to pneumonia because their immune systems are much weaker than those of healthy adults. When infants and young children develop pneumonia, their symptoms differ from adults; they often exhibit only fever, crying, nausea, vomiting, etc. The symptoms of coughing and phlegm are relatively less obvious, making the diagnosis of pneumonia in infants and young children somewhat more difficult. If a patient exhibits fever, auscultation and routine blood tests can be used to preliminarily determine the presence of an infection. If pneumonia is suspected, further comprehensive imaging examinations can be conducted to confirm the diagnosis.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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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.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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The difference between interstitial pneumonia and pneumonia

Interstitial pneumonia, also known as diffuse pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, mainly refers to a disease characterized by the replacement of the lung interstitium with some invisible fibrous tissues, leading to lung atrophy and difficulty breathing as the main manifestations. The pathological site of pneumonia is mainly in the alveoli and lung parenchyma, and patients mainly show symptoms such as coughing, expectoration, and fever, generally not experiencing difficulty breathing. Additionally, interstitial pneumonia and pneumonia have typical and distinct changes in imaging. Through imaging, it is basically possible to differentiate almost completely between interstitial pneumonia and pneumonia without the need for any special techniques.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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What department does pneumonia go to?

What department should I go to for pneumonia? Pneumonia, as the name suggests, is a lung disease, which is to say it is a disease of our respiratory system. Therefore, the most appropriate department to visit would be the Department of Respiratory Medicine. If the patient's condition is relatively stable, they can visit the outpatient Respiratory Medicine department. Of course, there are a small number of patients whose condition is very critical, and in such cases, they must first visit the Department of Emergency Medicine. The doctors in Emergency Medicine will decide based on the patient's condition whether their next step should be to go to Respiratory Medicine, be admitted for in-hospital treatment, remain in the emergency for observation, or need to be admitted to the ICU for further emergency treatment.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Pediatric pneumonia nursing measures

The nursing measures for children's pneumonia include ensuring indoor air circulation, maintaining a temperature between 18 to 24 degrees Celsius, and keeping humidity at 60%. Nutritionally rich diets should be provided. For severely ill children who have difficulty eating, parenteral nutrition can be given. Nursing care should include regular changes in position to reduce lung congestion, frequent back patting to help absorb inflammation and expel phlegm, isolation to prevent cross-infection, and attention to the replenishment and correction of water and electrolytes. Electrolyte imbalance should be addressed, and proper fluid supplementation can also help in opening the airways, but it is important to ensure that the infusion rate is not too fast as it may increase the burden on the heart.