What should a child with pneumonia eat?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on February 15, 2025
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Childhood pneumonia is an infectious disease that not only presents symptoms related to the respiratory system but also may include symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract, such as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and abdominal distension. Therefore, the diet for pneumonia must be light and easy to digest. For instance, if the child is breastfed, the mother should consume a light and digestible diet. If the child is fed with cow's milk, the milk can be diluted appropriately to aid digestion. Supplementary foods can generally include thin porridge, noodles, rice paste, vegetables, and fruits, as well as a moderate amount of lean meat and eggs, but not in excess. Oily and spicy foods should not be included.

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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.