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The symptoms and treatment of pneumonia in children

Pneumonia is an inflammatory process occurring in the tissues of the lung, which can develop as an independent disease or be a complication of some other pathology, most often influenza, measles, whooping cough and others This disease has another name –pneumonia.

Modern scientists have established that cause of acute inflammation of the lungs becomes the interaction of several types of microorganisms and viruses. Risk factors also include adverse living living conditions, malnutrition, rickets, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, exudative diathesis, etc. In Pediatrics, the development of pneumonia is noted in most cases as a complication after an influenza infection, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, so the number of patients with a diagnosis of pneumonia increases dramatically in the cold season. Colds and hypothermia contribute to the creation of favourable conditions for reproduction of pathogens. A vector often becomes the person suffering with the flu or colds.

It is important to remember that the most minor manifestation of respiratory diseases, pathology, asymptomatic or with smoothed symptoms, often pose a greater danger to infants.

Usually the incubation period for pneumonia is two to seven days, all this time, microorganisms multiply in the organs of the upper respiratory tract. In most cases, the first signs of serious pathology, the symptoms characteristic of mild cold: slight fever, runny nose, small cough, redness of the throat and eyes. Two days later all these symptoms of the disease may disappear by themselves or become less pronounced, in some cases, acute pneumonia develops in children without precursors.


Symptoms of pneumonia in children

The structural features of the respiratory system in children contribute to the severe course of pneumonia. A nasopharyngeal space in a young child is undeveloped and its relatively small size and small diameter of the nasal openings and passages do not allow enough warm and clean the air that enters the lungs during inhalation. Unfavorable factor for the development of pathology is also considered to be the narrow lumen of the larynx and trachea, delicate mucous membrane, which is well permeated sufficiently supplied with blood and lymphatic vessels. In addition, the bronchi of children are poorelastic fibers, which contributes to the rapid development of the inflammatory process. The baby's lungs have a more loose structure, contain more blood and less air. Chest newborn – cylindrical form, as edges kids are more horizontal. This physiological feature does not allow the baby to take a deep breath, so his breathing to a certain point remains superficial.

Pneumonia in a mild form in children of early age is quite rare, and the manifestations of pathology may be quite small. In the framework of the medical examination may reveal the following symptoms of pneumonia in children: fever, pale skin, cyanosis around the nose and mouth, shortness of breath. Timely begun treatment, the disease ends with recovery of the child after 10-12 days. Most often, the inflammation of the lungs in the form of light carry a strong children without developmental problems. Late presentation to the doctor, the wrong treatment of the child, the disease can go into pathology moderate or severe. The children in this case become restless, their skin pale, cyanosis of nasolabial triangle becomes pronounced, develops shortness of breath, wings of the nose become more intense, a cough, weakness, breathing becomes irregular, palpitations, superficial. The temperature is in the range of 37.5–38.5 degrees. The disease lasts from three to four weeks. Pathological process – provided that treatment is started in time, ends in complete recovery. Eating health care for the child is untimely or not in full, then the disease becomes complicated. The temperature is high, respiration is superficial, develops dyspnea, cough, cyanosis appears in the nose, lips, ears and nails. Shortness of breath becomes the cause of oxygen starvation, resulting in violated all kinds of metabolism. In some cases, develops purulent inflammatory process in the meninges. Very hard sick with pneumonia premature infants, this disease is a threat to their lives. It is important to note that initial symptoms of illness in premature babies is poorly expressed. The child refuses to take the breast, he marked cyanosis of the skin when feeding, he is not gaining weight. Baby's breath is becoming more frequent on the lips, you may receive the foamy fluid, the baby is lethargic, drowsy, and in some cases excited. The body temperature may remain within normal limits, in case of untimely treatment of a newborn's condition within two or three days drasticallydeteriorating.

Children suffering from rickets and exudative diathesis, requires longer treatment of pneumonia, the disease takes them in a more severe form, often taking a relapsing course. Keep away from infection is also children who were lagging behind after a serious illness, bereaved children have a lot of strength. Require special attention child, recovering from dysentery or intestinal infections.

The treatment of pneumonia in children

The treatment of pneumonia in children requires constant attention by professionals. The child must be isolated from other children and strictly abide by the doctor's orders. Most often, the home treatment is not complete, moreover, the disease at any time may progress, and the condition of the baby can be very heavy and pose a threat to his life, thus delaying hospital treatment dramatically worsens the prognosis of the disease.

Treatment of pneumonia in addition to antibiotics, requires physiotherapy, exercise therapy. Recommended baby massage, breathing exercises, follow-up by the pediatrician. After suffering acute pneumonia the baby is registered in the clinic during the year, if during this period the disease completely does not pass, then the diagnosis of "protracted pneumonia with the transition in the chronic form".