How to identify a child with pneumonia at home. Signs of pneumonia in a child: how to identify pneumonia by the first symptoms and start treatment. General principles of treatment

In Russia, pneumonia is fixed in 10 small children out of 1000. Signs of pneumonia in a child depend on the age and type of the disease. Infants and children under 4 years of age are most susceptible to this pathology. Diagnosis of pneumonia in young children can be done using fluoroscopy. After confirming the medical report, the doctor decides on the hospitalization of the patient and selects antibiotic therapy. The disease lasts an average of 7-10 days.

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Types of pediatric pneumonia

Depending on the location of the foci of inflammation, pneumonia can be:

• equity;
• segmental;
• right hand;
• left-sided;
• bilateral.

According to the form, community-acquired (home), hospital and congenital pneumonias are distinguished. The least common is atypical childhood pneumonia caused by mycoplasma. Pneumonia is classified separately, which is characteristic of patients with immunodeficiency states.

The most common types of pneumonia are:

• focal bronchopneumonia;
• equity lobar pneumonia(pneumococcal);
• segmental (polysegmental) bronchopneumonia;
• interstitial acute.

Moreover, each of the types of pneumonia can be divided into uncomplicated and complicated. This form sometimes entails more serious diseases such as effusion pleurisy, lung destruction, etc.

According to the duration of the course of the disease, pneumonia can be:

• acutely current (lasting up to 4 weeks);
• protracted (stated in the case when inflammatory process in the lungs lasts more than 4 weeks).

Any untreated pneumonia, especially in children under 3 years of age, becomes chronic. This form is characterized by irreversible changes in bronchial tree and constant relapses.

Types of pediatric pneumonia

Causes of pneumonia

Pneumonia is a complication of diseases such as bronchitis and bronchial asthma, laryngitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, SARS.

In newborns, pneumonia is most often caused by streptococci and staphylococci. Sometimes the cause can be pneumococci and Haemophilus influenzae.

Congenital pneumonia manifests itself within the first 72 hours of a baby's life. Infection with bacteria and chlamydia can occur during childbirth, then neonatal pneumonia manifests itself from 6 to 14 days of a child's life.

Another cause of the disease is the presence intrauterine infection against the background of weak immunity. Herpes viruses, cytomegalovirus can also be provocateurs of the disease. Sometimes contribute to the disease birth defects development.

In children older than a year, the cause of pneumonia is:

• chronic infections;
• complicated sinusitis, adenoiditis, problems of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems;
• improper treatment of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections (in the case of the use of drugs that suppress cough).

The frequent use of vasoconstrictor drugs, or their use with a strong discharge from the nose, can contribute to the descent of the virus into the bronchi.

Despite the general misconception, it is extremely rare for the development of pneumonia to become a severe hypothermia of the child.

Symptoms of pneumonia

Clinical picture depends on the following factors:

• forms;
• pathogen;
• severity;
• child's age.

The main symptom of pneumonia is shortness of breath. There may be a deep paroxysmal cough. Possible confluence chest. If the disease is severe, the child may have choking attacks during or immediately after coughing. Breathing in children quickens, becomes superficial, it becomes impossible to take a deep breath. Pneumonia can also be recognized by wheezing in the lungs.

Additional symptoms:

1. Increased body temperature, swelling of the legs.
2. The face, especially the lips, becomes pale or gray/bluish. As a rule, this is characteristic of bacterial pneumonia, and is caused by spasms of blood vessels.
3. Appetite decreases or disappears completely. The child may lose significant weight.
4. There is lethargy, irritability, increased fatigue.

In the video, the famous doctor talks about the symptoms of pneumonia. Video taken from the channel "Doctor Komarovsky".

Signs in children of the first year of life

Pneumonia in newborns and babies of the first year of life is manifested by general lethargy and excessive drowsiness. The child refuses to eat, cries a lot, behaves restlessly. Symptoms increase gradually. As soon as the baby's mother notices similar symptoms, you need to contact your pediatrician, even at normal body temperature. The chances of survival in young patients, especially in infants, depend on the timeliness of medical care. Inflammation of the lungs in newborns, especially intrauterine pneumonia, is often fatal.

Depending on the age of the child, the signs of pneumonia are:

1. At month old baby observed respiratory failure due to underdevelopment immune system kids.
2. In a two-month-old baby, the disease is characterized by multiple small focal lesions of the lungs.
3. When three-month-old babies get sick, two lungs are affected at once.
4. A one-year-old child is more likely to develop segmental pneumonia, which can cause the most complications.

A doctor should identify the presence of pneumonia, the diagnosis is confirmed by x-rays and a blood test. The number of leukocytes helps to understand the presence of the disease, an increase in which is a sign of the development of pneumonia in children.

First signals

The first signs of the onset of the disease in babies:

• violation of behavior in the direction of increased capriciousness;
• frequent or loose stools;
• paroxysmal cough, aggravated by crying, accompanied by vomiting, yellow or green clots may be coughed up.
• the child begins to spit up frequently between feedings;
• sleep is disturbed - it becomes intermittent, restless.

Body temperature

Body temperature in babies can remain unchanged or rise to subfibrile - 37.1-37.5 degrees. This is related to weak immunity and will not help determine the severity of the disease.

Baby's breath

Breathing in pneumonia becomes rapid (more than 30 breaths per minute), heavy, with retraction in place lung lesions. When a child becomes ill, he begins to inflate his cheeks or nostrils, retract his lips and nod in time with the breath being taken. In children under 3 months, foam may appear in the mouth and nose, which may signal an impending respiratory arrest.

Cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle

For babies of the first year of life, blue in the area of ​​​​the nose and lips is characteristic. This sign can be noticed during feeding, when the baby is tense. Cyanosis can also be discernible in a relaxed state, which indicates the spread of bacteria and vasospasm.

It looks like cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle in the baby

Signs in preschool children

The first sign of pneumonia in children 3-5 years old is an increase in body temperature from 3 to 5 days of ARVI.

Additional symptoms:

1. Intoxication of the body is greatly enhanced, the child becomes irritable.
2. Sleep problems are noted - the baby tosses and turns, wakes up, behaves restlessly, while lethargy and loss of appetite are expressed.
3. Another sign of the development of pneumonia is a body temperature that is difficult to reduce. Drugs that helped before, no longer work.
4. There is chest pain and increased sweating.
5. Cough appears from the 5th day of illness or is absent.
6. Sometimes appear skin rashes and muscle pain.
7. Perhaps the development of tachycardia. Breathing quickens - more than 50 breaths per minute.

Signs in schoolchildren

In children 7-12 years old, the symptoms are expressed as follows:

• breathing is heavy and hard, quickening up to 60 times per minute;
• against the background of the development of pneumonia in the lungs, fine bubbling rales appear, muffled tones are heard at the site of inflammation;
• body temperature rises to 39-40 degrees and lasts 3 days, as a rule, without further increase;
• sputum comes out badly, the child suffers from a dry cough;
• pallor or blueness of the lips is noted.

Segmental pneumonia

Segmental pneumonia affects entire segments of the lungs, causing them to deform. It can develop at any age, children aged 3-7 years are most susceptible to the disease. It is characterized by severe intoxication of the body with an increase in body temperature above 38.5 degrees. In the course of the disease, respiratory failure develops. Segmental pneumonia is treated for a long time, usually in stationary conditions. Cough rarely occurs. Restoration of lung cells stretches for 2-3 months. May form bronchiectasis - an increase in individual areas.

This is what a child's lungs look like on an x-ray with segmental pneumonia

Indications for hospitalization

Newborns and babies under 3 years of age must be in the hospital. Children over 3 years of age are admitted to the hospital if the disease is severe or complicated by other chronic diseases. The decision on the child's stay in the hospital or at home is made by the attending physician after assessing the condition of the sick baby and the results of the analysis.

Indications for hospitalization of children younger and older school age are lesions of several lobes of the lung, abscess or sepsis. If the pressure drops, the child faints or feels excessive weakness, it is advisable to hospitalize him for constant monitoring. Any disturbance of consciousness is a reason for emergency hospitalization. At any age, children with obstructive syndrome or pleurisy are placed in the hospital.

Treatment of the disease

The principles of treatment of pneumonia depend on the causative agent of the disease. Viral pneumonia resolves on its own within 7 days and does not require additional treatment. Bacterial infections can only be treated with antibiotics. It is very important to ensure enough liquids, even if the child refuses to drink on his own.

Standards of care for childhood pneumonia include the use of the following medications:

1. Cough. Drugs are used to thin the sputum and facilitate its excretion. It can be used in the form of tablets or syrups, the composition can be chemical or natural. Well proven - Ambroxol (from birth), Bromhexine (from 3 years).
2. Temperature. Antipyretic drugs are used if the body temperature is above 38.5 degrees. The most popular are Paracetamol (from birth) and Nurofen (from birth).
3. Antibiotics. First of all, appoint penicillin series, but the choice depends on the form of pneumonia. Popular - Amoxicillin (from birth), Erythromycin (from 4 months).
4. Probiotics - Linex (from birth), Bifikol (from 6 months).

If pneumonia occurs against the background of SARS, it is important to treat a runny nose. With mucosal edema, it is imperative to use vasoconstrictor drugs - Otrivin (from 6 years old), Nazivin (from 1 year old). flush saline solutions- Aqua Maris, Quick, Pshik, all of them can be used from birth.

With bronchial obstruction, treatment with Berodual or Eufillin is prescribed. Preparations can be used from birth under medical supervision.

Varieties of medicines for pneumonia, dosage and method of administration are indicated in the table:

Type of medication	Name of the drug	Age	Dosage	Method of administration
Thinning sputum	Ambroxol Bromhexine	from birth	up to 6 years - 1/2 tsp, up to 12 years - 1 tsp, over 12 years - 2 tsp. 3-6 years - 2.5 ml, 6-10 years - 5-10 ml, over 10 years - 10-20 ml	2-3 times a day, during meals 3 times a day
Antipyretic	Paracetamol	from birth from birth	15 mg per 1 kg	3-4 times a day 3 times a day
Antibiotics	Amoxicillin Erythromycin	from birth from 4 months	20 mg per 1 kg 50 mg per 1 kg	divided into 3 doses divided into 4 doses
Probiotics	Linex	from birth from 6 months	up to 7 years old - 1 sachet, over 7 years old - 2 sachets up to 12 months - 1 dose, older than a year - 5-10 doses	1 time per day 3 hours after the antibiotic Dissolve 1 dose in 1 tsp. water, apply 20-30 minutes before meals
Vasoconstrictor	Otrivin	from 6 years old	1 injection up to 6 years - 0.025% - 1-2 drops, over 6 years - 0.5% - 1-2 drops	3-4 times a day 2-3 times a day
Solutions for flushing	Aqua Maris	from birth from birth	1-2 irrigations 1-2 irrigations	3 times a day 3 times a day
With bronchospasm	Berodual Atrovent	from birth from birth	2 drops (0.1 mg) per 1 kg per dose, not more than 1.5 mg per day individually Linex - 536 rubles Otrivin - 164 rubles Paracetamol - 55 rubles Basic rules for treating pneumonia at home As soon as the child begins to get sick, the temperature in his room should be 18-19 degrees, because the cool air prevents the mucus in the lungs from drying out quickly. It is advisable to remove all dust collectors and carpets, if this is not possible, wet cleaning should be done more often. It is better to do this once a day, but at least twice a week without the use of perfumed detergents. The room where the child is located should be regularly ventilated and humidified. To do this, you can use special household appliances, air ionizers or any other items (towels on a battery, a basin of water). Air every 10 minutes for an hour. How long the treatment of pneumonia at home will last will depend on the child's compliance with the drinking regimen and diet. Meals should be light, without fatty and fried foods. Ideal for vegetable soups and steamed meats. If the child does not want to eat, you can limit yourself to decoctions of dried fruits, compote or tea. The disease is treated faster if adhered to bed rest. You can walk on the street from 6-7 days of illness with good health and favorable weather conditions. Disease prevention Prevention plays an important role in the treatment of pneumonia. It starts during pregnancy, when expectant mothers should avoid smoking and inhaling tobacco smoke. You need to take care of your health and nutrition. There are the following measures to prevent pneumonia: Hardening of the body. The stronger the child's immune system, the lower the risk of developing pneumonia. Frequent long walks outdoors. Avoid damp, moldy or poorly ventilated areas. Timely treatment of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections, especially in babies of the first year of life.

Inflammation of the lungs occurs for certain reasons, accompanied by a severe deterioration in well-being, pain and weakness.

If treatment is not started on time, serious complications can occur. We will talk about the symptoms and treatment of pneumonia in children in the article.

Description and characteristics

According to experts, pneumonia is inflammatory process lung tissue. It has an infectious nature, caused by viruses, fungi, pathogenic bacteria. The official name of the disease is pneumonia.

Pathology is very dangerous, as it develops quickly. In the early stages, it resembles the common cold. Patients start serious treatment usually in the later stages.

With this disease lung tissue is significantly affected, which negatively affects the functioning of the entire pulmonary system.

When and why might it occur?

A person can get sick at any age. However most often pneumonia affects children 2-5 years old. The disease occurs for the following reasons:

The disease occurs most often during the cold season. In autumn and winter, children get supercooled, get the flu, SARS. Against the background of these diseases, pneumonia can develop.

The risk group includes children who often catch colds. A child with low immunity has a huge chance of getting pneumonia.

There is a high probability of getting sick in premature babies, whose lungs are not fully developed, have defects.

What is called?

The causative agents of the disease are pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi.

To the most common harmful microorganisms relate:

• pneumococci;
• streptococci;
• staphylococci;
• legionella;
• mycoplasma.

As soon as these microorganisms penetrate the child's body, they begin to actively influence it. First symptoms may appear the next day., but they are easily confused with a cold.

However, there are times when pneumonia occurs due to severe hypothermia. Inhaled frosty air can damage the lung tissue and lead to inflammation.

The severity of the course of the disease depends on the following factors:

1. Extensiveness of the process. It can be focal, focal-confluent, segmental, lobar, interstitial.
2. Age child. The younger the baby, the thinner his airways. Thin airways lead to poor gas exchange in the body. This contributes to the severe course of pneumonia.
3. Localization the cause of the disease. If the disease has affected a small part of the lungs, it is not difficult to cure it, but with a strong lesion respiratory system The child is very difficult to treat. We must not forget that when the lungs are affected by bacteria and viruses, it is difficult to get rid of the disease. Antibiotics may be needed.
4. Immunity child. The higher the immunity of the baby, the protective functions of the body, the faster he will recover.

How to treat obstructive bronchitis in children? Learn about it from ours.

Types and classification

Specialists distinguish pathology by the area of ​​the lesion:

• focal. Occupies a small part of the lungs;
• segmental. Affects one or several segments of the lung;
• equity. Distributes to the lobe of the lung;
• drain. Small foci merge into large ones, gradually grow;
• total. The lung is affected as a whole. The most severe form of the disease.

There are two types of the disease:

• unilateral. One lung is affected;
• bilateral. Both lungs are affected.

Symptoms and clinical picture

How to determine pneumonia in a child? The clinical picture appears quite clearly. To general symptoms diseases include:

1. Coughing. May occur when taking a deep breath. He becomes stronger, more obsessive. On the early stage disease it is dry, then sputum appears.
2. Dyspnea. Breathing becomes heavy, shortness of breath torments the baby even without physical exertion.
3. Elevated temperature. It is difficult to lower it, it stays around 39 degrees.
4. Runny nose. going on copious excretion mucus from the nose.
5. Dizziness, nausea. The child refuses to eat, vomits. The baby turns pale, weakens.
6. Sleep disturbance. Frequent cough prevents the child from falling asleep. He wakes up many times during the night.

Symptoms of the disease are also pallorskin, decreased performance, fatigue.

The kid refuses to play, lies a lot. The disease leads to lethargy and severe weakness.

Babies up to a year very hard to bear the disease. Almost immediately, the temperature rises to 39 degrees, there is a strong fever, weakness.

How to recognize pneumonia in infants? infant cries, cannot sleep, refuses to eat. The baby's pulse increases, it becomes difficult for the child to breathe. He puffs out his cheeks and purses his lips. Foamy discharge from the mouth is possible.

In older children have a severe cough. The kid is naughty, he is sick. The child refuses food, turns pale. It is accompanied by fatigue, lethargy. He looks sleepy, naughty. Discharge from the nose is at first liquid, but with the course of the disease becomes thick.

Diagnostics

Diagnostics carried out in the hospital. For this patient, they examine, then apply:

1. Blood test.
2. Sputum examination.
3. Serological tests. Help to identify the causative agent of the disease.
4. Determination of the concentration of gases in arterial blood in patients with signs of respiratory failure.
5. X-ray. Identifies lesions.

These diagnostic methods help to quickly establish a diagnosis and prescribe appropriate medications.

Helps to diagnose faster differential diagnosis. Pneumonia is distinguished from diseases that have similar symptoms:

• tuberculosis;
• allergic pneumonitis;
• ornithosis;
• sarcoidosis.

The diseases are so similar that it is possible to distinguish them only after laboratory tests.

Thorough examination of blood and sputum the patient helps specialists to determine the pathology. At the first examination of the patient, it will not be possible to distinguish the above diseases from pneumonia.

Complications and consequences

If the disease is not treated, negative consequences may occur, which manifest themselves in the form of:

Indications for hospitalization

The condition during illness in children is very difficult. In some cases hospitalization is required. The indications for it are:

1. Severe fever.
2. Purulent process in the lungs.
3. High degree of intoxication of the body.
4. Serious breathing difficulties.
5. Dehydration of the body.
6. Availability concomitant diseases. Exacerbation of chronic pathologies.

The child may also be hospitalized high temperature, which cannot be reduced with the help of medicines, with a strong cough with signs of suffocation.

Treatment

How to treat pneumonia in children? Baby can be cured different ways. There are many drugs for this, but they are prescribed by doctors only after examining patients.

Drugs and antibiotics

Effective drugs against this pathology are:

• Amoxiclav;
• Azitrox;
• Klacid;
• Roxybid.

These funds fight fungi, bacteria and viruses in the child's body.

They destroy the cause of the disease, normalize the condition of the child. The dosage of drugs and the duration of administration are prescribed by the doctor.

If these drugs do not help, specialists prescribe antibiotics:

• Levoflox;
• Moximac;
• Unidox Solutab;
• Suprax;
• Cedex.

They effectively fight the disease, eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease, the child's condition returns to normal.

To treat cough and eliminate phlegm recommend taking ACC. The drug contributes to the recovery of the child. Take the medicine one tablet 2-3 times a day.

Folk remedies

Helps eliminate disease onion based products.

For this, juice is extracted from a small bulb. It is mixed with the same amount of honey.

The resulting product is consumed in a small spoon 2-3 times a day before meals.

Prepared to fight the disease garlic oil. To do this, grind two cloves of garlic to the state of gruel, mix with 100 g butter. The finished product should be consumed 2-3 times a day, spreading on bread.

An effective remedy is decoction of honey and aloe. To do this, mix 300 g of honey, half a glass of water and a crushed aloe leaf. The mixture is simmered for two hours. Then the remedy is cooled, taken in a large spoon three times a day.

Physiotherapy

Includes the following methods:

• electrophoresis;
• inhalation;
• decimeter wave therapy;
• magnetotherapy;
• thermal procedures;
• inductothermy.

These procedures are carried out in the hospital by experienced doctors. For this, special devices are used. The doctor prescribes a certain number of procedures. The methods are usually applied while the patient is in the hospital.

With their help, you can achieve incredible results: significantly improve the child's condition, eliminate the symptoms of the disease. The baby will recover quickly. The body can recover.

Prevention measures

1. Avoidance public places during the cold season. Usually, infection occurs in public places.
2. Child before the walk dress warmly. In frosty weather, it is better to refuse a walk.
3. Healthy eating, taking vitamins. Help to strengthen the body of the baby, raise immunity. Harmful food is excluded from the diet of the child.
4. baby can't contact with a sick person. The child's body may soon get sick.
5. Moderate physical exercise . Contribute to strengthening the immune system. Charging in the morning, gymnastic exercises help.

The disease causes severe damage children's body, leads to complications if treatment is not started on time. It is recommended that at the first symptoms of the disease, consult a doctor who will prescribe the necessary medications.

Doctor Komarovsky about pneumonia in children:

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Pneumonia - pathological process in the tissues of these organs, caused by the activity of the infection. The ability to cure the disease without consequences is increased due to modern ways diagnostics, a wide range of antibiotics. In order to detect the disease in time, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with typical symptoms pneumonia, if detected, start treatment.

Pneumonia - dangerous pathology, for a complete cure from which it is necessary to apply a set of measures after the onset of the first symptoms. If the lung tissue suffers from the action, the work of the entire respiratory system is disrupted. The main feature of a typical form of the disease is the implementation respiratory function not in full. Cells receive an insufficient amount of oxygen, which negatively affects the general condition of the patient. Visually, you can notice the appearance of a strong weakness, fatigue. The child is practically not interested in things that were of value to him before. Sleepiness appears.

Infectious pathogens

The following infectious agents can affect the occurrence of pneumonia:

1. bacteria. Inflammation of the lung tissue causes staphylococcus aureus, pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae or Escherichia coli.
2. Viruses.
3. Fungal.
4. Chlamydia, mycoplasmas.
5. Helminths. If a child fell ill with pneumonia at the age of 2 years, it is possible that the larvae influenced the onset of the pathological process. If roundworms are present in the body, the larvae can spread through the pulmonary circulation, reaching the lung tissue.

Impaired immune response

Immunity to the child improves slowly, special Negative influence cause bacterial infections. If a child at the age of 2 begins to attend any circles, goes to Kindergarten, increases the likelihood of a dangerous disease, including pneumonia. If your child suffers from frequent runny noses that turn into sinusitis, has a sore throat several times a year, it is possible that his body will not be able to cope even with a simple infection.

Deterioration of local immunity

The condition of the nasal mucosa affects the ability to purify the air from pathogenic bacteria. When air enters the nasal cavity, it is cleared of negative impurities, in particular, dangerous microorganisms. If for any reason the standard structure of the mucosa is broken, a runny nose occurs, from which a person cannot breathe through the nose, bacteria, viruses quickly penetrate below. An inflammatory process may occur in the tissues of the respiratory organs. Pharyngitis, bronchitis develops, the occurrence of pneumonia is not excluded.

On a note! It is necessary to pay attention to protracted pharyngitis in a timely manner, to carry out competent treatment to eliminate the possibility of dangerous complications.

Physiological causes

In most cases, children under 2 years of age have anatomical features, which may contribute to the development of pneumonia.

Risk factors:

1. Insufficient permeability respiratory tract, which affects the rapid increase in the number of infections, the occurrence of difficulties in stopping the symptoms of the disease.
2. Slow ventilation of the lungs due to underdevelopment bone tissue ribs.
3. An incompletely developed respiratory system, which increases the risk of atelectasis, which provokes the preparation of an optimal environment for the reproduction of dangerous microorganisms.
4. The constant presence of the child in a prone position, this is what there is a risk of formation of stagnant processes.

Signs of illness

Main symptoms:

Violation	Peculiarities
General restlessness, sleep disorders	Parents immediately notice a child’s poor appetite, unreasonable whims may appear even in calm children.
Increasing nasal congestion	Difficulty in breathing
Cough	In the first stage of the disease this symptom may be missing
Increase in body temperature	This phenomenon is not always observed. It is necessary to be attentive to the condition of the child in order to timely identify the disease, even if it is not accompanied by fever
Apnea	Often with pneumonia in children who have reached the age of two, there are respiratory arrests that last for several minutes. This deviation can affect the behavior of the baby, cause psychological disorders.
Change in skin tone in the nasolabial triangle	During this process, blanching of the wings of the nose and corners of the mouth is possible, sometimes these areas become cyanotic
Stool pathologies	Constipation is possible as a result of dehydration, as well as diarrhea if the infection has spread not only to the tissue of the lungs, but also to the organs of the gastrointestinal tract

Typical symptoms of pneumonia

When a child reaches the age of 2 years, there is a significant improvement protective functions organism. At the same time, the possibility of developing bacterial infection, entailing serious problems with health. Often, children suffer from pleurisy, accompanied by the release of exudate. In some cases, pneumonia does not go away as the only disease, but proceeds along with pharyngitis, severe tonsillitis. If a serious allergic reaction develops due to taking a large number antibiotics, narrowing of the lumen in the bronchi is possible.

The first symptoms of pneumonia:

1. Deterioration of the general condition of the body.
2. Signs of severe intoxication without other symptoms of poisoning.
3. In the case of an increase in temperature, this indicator does not decrease. It is necessary to worry if such a deviation lasts for 3 days.
4. When breathing, the intercostal muscles are involved, which is why they are often drawn inward over the affected area.
5. Cyanosis that occurs in the region of the nasolabial triangle. This deviation can manifest itself in a calm state of the baby, but most often it intensifies during crying, emotional overstrain.

On a note! Usually inflammation of the lungs at the age of two develops due to the action of bacteria. The body at this age is less susceptible to viruses, but the immune system has not yet adapted enough to fight bacteria. On listening, it is diagnosed hard breathing, the doctor notes moist rales.

With the aggravation of the disease, severe shortness of breath occurs. This deviation develops quite quickly, since the organs and cells receive an insufficient amount of oxygen. Signs of pneumonia are often associated with a respiratory viral infection. Parents first of all pay attention to the increasing runny nose, cough, fever. At this age, inflammation of one lung or its lobe most often appears.

Inflammation of the lungs can occur both unexpectedly and after a strong viral infection. Attention should be paid to a strong cough that cannot be stopped with standard medicines. If you find this symptom, you should contact a specialist as soon as possible. In some cases, with the development of pneumonia, the cough increases at night. General state the child worsens, activity slows down. In this case, the baby can reveal severe anxiety, especially with the aggravation of negative symptoms.

It is worth paying attention to poor appetite. With pneumonia, one of characteristic symptoms is the pallor of the skin, an increase in the frequency of breathing up to 40 times per minute. Consideration should be given to the presence of a large number of cases of pneumonia without strong rise temperature, in conditions of an erased clinical picture.

On a note! It is necessary to assess the condition of the child, paying attention to specific indicators, in particular, temperature.

Dangerous forms of pneumonia

The latent form of pneumonia is characterized by blurred symptoms. It is the most dangerous species diseases. It is necessary to carefully monitor the behavior of the child. With pneumonia, his condition worsens significantly, usually parents notice whims, crying, while coughing and runny nose do not occur.

A latent form of pneumonia can appear when immunity deteriorates. Risk of occurrence this disease increases if parents do not monitor the dosage and frequency of medication. These drugs adversely affect human immunity, are especially dangerous in early age. Antibiotics often provide negative impact together with antitussive drugs, since as a result of blocking the process that regulates the release of sputum along with mucus, the risk of infection and the spread of infection increases. Children who are immunocompromised from birth have an increased risk of developing pneumonia.

On a note! Atypical pneumonia is caused by chlamydia, mycoplasmas. There may be strong structural changes in lung tissue, while common signs do not reflect symptoms.

The main signs of an atypical form of pneumonia:

1. Severe intoxication that does not go away for no apparent reason.
2. Headache.
3. Unpleasant sensations in the muscles.
4. Hyperhidrosis.
5. Increased body temperature (this symptom may be absent).
6. The amount of food consumed per day is significantly reduced. The child may refuse food completely.
7. Enlargement of lymph nodes in size.

With atypical pneumonia, the disease can be detected due to the retraction of the skin in the area of ​​​​the inflamed area during breathing. If inflammation of the lungs arose as a result of the activity of mycoplasma on the skin, the formation of a polymorphic rash is possible. An increase in the size of the spleen and liver is not excluded, which is most often noted only at a doctor's appointment. Quite often pneumonia proceeds at the erased symptomatic picture, which is why people confuse it with pharyngitis, a protracted sore throat. It is necessary to identify the disease as early as possible in order to eliminate the risk of complications.

Video - How to suspect pneumonia?

How is the diagnosis made?

Signs that lead to the diagnosis of pneumonia:

1. Persistent shortness of breath, in some cases there is difficulty in breathing. In young children, shortness of breath is especially pronounced, also this phenomenon increases in proportion to the area of ​​the site of inflammation.
2. Characteristic wheezing, retraction of the affected area inward during breathing.
3. Decreased duration of percussion sound in about half of patients. Even if this symptom is absent in the first stages of the disease, the absence of inflammation cannot be asserted.
4. Wheezing on breathing. If the disease occurs in acute form, this phenomenon may not be detected. If wheezing is heard evenly, this often indicates not pneumonia, but bronchitis.
5. Weakening of breathing. If there are no characteristic wheezing during pneumonia, this symptom is often diagnosed. To clarify the diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct an examination additionally.

Important, but not characteristic signs of pneumonia in children are disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, symptoms of severe intoxication in the body, fever, hyperhidrosis. Please note that when coughing occurs in case of deep breath you should immediately consult a specialist, as this symptom may indicate a serious respiratory disease.

On a note! When taking a blood test for pneumonia, leukocytosis is often diagnosed, which is also important. diagnostic criterion. To determine the causative agent of the disease, carry out bacteriological examination. Also during diagnostic examination sensitivity to antibiotics is detected, which allows you to choose the best drugs.

Video - How to diagnose pneumonia?

How to prevent pneumonia?

It is necessary to adhere to the basic rules to reduce the likelihood of developing the disease:

1. Pay close attention to the recommendations, advice of the attending physician when a viral, bacterial infection is detected.
2. Inflammation of the lungs may appear as a complication of SARS. To prevent the onset of the disease, it is necessary to promptly treat a runny nose, pharyngitis and other common diseases.
3. When recovering from SARS, you should not immediately send the child to a kindergarten, other places where increased risk bacterial or viral infections. It is advisable to wait about 2 weeks. During this time, the immune system will return to normal, which will reduce the likelihood of complications. Antibiotics can be used only with the appropriate appointment of a specialist.
4. If you find out about the spread of any epidemic, it is advisable to spend more time at home, do not go to places with a lot of people. During the epidemic, it is advisable to refuse to visit the kindergarten, if possible, leave the child at home.
5. Maintaining hygiene will help reduce the risk of infection in the body. It is necessary to accustom the child to basic hygiene standards from infancy.

On a note! If pneumonia is diagnosed, a specialized course of therapy is necessary. In some cases, the transfer of the child to the hospital is required. It is forbidden to choose a treatment regimen on your own. It is possible to treat a child at home only after visiting a doctor and receiving the appropriate permission.

Pneumonia can be classical scheme, and atypical. In both cases, it is necessary to quickly identify the disease, as well as conduct competent treatment. Knowing the main signs of pathology, it is possible to diagnose pneumonia in a timely manner in order to prevent the development of complications.

Inflammation of the lungs is a disease that occurs among children quite often. According to statistics, it accounts for about 80% of all pathologies of the respiratory system. Signs of pneumonia detected at an early stage in a child make it possible to start treatment on time and speed up recovery.

Causes of the disease

Pathogens - pathogenic viruses, bacteria, various fungi. Depending on the nature of the disease, the treatment regimen is selected.

Provoking factors for the development of pneumonia are:

• Weakened immunity.
• Lack of vitamins.
• Postponed respiratory disease.
• Penetration foreign object into the respiratory tract.
• Stress.

Staphylococcal and streptococcal pneumonia can be associated with other diseases and occur after the flu, measles, whooping cough. Due to insufficiently developed respiratory muscles, a small patient cannot clear himself of sputum accumulating in the bronchi. As a result, ventilation of the lungs is disturbed, sedimentation occurs in them pathogenic microorganisms which causes an inflammatory process.

Pathogenic bacteria provoke other diseases. Streptococcus pneumonia in the throat often causes acute tonsillitis.

First signs

Symptoms of pneumonia in children manifest themselves in a certain way. It depends on different factors. For example, aspiration pneumonia in children it develops gradually, at the initial stage, signs of it may not be noticed. After a while, coughing, chest pains and other symptoms appear depending on the site of aspiration. This form of the disease is distinguished by the absence of chills and fever. At SARS in children, the symptoms are more pronounced - there is a lump in the throat, watery eyes, headaches, dry cough.

By the end of the first week of the disease, the cough intensifies, the temperature in pneumonia in children can rise to 40 ° C. Accession of rhinitis, tracheitis is possible. Many parents are interested in what temperature during pneumonia is considered normal. It depends on the state of the child's immune system. Some types of pneumonia occur without fever at all.

On the initial stage pneumonia symptoms in children can manifest themselves in different ways.

Signs of pneumonia in a child under one year old:

• Cyanosis of the skin, especially in the region of the nasolabial triangle.
• A sharp rise in temperature.
• Difficulty breathing due to accumulation of mucus in the lungs.
• Cough.
• Lethargy.

How pneumonia manifests itself in infants helps determine the number respiratory movements in 1 minute. In a child of 2 months, it is equal to 50 breaths. As it grows, this figure decreases. So, in a child of 3 months, it is already 40, and by the year it decreases to 30 breaths. If this indicator is exceeded, you should contact your pediatrician.

Cyanosis of the skin

With pneumonia in children, the symptoms and treatment differ at different ages. For older children age group the appearance of sputum is characteristic when the pathological process reaches the bronchi. Suspicion of pneumonia occurs when wheezing, cyanosis of the lips are observed. Recognize inflammation helps the main symptom - shortness of breath. If it does not disappear after a course of treatment, then an additional examination is required.

As Dr. Yevgeny Komarovsky assures, the first symptoms do not cause such harm as the subsequent ones. Therefore, it is important to be able to distinguish the signs of the disease at an early stage.

Peculiar symptoms of pneumonia

Each type of disease manifests itself in its own way, depending on the location of the inflammatory focus.

Left sided pneumonia

With a similar form of the disease, the pathological process develops on the left side. Left-sided pneumonia is much more dangerous compared to other types due to the irreversibility of the consequences that may occur. The lung becomes inflamed against the background of past respiratory diseases, when a weakened immune system cannot resist the effects of pathogens. Left-sided pneumonia is slightly different severe symptoms which makes diagnosis difficult.

Among the most characteristic:

• Pain in the left side of the chest.
• Nausea.
• Cough with sputum, which may contain purulent inclusions.
• A sharp increase in temperature, accompanied by chills.
• Feeling severe pain during inhalation.

It happens that left-sided pneumonia occurs without temperature and other symptoms. obvious signs. Delayed treatment in this case can cause serious complications, increases the risk of death.

Right sided pneumonia

A form of the disease, which is characterized by the presence of a lesion in one of the lobes of the lung - the upper, middle or lower. It is much more common than left-sided pneumonia. Each of the five cases are children under 3 years of age. The most severe disease occurs in newborns and children under 2 years of age.

It is distinguished by:

• Cough with copious sputum.
• Tachycardia.
• Cyanosis of the skin, especially in the area of ​​the nasolabial triangle.
• Leukocytosis.

Often, the right-sided form occurs with mild symptoms.

Bilateral pneumonia

A disease in which both lungs become inflamed. It is very difficult, especially in children under one year old. Therefore, bilateral pneumonia in a child is treated only in stationary conditions.

In newborns and children of the 1st year of life hallmark is pale skin, shortness of breath, cough, asthenic syndrome, bloating, hypotension. Wheezing is heard in the lungs. The development of the disease is rapid, the little man needs urgent hospitalization.

In children aged 2 years, symptoms of inflammation are often manifested as a result of allergic reaction. In children aged 3–5 years, the disease often develops after acute respiratory infections. During treatment, attention should be paid to elevated temperature that persists for more than three days.

At the age of over 6 years, pneumonia occurs with alternating sluggish course and exacerbation.

Regardless of age, bilateral pneumonia in a child is helped by the following signs: rise in temperature to 40⁰С, rapid breathing, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, cyanosis, cough, drowsiness, weakness. percussion sound when listening, it is shortened on the side of the lesion, wheezing is heard in the lower parts of the lungs.

Bilateral pneumonia in a child threatens with the appearance of complications in the form of otitis media, sepsis, meningitis.

For any viral pneumonia in children, symptoms and treatment are not much different from the manifestations of the disease and therapy for adults.

Bronchopneumonia

The disease often occurs in children who are under 3 years old. Represents an inflammatory process affecting the walls of the bronchioles. The disease has another name - sluggish pneumonia due to the blurring of symptoms.

They have the appearance of a slight shortness of breath, cough, arrhythmia, sometimes manifesting without temperature. Later, they intensify, there is a rise in temperature to 39⁰С, headaches.

Bacterial inflammation of the lungs

Pathogens that cause bacterial pneumonia are pneumococci, staphylococci, streptococci, gram-negative bacteria. The first signs of pneumonia in children are noticed earlier than in adults. They manifest themselves in the form of rapid breathing, vomiting, pain in the abdomen. Children with a temperature in the lower part of the lungs sometimes have a fever.

Mycoplasma and chlamydial pneumonia

The defeat of mycoplasma, in addition to the main symptoms, causes a rash in the throat and pain. Chlamydia pneumonia in children infancy may lead to the development dangerous form conjunctivitis. With inflammation of the lungs caused by this intracellular bacterium, rhinitis and tracheobronchitis are often diagnosed. Chlamydia pneumonia in children also manifest itself as extrapulmonary symptoms - arthralgia, myalgia. It is believed that this disease takes up to 15% of all community-acquired diseases. During epidemic outbreaks, this figure increases to 25%.

The disease can develop both acutely and gradually, taking a protracted character. The main symptoms are nasal congestion, respiratory failure, hoarse voice, small mucous discharge from the nose. After the appearance of these signs, the inflammatory process lasts from 1 to 4 weeks. Cough, general malaise sometimes persist for several months. The disease can proceed without fever.

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Hidden pneumonia

The course of the disease without pronounced symptoms is the greatest danger for babies who are under 2 years old. At this age, they still cannot tell what exactly worries them. Hidden pneumonia in children can be manifested by a barely noticeable malaise. Noticing them, parents often attribute it to a cold, teething. Only when the child's condition deteriorates sharply, treatment begins.

Therefore, it is important to know how to recognize pneumonia in a child, and not to lose sight of such symptoms of pneumonia in children as:

• Paleness of the skin.
• Blush on the cheeks in the form of spots.
• Shortness of breath on slight exertion.
• Increased sweating.
• Breathing with groaning.
• Rise in temperature to 38⁰С.
• Refusal to eat.

With latent pneumonia in children, the symptoms listed above can appear both one at a time and in combination, sometimes without fever. Having found them, you should immediately show the baby to the doctor.

Diagnostics

The question of how to determine pneumonia in a child is easily solved today with the help of modern methods diagnostics. When collecting an anamnesis, the time of detection of the first signs of malaise, which diseases preceded the onset of inflammation, and whether there is an allergy are determined. A visual examination allows you to identify the existing, wheezing, other symptoms characteristic of pneumonia.

Laboratory methods help to diagnose the disease.

A blood test for pneumonia in a child is performed to determine the causative agent of the disease:

• Biochemical analysis determines such indicators as the number of leukocytes, ESR, hemoglobin level.
• Thanks to two blood cultures, it is possible to exclude bacteremia and sepsis.
• Serological analysis reveals the presence of immunoglobulins.

Sputum culture is also performed, scraping rear wall throats.

Install more accurate diagnosis with determining the degree of lung damage (as well as recognizing bronchitis in a child and any other bronchopulmonary disease) is possible using x-rays.

General principles of treatment

Treatment is usually carried out only in stationary conditions. How many stay in the hospital with pneumonia depends on the severity of the disease, the state of the immune system. Main component treatment course in the inflammatory process are antibiotics.

You can cope with the disease only by strictly following all the doctor's prescriptions. Self-medication with this serious illness unacceptable. The medicine is taken according to the schedule determined by the doctor. Usually, penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides are used in the treatment. The effectiveness of the use of a particular drug is evaluated only after 72 hours. To avoid the effects of antibiotics intestinal microflora supplemented with probiotics. In order to cleanse the body of toxins remaining after antibiotic therapy, use sorbents.

plays an important role in the treatment process proper nutrition. The patient's diet should include easily digestible food. It can be vegetable soups, liquid cereals, boiled potatoes, fresh vegetables and fruits. As a drink, it is best to give babies rosehip infusion, juices, raspberry tea.

Prevention

You can avoid the disease by following simple rules:

• Avoid hypothermia of the child.
• Provide quality food including all essential vitamins.
• Perform hardening procedures.
• More walks with children in the fresh air.
• Avoid contact with a sick person who can transmit the infection.
• During epidemics, do not visit kindergarten and crowded places.
• Teach your child to wash their hands thoroughly by lathering them for at least 20 seconds.
• Timely treat infectious diseases.

Caring for the health of the baby, starting from the first days of his life - best defense from the disease.

Vaccination helps reduce the risk of infection. Vaccination creates immunity to the causative agent of pneumonia. However, the duration of such protection is not more than 5 years.

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Pneumonia- heavy and dangerous disease children from newborns. greatest danger represent complications that threaten disability and death. Currently, mortality from childhood pneumonia reaches 20% and is in first place.

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Definition

Pneumonia- acute infectious inflammatory disease of the lung tissue ( inflammation of the lung). The lobes of the lung, its segments, groups of alveoli and the interalveolar space are affected. This is an infection that affects the lowest parts of the respiratory system.

In pneumonia, instead of air, the alveoli are filled with pus and fluid. As a result, affected part of a lung stops absorbing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide, breathing becomes painful. As a result, the body quickly develops oxygen starvation.

Pneumonia usually develops against a background of a viral infection.

Transmission routes:

• penetration into the lungs of viruses and bacteria present in the nose and throat of the child
• airborne route - from the sick to the healthy when coughing and sneezing
• through the blood - during pregnancy, childbirth and immediately after them.

The chance of getting pneumonia increases in immunocompromised children, and the younger the child, the more likely it is.

Causes

• bacteria- pneumococci, Escherichia and Haemophilus influenzae;
• viruses- influenza, adenoviruses, enteroviruses, cytomegaloviruses, etc.;
• mycoplasmas;
• pathogenic fungi(genus Candida).

Risk factors

• Infectious diseases of a pregnant woman. More often, the lungs of children are affected by the herpes virus and chlamydia;
• frequent inflammatory diseases(otitis media, acute respiratory infections,);
• congenital malformations, especially of the heart and lungs, rickets, diathesis;
• weakening of the immune system due to insufficient or improper nutrition of artificial feeding;
• oncology and blood diseases;
• HIV infection;
• negative environmental impact:
• living in crowded, damp, cold rooms
• polluted indoor air, poor ventilation
• parents smoking
• rare exposure to fresh air.

Signs of pneumonia

The disease can occur in acute and chronic form.

Acute course- it's fast developing inflammation with severe symptoms. Characterized by the spread of the disease throughout the body.

• Temperature- and lasts more than 3 days;
• dyspnea- there is rapid breathing;
• cough- dry at the beginning of the disease, then becomes wet. ;
• cyanosis(blueness) of lips and skin as a result of lack of oxygen;
• organism intoxication- poor appetite, lethargy, fatigue, excessive sweating;
• disorders nervous system - tearfulness, irritability, headache, sleep disturbances, delirium, convulsions, loss of consciousness;
• cardiovascular failure- weak and frequent pulse, cold extremities, low blood pressure.

chronic course- not a specific inflammatory process. More often it is a consequence of acute pneumonia, complicated or taking a protracted course. Accompanied by irreversible changes and deformities in the lungs and bronchi. It develops in children under 3 years of age (usually up to 1 year), has an undulating course with exacerbations and remissions. According to the severity, small forms of the disease and bronchiectasis are distinguished.

Signs (symptoms) of small forms:

• Exacerbations- no more than 1 - 2 times a year;
• temperature- for a long time keeps within 37 - 38оС;
• cough wet, with the release of up to 30 ml of purulent or mucopurulent sputum per day. Sputum may be absent;
• general state- not disturbed, there are no signs of intoxication.

Signs (symptoms) of bronchiectasis variant:

• Exacerbations– 3 – 5 times or more per year;
• temperature- during exacerbation, it rises to 38 ° C and above;
• cough wet, constantly with sputum. During periods of exacerbations, the amount of sputum reaches 100 ml;
• general state- children may fall behind physical development and have signs of chronic intoxication.

Types and their features

• Focal(bronchopneumonia). Manifested on the 5th - 7th day of acute respiratory disease in children aged 1-2 years. With treatment, the manifestations disappear without a trace after 7 to 12 days.
• Segmental. It is common in children 3-7 years old, but occurs at any age. It is characterized by the defeat of one segment. With treatment, the symptoms disappear after 2 to 3 weeks. In the case of advanced disease, the formation of bronchiectasis is possible.
• Croupous(lobar). It is caused by pneumococcus and is rare. Inflamed lung lobe or pleura. Currently occurs more often in atypical form. Recovery after 1-2 weeks. With irrational treatment, it turns into a protracted pathology.
• Interstitial. It is caused by viruses, mycoplasmas, pneumocystis, less often by fungi and staphylococci. It is typical for premature babies and newborns, in older ones - against the background of dystrophy, diathesis, HIV infection. One of the most dangerous species accompanied by vascular lesions. The course is long, it can develop into pneumofibrosis and bronchiectasis. With high intoxication, a lethal outcome is possible.
• Destructive. It is typical for children under one year old, more often premature or after antibiotic therapy. It proceeds very rapidly, is characterized by severe intoxication. Often goes into chronic form or ends in death.
• Atypical. Pathogens - more often "hospital" strains of microbes: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus. They are highly resistant to antibiotics and require specific treatment.

Diagnostics

• Collection of anamnesis (information about the development of the disease);
• external examination of the patient, percussion and auscultation of the chest. Consider pallor and cyanosis of the skin, shortness of breath, sweating and other characteristic symptoms;
• laboratory analysis of blood from a finger - with pneumonia it is characterized by an increase in the number of leukocytes (with a bacterial origin of the pathogen) or lymphocytes (with a viral origin) and ESR;
• radiography. The main and most accurate diagnostic method. Only after an X-ray examination can we speak with confidence about pneumonia and its specific form;
• analysis biochemical parameters blood. It is necessary to identify the effect of inflammation on other organs (kidneys, liver).

Differential Diagnosis

Acute pneumonia must be differentiated from a number of similar diseases.

• The most accurate criterion for differentiating pneumonia from bronchitis and bronchiolitis is a radiograph, with the presence of focal or infiltrative changes on it;
• - there are no wheezing and shortness of breath, a blood test and an x-ray are normal, and the most characteristic difference is aphonia (loss of voice);
• the most accurate differentiation in tuberculosis is the Mantoux reaction;
• Muscoviscidosis is characterized by a gradual onset of the disease, normal body temperature and high level sweat chlorides;
• in the presence of foreign body there is no intoxication in the bronchi, the temperature is normal, the final differentiation is made according to the anamnesis and the results of bronchoscopy;
• heart failure is characterized by a gradual onset, the absence of intoxication and fever, a blood test shows anemia or polycythemia, an ECG must be done;
• whooping cough is differentiated by a blood test for specific antibodies;
• measles is distinguished by a dry cough, normal analysis blood and the presence of blepharospasm.

Pneumonia is serious and dangerous disease. It is possible to reduce its harmfulness and mortality with the help of prevention and attentive attitude to the well-being of children.

When the first signs characteristic of pneumonia appear, immediately consult a pediatrician. Only he can prescribe timely and rational treatment.