Pneumonia in children is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs.
The lungs are made up of small sacs called alveoli, which fill with air when a healthy person breathes. When an individual has pneumonia, the alveoli are filled with pus and fluid, which makes breathing painful and limits oxygen intake.
Pneumonia can be caused by various infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The most common cause of pneumonia is bacteria and viruses
Pneumonia is the single largest infectious cause of death in children in Kenya and worldwide.
It accounts for 14% of all deaths of children under 5 years old
Causes
Pneumonia is caused by several infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria and fungi. The most common are the following.
- Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in children.
- Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) is the second most common cause of bacterial pneumonia.
- Respiratory syncytial virus is the most common viral cause of pneumonia.
- In infants infected with HIV, Pneumocystis jiroveci is one of the most common causes of pneumonia, responsible for at least one quarter of all pneumonia deaths in HIV-infected infants.
Transmission
Pneumonia can be spread in several ways. The viruses and bacteria that are commonly found in a child’s nose or throat can infect the lungs if they are inhaled. They may also spread via air-borne droplets from a cough or sneeze. In addition, pneumonia may spread through blood, especially during and shortly after birth.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of pneumonia can vary but often include
- Cough
- Fever
- Chills
- Difficulty breathing (fast breathing, lower chest wall in drawing where the chest moves in during inhalation-commonly in children. In a healthy person, the chest expands during inhalation)
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Inability to feed or drink
- Severely ill infants may experience convulsions, hypothermia, unconsciousness
- Wheezing is more common in viral infections.
The severity of symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on the individual’s age, overall health, and the specific cause of the infection.
Risk factors
While most healthy children can fight the infection with their natural defenses, children whose immune systems are compromised are at higher risk of developing pneumonia. A child’s immune system may be weakened by malnutrition or undernourishment, especially in infants who are not exclusively breastfed.
Pre-existing illnesses, such as symptomatic HIV infections and measles, also increase a child’s risk of contracting pneumonia.
The following environmental factors also increase a child’s susceptibility to pneumonia:
- Indoor air pollution caused by cooking and heating with biomass fuels (such as wood or dung)
- Living in crowded homes
- Parental smoking.
Treatment
- Treatment for pneumonia in children typically involves antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia, antiviral medications for viral pneumonia, and supportive care such as rest, hydration, and fever-reducing medications. In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary, especially for those with weakened immune systems, underlying health conditions, or complications such as respiratory failure.
- Most cases of pneumonia can be treated promptly, you can always reach out to us on https://hellodaktari.co.ke in case you suspect your child to have pneumonia and we shall be able to offer the necessary help.
Prevention
Preventing pneumonia in children is an essential component of a strategy to reduce child mortality.
- Immunization against Hib, pneumococcus, measles and whooping cough (pertussis) is the most effective way to prevent pneumonia.
- Adequate nutrition is key to improving children’s natural defenses,
- Emphasis on exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life is very crucial.
- Addressing environmental factors such as indoor air pollution (by providing affordable clean indoor stoves, for example) and encouraging good hygiene in crowded homes also reduces the number of children who fall ill with pneumonia.
- In children infected with HIV, the antibiotic cotrimoxazole is given daily to decrease the risk of contracting pneumonia.