Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by a virus or bacteria. Pneumonia makes it difficult for your child to breathe and reduces the amount of oxygen that can get into the body. The following article provides information on Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Exclusion Period From Early Childhood Services and more.
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by a virus or bacteria. Tiny air sacs in the lung’s called alveoli are normally filled with air. In pneumonia, the alveoli fill up with mucus and pus. This makes it difficult for your child to breathe and reduces the amount of oxygen that can get into the body.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of pneumonia in children may look different depending on how old they are and what caused the infection.
Generally, children will show symptoms including:
- high fever
- difficult breathing with physical signs
- nostrils flaring
- head bobbing
- skin appearing to suck in around the ribs and neck
- sharp chest pains
- a wet sounding cough
- nausea and vomiting
- loss of appetite
- irritability and tiredness.
Some babies may have fever, general illness symptoms, and rapid breathing without a cough.
Diagnosis
- how they look physically
- how they are breathing
- temperature
- blood pressure
- their pulse rate.
They will also listen to the lungs with a stethoscope and may order a chest x-ray to check whether there is fluid in the alveoli.
Treatment
Pneumonia is treated differently depending on whether it has been caused by a virus or bacteria. Generally, children can be treated at home with lots of rest and smaller, more frequent amounts of fluid.
Viral pneumonia can take around four weeks to clear up, with a cough that can remain for a while afterwards. No medication is usually needed to treat viral pneumonia, but your doctor may recommend paracetamol to lower fever and relieve aches and pains.
Antibiotics do not work on viral pneumonia and will not be prescribed.
Exclusion Period From Early Childhood Services
If a child has respiratory symptoms (cough, sneezing, runny or blocked nose, sore throat), exclude them only if:
- the respiratory symptoms are severe or
- the respiratory symptoms are getting worse (more frequent or severe), or
- they also have concerning symptoms (fever, rash, tiredness, pain, and poor feeding).
Otherwise, do not exclude.
This fact sheet is provided for general information only. It does not constitute health advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat any health condition.
© State of New South Wales NSW Ministry of Health. For current information, go to www.health.nsw.gov.au.