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Pneumonia in Kids: 7 Warning Signs Every Parent Should Know

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Pneumonia remains one of the most serious respiratory infections that exist among children around the world. It is still the cause of most of the hospitalizations and deaths in kids under five, especially in the areas that do not belong to the developed world, despite all the medical progress. It is well known that the early diagnosis of pneumonia can lower disease complexity, thus, leading to the faster of infections. This article will be looking at the 7 essential signs of pneumonia in kids every parent should be able to recognize to save their life, by covering causes, prevention, and recovery tips more thoroughly.

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infectious response that engorges the air sacs within one or both lungs. These sacs can get filled with fluid or pus, leading to symptoms such as cough, fever, chills, and pretty obvious difficulty in breathing. Among the organisms that can cause pneumonia are bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Generally, in the case of children, viral pneumonia is the most frequent, but the severity of bacterial pneumonia has a higher likelihood of occurrence.

Why Children are More Vulnerable to Pneumonia

Children especially those who are under five years old are greatly exposed, as their immune systems are still in the developmental phase. This makes them more prone to infections. Moreover, children have narrow airways, and their lungs are not fully formed. This all adds up to the great danger of serious complications. Lurking behind the mask there are also some risk factors, like:

  • Premature birth
  • Malnutrition
  • Exposure to tobacco smoke
  • Lack of immunization
  • Pre-existing respiratory conditions like asthma

7 Warning Signs of Pneumonia in Kids Every Parent Should Know

1. Persistent High Fever

Some signs and symptoms of pneumonia in children differ from those in adults and per the significance of those signs, one of the major signs to look for in children is the persistence of high fever which is usually higher than 102°F (39°C) and the body is not responding to regular medication. The spiking of fever can be one of the symptoms that the disease is getting worse, but the fever will not go away. Furthermore, chills and sweating can be other signs of the fever.

What is the importance of these? A prolonged higher than normal temperature may suggest that the body is being invaded by a more dangerous organism, especially when the said fever is accompanied by symptoms of fatigue and shortness of breath.

2. Rapid or Labored Breathing

A serious lung infection may be indicated if a child is breathing more quickly than usual or seems to be exerting themselves to breathe. Among the indicators are:

  • Flaring nostrils
  • Grunting noises
  • Wheezing
  • Retractions (the skin between ribs or under the ribcage pulls in with each breath)

Keep an eye on their breathing rate: if an infant’s respiratory rate exceeds 60 breaths per minute, or an older child’s respiratory rate exceeds 40, this may be cause for concern.