Types, symptoms and treatment of pneumonia in children

Pediatric pneumonia is a common respiratory disease in children, and its types include viral pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia and mycoplasma pneumonia. The main symptoms include cough, high fever, and shortness of breath. Anti-infective drug treatment, symptomatic drug treatment or hospitalization supportive treatment should be selected according to the cause.

1. Common types and causes

Pneumonia in children can be divided into three categories based on the cause:

Viral pneumonia: caused by respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, etc., and is common in children with low immunity or exposure to viral sources.

Bacterial pneumonia: Usually caused by infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus or Klebsiella pneumoniae. Children with low resistance after catching a cold are prone to develop bacterial infection.

Mycoplasma pneumonia: caused by mycoplasma infection, common in older children, with a slow onset but a long course.

2. Symptoms and diagnosis

Typical symptoms of pneumonia in children include cough, fever over 38°C, shortness of breath and wheezing. In severe cases, purple lips and general fatigue may occur. Mild patients may show symptoms similar to the common cold, while severe patients may require oxygen or hospitalization. Doctors usually make a diagnosis based on symptoms and signs, blood tests, chest X-rays and other test results.

3. Treatment methods

Treatment depends on the cause and severity of pneumonia:

Anti-infection treatment: Viral pneumonia is mainly treated with antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir, bacterial pneumonia requires antibiotics such as amoxicillin or cephalosporins, and mycoplasma pneumonia is often treated with macrolide drugs such as azithromycin.

Symptomatic treatment: For high fever, you can take acetaminophen orally to reduce the fever. For severe cough, use expectorant and cough suppressant as prescribed by the doctor.

Supportive treatment: replenish water and prevent dehydration; severe cases may require oxygen and even consider hospitalization for intravenous infusion treatment.

4. Prevention and care recommendations

In terms of prevention, it is recommended to get pneumococcal and influenza vaccines to reduce the chance of infection from potential pathogens. In daily care, pay attention to keeping the indoor air circulation of children and avoid excessive exposure to polluted environments. Pay attention to maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise to enhance immunity.

Children are susceptible to pneumonia because their immune systems are not yet mature. Early detection and early treatment are very important. If you have symptoms such as difficulty breathing and persistent high fever, you need to seek medical attention immediately. Standardized treatment can effectively control the disease. Parents also need to strengthen their children's health protection.