Children of all ages are prone to pneumonia. And the younger the child, the harder he suffers this disease. This is due both to the anatomical features of the respiratory system, and to the still insufficiently strong immunity, which is not able to fully resist diseases. The first symptoms resemble a common respiratory illness that babies get sick quite often. Because of this, it is not always possible to identify pneumonia at an early stage. However, there are characteristic signs that indicate an inflammatory process in the lungs.
Instructions
Step 1
The nature of the manifestation and course of pneumonia in a child largely depends on his age, the cause and place of localization of the inflammatory process, as well as the condition of the baby at the time of the development of the disease. In premature babies and infants, the disease is more severe.
Step 2
In the beginning, the general symptoms of pneumonia appear: lethargy or agitation, lack of appetite, poor sleep. Signs of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract gradually and sometimes immediately join them: sneezing, dry cough, runny nose. They are accompanied by a sharp rise in temperature up to 39-40 ° C, which lasts for several days.
Step 3
Due to severe intoxication, the work of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted, manifested by nausea, vomiting, upset stools, and bloating. These symptoms are associated with the effects of toxins on the stomach lining.
Step 4
The inflammatory process in the lungs disrupts normal breathing, as a result, the baby becomes restless, a characteristic blue appears around the nasolabial triangle, the wings of the nose swell. These signs indicate first-degree oxygen deficiency, which develops with pneumonia. Breathing becomes frequent, irregular, groaning. When these symptoms occur, you should pay attention to the chest. When the lungs are damaged, it becomes swollen with characteristic retracted intercostal spaces.
Step 5
In the absence of timely treatment, at the onset of the disease, the second stage of pneumonia occurs. It manifests itself as signs of second-degree oxygen deficiency. Breathing becomes irregular with periodic stops. Cyanosis appears not only around the nasolabial triangle, but throughout the body. The baby's condition becomes difficult and begins to threaten his life.
Step 6
Often, against the background of a sharp increase in temperature and severe intoxication, convulsions and meningeal syndrome appear: tension in the occipital muscles, a state of stupor, bulging fontanelle (in infants).
Step 7
Only a doctor is probably able to determine pneumonia in a child, therefore, if you have a cough and a runny nose, accompanied by a high temperature, you should contact him immediately. Even with an unconfirmed diagnosis, timely treatment of the common cold will help avoid secondary pneumonia developing as a complication.
