Signs of pneumonia in infants are important to know and recognize, because if late treated, pneumonia can be fatal. In Indonesia, this disease is one of the leading causes of death in infants.
Pneumonia is one of the infectious diseases that causes the highest death in children under five years old (toddlers). Based on data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF in 2015, around 20 thousand children under five in Indonesia died of pneumonia.
Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria and viruses. Pneumonia can also be caused by fungus, although it is less common. Pneumonia can affect anyone, but babies under two years are more susceptible to this disease.
Signs of Pneumonia in Infants
Many parents do not recognize the symptoms or signs of pneumonia in infants. This causes the disease is often handled too late.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms of pneumonia in infants:
- High fever.
- Shortness of breath or baby looks difficult when breathing.
- The baby's nose is flattened when breathing.
- Baby's breath sounds.
- Cough and cold.
- Babies don't want to suckle or eat.
- Chest or stomach pain.
- The baby looks restless and weak.
- Lips and nails appear blue.
Babies who develop pneumonia due to viral infections can sometimes also experience vomiting and diarrhea.
Calculating Baby's Respiratory Rate
To determine whether the baby is congested or not, parents need to know the baby's breathing rate is normal. Infants aged 2 to 12 months will usually breathe about 50 times per minute. Whereas in children aged 1 to 5 years, the normal breathing rate is around 40 times per minute.
Parents can check the baby's breathing rate by undressing the baby, then see the movement of his chest while breathing. Count the number of times the baby's chest expands to breathe in one minute. If the baby breathes faster than the normal breathing rate, he will experience shortness of breath.
Handling Pneumonia in Infants
If your child shows symptoms or signs of pneumonia above, then immediately take it to the pediatrician. The doctor will conduct a thorough examination and may recommend a blood test or X-ray to confirm the diagnosis of pneumonia.
If your child is diagnosed with pneumonia, the doctor will provide treatment according to the cause. In cases of pneumonia caused by bacteria, the doctor will give antibiotics.
While in pneumonia caused by a virus, antibiotics are not needed. Pneumonia due to a viral infection will usually heal by itself in about 4 weeks. Even so, doctors will still monitor the condition of the baby and provide medicines to alleviate symptoms.
So that your child can recover soon, make sure the intake of fluids and nutrients are well fulfilled. Mother can still give breast milk or formula milk, according to doctor's advice.
In cases of severe pneumonia, where the baby looks very weak, does not want to drink or eat, and there is respiratory failure, seizures, or signs of dehydration, hospital treatment is needed.
Symptoms and signs of pneumonia in infants need to be known by parents so that they can be recognized immediately. If you see these symptoms in your child, take him immediately to the doctor or the nearest hospital to get treatment.
Pneumonia in infants should not be considered trivial. To prevent this disease, parents need to complete infant immunization according to schedule, and keep the baby away from people who are sick and exposed to pollution, such as cigarette smoke.
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