How can pneumonia be managed in small children effectively?

Question

Hi doctor,

My son is three years old. He got diagnosed with pneumonia when he was 1.5 years old. After 15 days, he started coughing again. What is pneumonia, and how to control it efficiently? Does it pose a danger to his future health?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I understand your concern.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. It could be because of a bacteria or because of a virus. This differs from the cough from a common flu infection that primarily affects the upper respiratory tracts, such as your nose and throat. Cough in pneumonia comes from deep within the lungs itself. It may be life-threatening and need immediate treatment with antibiotics and supportive care. Your child had pneumonia at 1.5 years of age and was treated for it then. He is now three years old, and you can be assured that there is nothing to worry about and that the treated pneumonia will not affect him or his future health. Kindly answer the following questions:

Does he have a runny nose? Does he complain of a sore throat?
If so, it could just be due to a viral infection or the flu, which is harmless and can be treated with supportive care. Please let me know if this is the case, and I will provide the treatment.
If the child is breathing faster than usual, is lethargic, or has difficulty breathing, this could be a hint as something more severe and would need a visit to a doctor for a further checkup.

I hope this information will help.

Thank you.