How to determine pneumonia in a child
How to determine pneumonia in a child
Pneumonia affects children of all ages. And the younger the child, the harder he tolerates this disease. This is related both to the anatomical features of the respiratory system and to still insufficiently strong immunity, which is not capable of fully resisting diseases. The first symptoms resemble the usual respiratory disease, which infants often fall ill. Because of this, it is not always possible to identify pneumonia at an early stage. However, there are characteristic signs indicating an inflammatory process in the lungs.
Instructions
1
The nature and manifestation of pneumonia in a childlargely depends on his age, the cause and place of localization of the inflammatory process, as well as the state of the baby at the time of the disease. In premature infants and infants, the disease is more severe.
2
In the beginning there are general symptoms of pneumonia: lethargy or excitement, lack of appetite, deterioration of sleep. To them gradually, and sometimes immediately signs of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract: sneezing, dry cough, runny nose. They are accompanied by a sharp increase in temperature to 39-40 ° C, which lasts for several days.
3
Due to severe intoxication, work is disruptedgastrointestinal tract, manifested by nausea, vomiting, stool disorder, bloating. These symptoms are associated with exposure to toxins on the gastric mucosa.
4
The inflammatory process in the lungs breaks downnormal 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 an oxygen deficiency of the first degree, which develops with pneumonia. Breathing becomes frequent, arrhythmic, moaning. If these symptoms occur, you should pay attention to the chest. With the defeat of the lungs, it becomes swollen with characteristic intercostal spaces.
5
If there is no timely treatment at the beginningthe second stage of pneumonia occurs. It manifests itself as signs of oxygen deficiency of the second degree. Breathing becomes arrhythmic with periodic stops. Cyanosis appears not only around the nasolabial triangle, but all over the body. The condition of the baby becomes heavy and begins to threaten his life.
6
Often against the background of a sharp rise in temperature and severe intoxication, convulsions and meningeal syndrome appear: the tension of the occipital muscles, the state of stupor, the swelling of the fontanelle (in infants).
7
Determine pneumonia in a child is probably capable ofonly a doctor, so when you cough and runny nose, accompanied by high temperatures, you should contact him immediately. Even with an unconfirmed diagnosis, timely treatment of a common cold will help to avoid secondary pneumonia, which develops as a complication.
