The child also may lose her appetite and seem less energetic than normal. Babies and toddlers may seem pale and limp, and cry more than usual. Although the diagnosis of pneumonia usually can be made on the basis of the signs, symptoms and examination, a chest X-ray sometimes is necessary to make certain and to determine the extent of lung involvement.
When pneumonia is caused by a virus, usually there is no specific treatment other than rest and the usual measures for fever control. Cough suppressants containing codeine or dextromethorphan should not be used, because coughing is helpful in clearing the excessive secretions caused by the infection. Viral pneumonia usually improves after a few days, although the cough may linger for several weeks.
Because it is often difficult to tell whether the pneumonia is caused by a virus or by a bacteria, your pediatrician may prescribe an antibiotic. All antibiotics should be taken for the full prescribed course and at the specific dosage recommended. You may be tempted to discontinue them early, but you should not do so—some bacteria may remain, and the infection might return unless the entire course is completed. Evidence of an infection elsewhere in the body: red, swollen joints, bone pain, neck stiffness, vomiting, or other new symptoms or signs.
Your child can be vaccinated against pneumococcal infections , a bacterial cause of pneumonia. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children starting at 2 months of age receive this immunization called pneumococcal conjugate or PCV A series of doses needs to be given at 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months of age, at the same time that children receive other childhood vaccines.
If your child did not receive the first doses at the recommended times, talk to your pediatrician about a catch-up schedule. One dose of PCV13 should be given to all healthy children who are aged 2 through 5 years who have not previously received their recommended doses before the age of 2 years and to children aged 2 years through 18 years with certain underlying medical conditions who have not previously received a dose of PCV Another pneumococcal vaccine pneumococcal polysaccharide or PPV23 also is recommended for older children 2 through 5 years of age who have a high risk of developing an invasive pneumococcal infection.
These include children with:. Sickle cell anemia. HIV human immunodeficiency virus infection. It's also recommended for children taking medications or who have diseases that weaken their immune system.
Some children with certain underlying medical conditions may need a second dose of pneumococcal vaccine given at lease 8 weeks later. Viral pneumonia usually goes away on its own. It might take weeks for your child to get all his energy back. Some days will be better than others.
Allow your child to resume activities gradually. Pneumonia PDF. Skip to Content. Urgent Care. In This Section. Conditions We Treat Pneumonia. Pulmonary Medicine Looking for services or physicians who can help treat this condition? Click Here. Normally, the small sacs in the lungs are filled with air.
In someone who has pneumonia, the air sacs fill up with pus and other fluid. Viruses, like the flu or RSV respiratory syncytial virus , cause most cases of pneumonia. Kids with pneumonia caused by a virus usually have symptoms that happen over time and tend to be mild. Less often, bacteria can cause pneumonia. When that happens, kids usually will become sick more quickly, starting with a sudden high fever, cough, and sometimes fast breathing.
Types of bacterial pneumonia include pneumococcal pneumonia, mycoplasma pneumonia walking pneumonia , and pertussis whooping cough. Doctors will do an exam to look for pneumonia. They'll listen to the lungs and might order a chest X-ray. People who have viral pneumonia do not need antibiotics. Antibiotics only work against bacteria, not viruses. Doctors treat bacterial pneumonia with an antibiotic taken by mouth. Usually, this can be done at home.
The antibiotic they use depends on the type of bacteria thought to have caused the pneumonia.
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