Identify and Prevent Pneumonia in Children
Pneumonia or lung
infection can lead to death, especially in children aged under five
years. Know the symptoms and how to prevent it.
Parents should be
vigilant when children are having cough
and respiratory disturbances because they could just
be an early sign of pneumonia.
Identify and Prevent Pneumonia in children
The cause of the
pneumonia is quite varied, ranging from bacteria, fungi, as well as a number of
viruses. Even the flu virus can
also trigger pneumonia in children.
Pneumonia usually occurs
after an upper respiratory tract include nose and
throat is infected, such as colds
and throat pain. After two to three days, the
infection can spread to the lungs. A weak immune
system or have not formed perfectly incapable of
eradicating the infection early lightweight so
it spreads to the lungs and cause pneumonia. With
pneumonia, the path of air to the lungs can be obstructed,
so breathing becomes difficult and oxygen intake is
reduced.
The disease tends
to strike the child with a weak immune system, such
as babies who don't get breast milk (BREAST MILK) or
child malnutrition, children
with HIV, measles-infected children even also risk exposed
to pneumonia. A number of environmental factors may
also increase the risk of children exposed to pneumonia,
for example, parents who smoke or live
in crowded settlements.
Beware Of Symptoms
Should children, their
passion for playing and activity is usually high,
so less vigilant on himself. Even
when ill, children want to stay awake and play.
However,
parents should not wait until the children
are buckled down to make sure that it is indeed a
pain. When the
child's breath became rapid rhythms, parents should
already be sprightly checked to the doctor. This
could be a symptom of pneumonia. Pneumonia in
children can also carries with it some of the
symptoms like this.
1. Cough.
2. Nasal
congestion.
3. Vomiting.
4. Fever.
5. The
breath accompanied by the sound of buzzing
6. Difficult
to breathe to look chest and bulging stomach.
7. Feels pain in
the chest.
8. The Chills.
9. Pain in the
abdomen due to the continuous cough.
10. No appetite,
so dehydration can trigger.
11. In severe
cases, the lip and fingernail can change color to bluish
or gray.
12. Cry more
often than usual.
13. It is
difficult to rest.
14. Pale
and lethargic.
Check with
your doctor immediately so that the
child gets medical aid accordingly. Doctors will
usually check their breathing patterns, heart rate, blood
pressure, body temperature, and listen if there is abnormal breathe sounds from
the lungs. In a follow-up examination, Imaging may be
required with x-rays on the chest as well as a
blood test, a sample of sputum examination even to
ascertain the types with TB germs. After that, the
doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics for children.
The disease can
be transmitted through saliva spark when coughing
or sneezing pneumonia sufferers, including touching a
handkerchief. In addition it can be transmitted through
a variety of eating and drinking equipment’s belonging to
the sufferer.
If the child's
condition is severe, the durability of the body is weak, often throw up so it
can't be drinking cure, or require oxygen therapy, children are recommended to
be treated in hospital.
Parents wherever
possible give enough fluids so that the child is not dehydrated and helped him
to get enough rest. When doctors
prescribe antibiotic medication, make
sure children drink in the schedule. This is important for
the process of healing.
How to Prevent
Here are some steps to prevent pneumonia in children.
Sufficient nutrition,
including breast feeding on infants for at least the first
six months. It is important to strengthen the resilience
of the child's body is naturally in the fight against the
disease. The nutrition needs of children with gave
it fruit, vegetables, and other nutritious foods.
Immunization immunization,
such as the Hib (hemophilic influenza type
b) vaccine, measles vaccine,
and pertussis or whooping cough immunization, known
as DPT(Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus). Immunization is
the most effective way to prevent pneumonia.
Living
healthy and
clean behavior including self-hygiene like washing
hands before eating, the cleanliness
of the environment such as distancing children
from cigarette smoke or air pollution, the cleanliness
of the home and a good air ventilation, as
well as cultivate food clean.
Don't let the
disease takes away the joy of children, keep the
hygiene and nutritional needs of children, fill and
do not forget to provide immunization for children.