Inflammation of the lungs is a serious and complex disease that affects not only adults, but also children of any age. It can be at different stages of development, but it is almost always easy to diagnose and treat, without presenting a threat to human life. Although, unfortunately, there are fatal cases. This is due to the untimely request for qualified medical care. And if an adult can freely describe their well-being, then the first signs of pneumonia in children should be able to determine each parent. This will help protect the child from the serious consequences of the disease.
What causes the disease
In most cases, the cause of pneumonia can be the presence of such viruses in the body:
- flu
- ARVI;
- adenovirus;
- parainfluenza.
Note that special attention should be paid to the condition of the baby in case of his long-term treatment for the common cold, since it is at this moment that signs of pneumonia in a child 2 years old and younger may appear.
Various bacteria, such as Haemophilus influenzae, Chlamydia, Streptococcus, fungi and parasites, can also cause inflammation. Depending on what pathogen caused pneumonia and what part of the organ is affected, the disease has its own classification.
Varieties of pneumonia
At the moment, doctors divide pneumonia into the following types:
- total;
- drain;
- focal;
- segmental;
- shared.
In addition, pneumonia can be unilateral and bilateral. Depending on this, the complexity and duration of the disease is different. Accordingly, different combinations of drugs are also used for treatment.
Classification of the disease by source of infection
The precisely defined signs of pneumonia in a 2-year-old child, as well as in an adult patient, allow timely and accurate determination of the source of infection. In modern medicine, it is believed that it can be as follows:
- atypical, which is caused by fairly rare bacteria (chlamydia, mycoplasmas, etc.) that enter the body by airborne droplets or with food;
- community-acquired - the most common form of the disease, transmitted through the virus;
- aspiration - occurs as a result of the ingestion of foreign bodies, food or liquid into the respiratory tract ;
- hospital - infection occurs in the hospital during the treatment of other diseases.
There is also pneumonia resulting from surgical interventions. But these are quite rare cases of pathology.
Factors contributing to the onset of illness in children
Not all parents can immediately recognize the signs of pneumonia in a child 2 years old or younger. For this reason, it is necessary to know the factors of its occurrence. These include the following:
- problems of disclosure of the lungs in children after childbirth;
- oxygen starvation during pregnancy or at the time of birth;
- prematurity;
- transmission of bacteria and viruses from mother to child;
- heart disease;
- anemia or retardation in the development of the baby;
- hereditary diseases;
- digestive disorders;
- avitaminosis;
- birth complications;
- weakened immunity.
As a result of these factors, pneumonia occurs in children, the symptoms and signs of which should be known to all parents.
Diagnosis of the disease
An experienced pediatrician or therapist can accurately detect pneumonia. There is a special technique for this. It consists in tapping the back wall of the chest in the area of the lungs. In addition, pneumonia can be determined by listening to a phonendoscope. But in this case, it is quite simple to make a mistake, since not every type of this pathology is accompanied by the presence of wheezing.
The patient must be tested for blood and urine. This will determine the presence of inflammation in the body. It will be useful to make an x-ray or ultrasound.
Types of disease
As Komarovsky describes the signs of pneumonia in a child of 2 years old, they may differ depending on the type of disease, as well as its development. By the way, it should be borne in mind that in children pneumonia develops quite quickly, and here you can not do without the help of a doctor. So, we can distinguish the following types of pneumonia:
- fungal;
- radical;
- viral;
- hidden;
- croupous.
It is possible to determine exactly the type of disease only after passing certain tests.
Fungal pneumonia
Infection of a child occurs when they inhale the fumes of streptotrichiosis fungi and many others. This can be facilitated by mold on surfaces in the room where the baby is constantly located, rotten boards or increased humidity in the rooms.
The first signs of pneumonia in a child (2 years and younger) of this type will be as follows:
- increased body temperature, which does not go astray with the help of simple medicines;
- cough (lingering, sometimes barking type);
- aching muscles and joints;
- weakness.
Pay special attention to the room in which the child is constantly. It should be clean, with optimal temperature conditions and without high humidity.
Radical inflammation of the lungs
The disease forms on the root of the lung and is quite difficult to diagnose. Doctors in this case are prescribed to take an x-ray. Signs of pneumonia in a child of 2 years of this type will be as follows:
- elevated white blood cell count;
- cough, which may be accompanied by sputum production;
- increased body temperature, sometimes up to 40 degrees.
To protect the child from the consequences of improper treatment, the doctor recommends that you initially take a general blood test.
Viral pneumonia
The most common type of disease. The first signs of pneumonia in a child (2 years) of this subspecies will be as follows:
- general malaise;
- vomiting and nausea;
- runny nose;
- fever;
- dry and wet cough;
- secretion of pus with sputum.
A child can become infected in kindergarten, school and other public places. Do not self-medicate and give your child antiviral drugs. You should immediately consult a doctor.
Latent pneumonia
The most difficult to diagnose and dangerous for children is latent pneumonia. It practically does not appear. Although doctors indicate visible signs of latent pneumonia in a child, which include the following:
- shortness of breath - even in a sitting position, the child breathes faster;
- labored breathing, sometimes wheezing;
- unhealthy blush, sometimes stained;
- rapid pulse;
- a feeling of thirst that does not go away;
- weakness of the body - the child wants to sleep, lie down;
- pain when turning the body in the area of the lungs.
If such a disease is not diagnosed in a timely manner, it will go into the chronic stage, which will cause complications in the work of the entire child’s body. For this reason, it is necessary to pay attention to the above signs of pneumonia in a child without fever.
Croupous pneumonia
This type of disease is classified as pneumococcal pneumonia. During the development of this pathology, only part of the lung is affected, but this does not mean that the disease is not dangerous for children.
In this case, signs of pneumonia of the child are manifested with a temperature that rises to 40 degrees. Shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling, headache, weakness, gastrointestinal upset, chills also occur. Parents should contact a doctor right away.
General tips
Some types of pneumonia may not occur, which is very dangerous for the health of the child. Parents should know what signs of pneumonia a child may have in order to consult a doctor in a timely manner:
- if the child is sick for more than 2-3 days, and the improvement of his physical condition as a result of treatment is not visible;
- body temperature lasts for three days and does not go astray with drugs;
- there is a dry cough that causes vomiting or cough with sputum that is difficult to separate;
- inactivity and sweating of the child, even with minor loads.
Therefore, if the baby’s condition is disturbing, in order to protect him, it is better to immediately call a doctor. He will prescribe appropriate tests and determine the treatment.
How to treat a disease
To date, not all children diagnosed with pneumonia are hospitalized. They can be left to be treated at home, but this is only at an early stage of the development of the disease.
First of all, the doctor prescribes symptomatic drugs. They include antipyretic drugs. You should not get carried away with them, since each remedy has contraindications, a certain dosage and dosage regimen for different ages.
Remember, if the child’s body temperature does not drop as a result of taking antipyretic drugs, you must call an ambulance.
Mucolytic drugs are also prescribed that thin and sputum. With their choice you need to be extremely careful, as expectorants will provoke sputum discharge, and, as a result, the child will cough more intensively. It is also not worth suppressing a cough, since sputum will not work out, and a new focus of inflammation may form.
In addition, they take antibiotics or antifungal drugs. They can be of a different spectrum of action. Their doctor prescribes after an appropriate examination. It is necessary to be vigilant, as some antibiotics can cause allergic reactions, which are accompanied by fever, vomiting. They may not be noticed against the background of symptoms of pneumonia. Therefore, the choice of medicines should be entrusted to the doctor. The doctor knows what pneumonia can be in children, signs, and treatment in each case should be prescribed only by him.
If the child coughs, then his throat will be irritated. It can start to hurt. To avoid this, you need to take drugs that will relieve inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa. Do not forget about vitamins that will help the baby's body quickly defeat the disease and restore immunity.
ethnoscience
Today, there are a huge number of drugs that can be used to treat pneumonia. Despite this, traditional medicine also plays an important role in the fight against pneumonia.
Herbal infusions and decoctions are good for coughing. For their preparation, coltsfoot, lemon balm, propolis and many other herbs are used. It will be useful to give the child walnuts, which are not only rich in vitamins, but also perfectly excreted sputum. Honey can only be consumed in the daytime, as it provokes a cough. Do not forget about raspberry and currant jam - they increase the properties of immunity.
In addition, it helps in the treatment of the disease:
- special breathing exercises;
- mustard wraps if there is no allergic reaction;
- phytotherapy;
- ultraviolet radiation.
But all this can be done after consulting a doctor so as not to cause complications.
Prevention of pneumonia
First of all, future parents should monitor their lifestyle. Modern youth smokes a lot and often drinks, and such effects on the body negatively affect genes. During pregnancy, toxins, fungi and other pathogenic bacteria are transmitted to the baby. While he is in the womb - he is protected. But as soon as he begins an independent life, all these factors can adversely affect his development.
It is necessary to monitor the physical condition of children. In the morning you can do gymnastics. Compulsory walks with children in the fresh air.
By the way, doctors do not recommend restraining the activity of the child so that mucus does not accumulate in the airways. But this is only in healthy children, but it is better for patients to ensure a calm regime.
An important role in the prevention of the disease is nutrition. The child should receive the following:
- carbohydrates - bread, cereals, vegetables;
- proteins - meat, fish;
- vitamins.
You need to drink berry fruit drinks and juices. The latter should not be carried away, since many of them cause allergic reactions. In addition, you must eat citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, etc.), they are rich in vitamin C, which is indispensable in creating strong immunity. Be healthy!