Pneumonia is an infectious lung disease. It can affect people of all age groups. Pneumonia in babies can be fatal. The disease attacks the lungs, thereby making breathing difficult, and may cause other complications such as a rapid decline in the baby’s growth and development. Pneumonia may cause long-lasting damage, and untreated pneumonia may cause serious complications. Read this post to know more about the causes, risks, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and prevention of pneumonia in infants.
What Is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an acute lung infection characterized by the inflammation of the air sacs, called alveoli, in the lungs. An alveolus is where gaseous exchange occurs: oxygen from inhaled air transfers to the blood and carbon dioxide from the blood transfers to the air. In pneumonia, the alveoli become inflamed and fill with fluid, which impairs the lung’s ability to exchange gases. There are two types of pneumonia depending on the part of the lung affected (1). In the early stages of any chest infection/ pneumonia, the child will have only fever and maybe some cough and may not actually appear to be very unwell. However, if left untreated condition will worsen and so even trivial respiratory symptoms in a child should not be neglected.
What Causes Pneumonia In Babies?
There are three primary causes of pneumonia viz. bacteria, virus, and fungi (2). The most likely pathogens to cause pneumonia from each class are mentioned next (3):
1. Bacteria causing pneumonia:
Streptococcus pneumoniae Mycoplasma pneumonia Group A & Group B streptococcus Staphylococcus aureus
2. Viral pneumonia causes:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) Influenza Rhinovirus Parainfluenza Adenovirus
Viral pneumonia is the most common type affecting children, with RSV being the most common culprit causing the infection (4).
How Do Babies Catch Pneumonia?
The following are the most common settings for a baby to catch the pneumonia-causing pathogen (5): While all babies are vulnerable to infections, some may be more susceptible to pneumonia than others.
What Are The Risk Factors Of A Baby Getting Pneumonia?
Some factors and situations exacerbate a baby’s chances of contracting a pneumonia-causing pathogen (6) (7):
How Common Is Pneumonia In Babies?
According to UNICEF, pneumonia is “the leading infectious cause of death among children under five” (5). Pneumonia accounts for 16% of deaths among children below the age of five years (8). Almost half of the childhood pneumonia deaths occur due to air pollution, which includes indoor air pollution (5).
What Are The Symptoms Of Pneumonia In Babies?
A baby with pneumonia will display the following symptoms (8): Pneumonia symptoms worsen as the pathogen invades the lungs more. Therefore, take your baby to the doctor as soon as you suspect any signs of pneumonia.
How Is Pneumonia In Babies Diagnosed?
Here is how a doctor finds out if the baby has pneumonia (10):
How Is Pneumonia In Babies Treated?
The treatment depends on the type of pathogen that led to pneumonia (10):
How Can Parents Care For A Baby With Pneumonia?
Here is what you can do at home when your baby has pneumonia (8): Prevention is always better than cure, and it is also easier when it comes to pneumonia in babies.
How To Prevent Pneumonia In Babies?
The following steps help keep pneumonia away from your baby: Research suggests that breastfed infants have a 47% lower risk than infants who rely on formula as their primary source of nourishment (10). Breastfeeding also protects against asthma, which increases the risk of pneumonia. So it is good to continue breastfeeding for a while, even when your baby switches to solids. Pneumonia in babies can be life-threatening if left untreated. It may also impair their growth and development. The condition is more common in children below two years, exposed to second-hand smoke, or having weak immunity. However, keeping an eye on symptoms such as persistent cough, difficult breathing, and loss of appetite and seeing a doctor for a detailed diagnosis and treatment would help. According to the World Health Organization, you can prevent pneumonia in children with “simple interventions, low-cost, low-tech medication, and care”. Also, as babies grow older, they are less prone to pneumonia, as their immunity gets stronger.
