Why is pneumonia in children so easy to recur?

The article was consulted professionally by Master, Dr. Nguyen Tung Hoan – Department of Resuscitation – Emergency – Share99 Nha Trang International Hospital.

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The majority of cases of pneumonia require only a short period of treatment. However, it is not uncommon for children's pneumonia to recur over and over again. Recurrent pneumonia can lead to serious complications, even death.

1. What is recurrent pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a common infectious disease, with a high incidence and mortality, especially in children under 5 years of age.

Pneumonia is a condition of damage to the lung meenchym, accompanied by symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid breathing, chest concaveness,… Symptoms may vary with the patient's age. Children are considered very severe pneumonia when they have the above symptoms, accompanied by signs of body danger such as separation, difficulty awakening, breastfeeding, inedestation, vomiting, convulsions,…

Persistent pneumonia is a condition where pneumonia has clinical symptoms and pneumonia lesions on X-rays that last more than 30 days despite having been treated with antibiotics for a minimum of 10 days.

Recurrent pneumonia is a term for a child with 2 or more episodes of pneumonia in a year or 3 or more episodes of pneumonia at any time; between episodes of pneumonia in children with no clinical symptoms and pneumonia lesions on X-rays.

The causes of pneumonia include:

  • Bacteria: The most common cause, mainly caused by streptococcus pneumoniae (accounting for 30-50% of cases), Haemophilus influenzae (accounting for 10-30% of cases), Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, E.Coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae,…
  • Viruses: RSV respiratory hosy cell virus, influenza A virus, influenza B, adenovirus ,…;
  • Parasites and fungi: Candida, Toxoplasma,…

Candidiasis

Pathogenic candidiasis

2. Causes of pneumonia in children who are prone to recurrence

Some of the causes of pneumonia in children who are prone to repeated relapses include:

  • Natural conditions, external and social environment:
    • At the time of intersection, the weather changes abruptly prone to recurrence of pneumonia;
    • Polluted water and air sources;
    • Overcrowded habitat, poor sanitation conditions;
    • Inhalation of tobacco smoke from people around them;
  • How to care for a child or their health is problematic:
    • When the child sweats a lot but does not change clothes immediately, causing the child to sweat backwards leading to pneumonia;
    • Misuse of cooling equipment;
    • Let the child out in the early morning or late at night, causing him to get cold;
    • Babies born with month-missing, bronchopulmonary dysobolism;
    • The baby's lung function is impaired;
    • Malnourished children, zinc deficiency, vitamin A deficiency;
    • The child is not fully vaccinated and on schedule, does not receive good primary health care;
    • Children with congenital respiratory malformations, immuno-deterioration, choking syndrome in the lungs, congenital heart disease, asthma, recurrent wheezing, pulmonary tuberculosis, airway foreign objects, obstruction of the airways due to tumors, bronchial stenosis;

Air pollution

Polluted air can cause pneumonia in recurrent children
  • Antibiotic resistance:
    • Overuse of antibiotics (rampant, inappropriate use) when treating the disease makes pneumonia more likely to recur;
    • Parents' habit of buying drugs on their own, voluntarily discontinuing uns prescribed medications should treat the disease not thoroughly, pneumonia recurs more times and antibiotic resistance is exacerbated.

3. Prevent recurrent pneumonia in children

3.1 Change of misconceptions about disease treatment

  • When the child shows signs of pneumonia, parents should immediately take him to the doctor for timely treatment;
  • Parents are absolutely not allowed to buy and use antibiotics and cough relieves for children at home. Cough is a biological reflex to remove sputum from the airways, clear the airways, so cough relieves should not be taken without a doctor's prescription;
  • The use of antibiotics for pneumonia must comply with the doctor's indications of dosage, duration of use, limiting antibiotic resistance in children, ensuring a thorough therapeutic effect.

Pediatric examination

Treatment of pneumonia prescribed by a doctor

3.2 Proper care for children with pneumonia at home

  • If the child has a fever of 38.5°C or more, it is recommended to give the child antipyretics, the medications should be 4-8 hours apart, or warm compresses for the baby;
  • Vibrate the child when he has a phlegmatic cough to push the sputum in the bronchi out thanks to the child's cough reflexes;
  • You can use steamed cinnamon with honey, ginger, lemon basil,… to relieve cough;
  • Vaccinate children according to the national immunization program schedule;
  • When the weather becomes cold, it is necessary to keep warm, when it is hot it is necessary to cool the child.

3.3 Keep your child clean

  • Clean your baby's nose and mouth with soft disposable tissues. If using a bucket towel, it is advisable to clean the towel, avoiding bacteria / viruses attached to the towel to return to the baby's body;
  • Clean your child's home, toys, belongings and clothes;
  • Do not let the baby come into contact with cat hair, tobacco smoke;
  • Child caregivers need to wash their hands clean when carrying and preparing food for the baby.

Handwashing

Cleanliness helps prevent bacterial viruses

3.4 Ensure proper and balanced nutrition

  • Encourage your child to drink plenty of water, pay attention not to drink too much water at the same time. It is possible to provide water for the baby through milk, juice, soup, soup,… At the same time, it is necessary to monitor the urination status to see if the baby has a lack of water;
  • Feed your child nutritious, soft, easy-to-swallow and easily digestable foods;
  • Variety of dishes in meals to provide enough essential nutrients for the baby;
  • Feed your baby on demand, it should be divided into several meals a day, and if the child does not want to eat, it is not recommended to force him to eat all the prepared meals.

There are many causes of recurrent pneumonia in children. What parents need to do is find a way to prevent the risk of recurrence of pneumonia in children with proper care and treatment. And when detecting a child with pneumonia, it is necessary to take him to the doctor, treated early, properly to avoid potentially dangerous complications.

Share99 Times City Pediatrics

Parents need to take their baby to the doctor for early treatment

For direct advice, please click the HOTLINE number or register online HERE. In addition, you can register for remote consultation HERE

SEE MORE:

  • Is it necessary to abstain from chicken and shrimp when coughing?
  • Acetylcysteine is a drug for long sputum
  • Phlegm medications, cough treatment: Not convenient to use

About: John Smith

b1ffdb54307529964874ff53a5c5de33?s=90&r=gI am the author of Share99.net. I had been working in Vinmec International General Hospital for over 10 years. I dedicate my passion on every post in this site.

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