Signs of pneumonia in a 2-year-old child with and without fever

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Inflammation of the lungs is a serious and complex disease that affects not only adults but also children of all ages. It can be of different stages of development, but almost always easily diagnosed and treatable, without posing a threat to human life. Although, unfortunately, there are fatal cases. This is due to untimely access to qualified medical care. And if an adult can freely describe his state of he alth, then the first signs of pneumonia in children should be able to identify each parent. This will help protect the child from the serious consequences of the disease.

What causes disease

In most cases, the cause of pneumonia can be the presence of such viruses in the body:

• flu;
• ARVI;
• adenovirus;
• parainfluenza.

Note that parents should pay special attention to the condition of the baby in case of long-term treatment for a 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, streptococci, 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;
• equity.

In addition, pneumonia can be unilateral or bilateral. Depending on this, the complexity and duration of the disease is different. Accordingly, different combinations of drugs are used for treatment.

Classification of disease by source of infection

Precisely defined signs of pneumonia in a child of 2 years, as well as in an adult patient, allow timely and accurate identification of the source of infection. In modern medicine, it is believed that it can be as follows:

• atypical, which is caused by rather rare bacteria (chlamydia, mycoplasmas, etc.) that enter the body through airborne droplets or with food;
• community-acquired - the most common type of disease, transmitted by a virus;
• aspiration - occurs as a result of foreign bodies, food or liquid entering the respiratory tract;
• hospital - infection occurs in the hospital during the treatment of other diseases.

There is also pneumonia resulting from surgicalinterventions. But these are quite rare cases of pathology.

Factors contributing to disease in children

Not all parents can immediately recognize the signs of pneumonia in a child 2 years of age or younger. For this reason, it is necessary to know the factors of its occurrence. These include the following:

• problems of opening the lungs in children after childbirth;
• oxygen starvation of a child during pregnancy or at the time of childbirth;
• prematurity;
• transmission of bacteria and viruses from mother to child;
• heart disease;
• anemia or underdevelopment of the baby;
• hereditary diseases;
• digestive disorders;
• avitaminosis;
• complications during childbirth;
• compromised immunity.

As a result of these factors, pneumonia is formed in children, the symptoms and signs of which should be known to all parents.

Disease diagnosis

An experienced pediatrician or therapist can accurately identify pneumonia. There is a special technique for this. It consists in tapping the back wall of the chest in the area where the lungs are located. In addition, pneumonia can be determined by listening with a phonendoscope. But in this case, it is quite easy to make a mistake, since not every type of this pathology is accompanied by the presence of wheezing.

The patient needs to take blood and urine tests. This will determine the presence of inflammation in the body. It would be useful to do an x-ray or ultrasound.

Types of diseases

Howdescribes to parents the signs of pneumonia in a 2-year-old child Komarovsky, 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’t do without the help of a doctor. So, the following types of pneumonia can be distinguished:

• fungal;
• basal;
• viral;
• hidden;
• coarse.

It is possible to determine exactly the type of disease only after passing certain tests.

Fungal pneumonia

Infection of a child occurs when he inhales the fumes of streptotrichosis fungi and many others. This can be facilitated by mold on the surfaces in the room where the baby is constantly located, rotten boards or high humidity in the rooms.

The first signs of pneumonia in a child (2 years old and younger) of this type will be as follows:

• increased body temperature that won't go down with simple medicines;
• cough (protracted, sometimes barking type);
• aches in muscles and joints;
• weakness.

Pay special attention to the room in which the child is constantly. It must be clean, with optimal temperature conditions and without high humidity.

Inflammation of the lungs

The disease is formed at the root of the lung and is quite difficult to diagnose. Doctors in this case prescribe an x-ray. Signs of pneumonia in a child 2 years oldof this type will be:

• high 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 initially taking a complete blood count.

Viral pneumonia

The most common type of disease. The first signs of pneumonia in a child (2 years old) of this subspecies will be:

• general malaise;
• vomiting and nausea;
• runny nose;
• fever;
• dry and wet cough;
• discharge of pus with sputum.

A child can become infected with it in kindergarten, school and other public places. Do not self-medicate and give your child antiviral drugs. Seek medical attention immediately.

Latent pneumonia

The most difficult to diagnose and dangerous for children is occult pneumonia. She almost never shows up. Although doctors point to visible signs of latent pneumonia in a child, which include the following:

• shortness of breath - even in a sitting position, the child breathes rapidly;
• shortness of breath, sometimes wheezing;
• unhe althy blush, sometimes spotted;
• rapid heart rate;
• a feeling of thirst that doesn't 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 a chronic stage, which will cause complications in the work of the entire child's body. It is for this reason that it is necessary to pay attention to the above signs of pneumonia in a child without fever.

Croupous pneumonia

This type of illness 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 appear with a temperature that rises to 40 degrees. Also there are shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling, headache, weakness, gastrointestinal upset, chills. Parents should seek immediate medical attention.

General tips

Some types of pneumonia may not appear, which is very dangerous for the he alth of the child. Parents should know what signs of pneumonia a child may have in order to see a doctor in a timely manner:

• if the child has been 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 is not affected by drugs;
• there is a dry cough that causes vomiting or cough with sputum difficult to separate;
• Inactivity and sweating of the child even with minor exertion.

Therefore, if the condition of the baby causes concern, in order to protect him, it is better to immediately call a doctor. He will prescribe the appropriate tests and determinetreatment.

How to treat the disease

Today, not all children diagnosed with pneumonia are hospitalized. They may be left to be treated at home, but this is only at an early stage in the development of the disease.

First of all, the doctor prescribes symptomatic drugs. These include antipyretics. You should not get carried away with them, since each remedy has contraindications, a certain dosage regimen and dosage for different ages.

Remember, if the child's body temperature does not drop as a result of taking antipyretics, you need to call an ambulance.

Also prescribed mucolytic drugs that thin and remove sputum. With their choice, you need to be extremely careful, since 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 come out, and a new focus of inflammation may form.

In addition, they take antibiotics or antifungal drugs. They can be of different spectrum of action. They are prescribed by a doctor after an appropriate examination. It is necessary to be vigilant, as some antibiotics can cause allergic reactions, which are accompanied by fever, vomiting. They can be overlooked against the background of symptoms of pneumonia. Therefore, the choice of medicines must be entrusted to the doctor. The doctor knows what pneumonia can be in children, signs, and treatment in each of the cases should be prescribedonly him.

If a child coughs, his throat will be irritated. It may start to hurt. To avoid this, you need to take drugs that will relieve inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx. Do not forget about vitamins that will help the baby's body to quickly defeat the disease and restore immunity.

Traditional medicine

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 would be useful to give the child walnuts, which are not only rich in vitamins, but also perfectly remove phlegm. Honey, on the other hand, can only be consumed during the daytime, as it provokes a cough. Do not forget about raspberry and currant jams - 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 irradiation.

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 take care of their lifestyle. Today's youth smokes a lot and drinks often, and such influences onorganism negatively affect the genes. During pregnancy, toxins, fungi and other pathogenic bacteria are transmitted to the baby. As long as he is in the womb, he is protected. But as soon as he begins an independent life, all these factors can negatively affect his development.

It is necessary to monitor the physical condition of children. In the morning you can do gymnastics. Walks with children in the fresh air are obligatory.

By the way, doctors do not recommend restraining the child's activity so that mucus does not accumulate in the respiratory tract. But this is only in he althy children, it is better for sick children to provide a calm regimen.

Nutrition plays an important role in disease prevention. 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, as many of them cause allergic reactions. In addition, it is necessary to use citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, etc.), they are rich in vitamin C, which is indispensable in creating strong immunity. Stay he althy!