Children with pneumonia are easy to relapse, causing serious health effects. What causes pneumonia in children? Follow the article below!
👉👉👉 Signs of pneumonia in babies
2 most common causes of pneumonia in children
What is pneumonia in children?
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. When a child has pneumonia, the small airways in the lungs are blocked with mucus. This reduces the amount of oxygen that can enter the body, causing shortness of breath and fatigue. Pneumonia can involve one or both lungs.
Children and the elderly are two subjects at greater risk of pneumonia. The best way to prevent children from getting pneumonia is to follow good hygiene practices such as frequent hand washing and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. Children usually recover from pneumonia with proper medical care.
Causes of pneumonia in children
Pneumonia in children is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. In rare cases, children can also get pneumonia from breathing in dust, fungi, toxic gases, etc.
Causes of bacterial pneumonia in children
Bacterial pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. The most common types of bacteria that can cause pneumonia in children include:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can cause pneumococcal disease
- Group B streptococcus, a common cause of serious infections in infants
- Staphylococcus aureus, which can infect heart valves and bones
- Group A strep, which can also lead to sore throat
Causes of viral pneumonia in children
Viral pneumonia usually starts with an infection in the upper respiratory tract, then spreads to the lungs and causes pneumonia. Respiratory viruses that can cause pneumonia include:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under 1 year old
- flu virus
- Adenovirus, which causes cold-like symptoms
Bacteria and viruses are the two most common causes of pneumonia
Other factors that increase the risk of pneumonia
Some underlying conditions that put a child at higher risk for pneumonia are:
- Chronic diseases affecting the lungs: asthma, cystic fibrosis
- Children with a history of immunodeficiency or cancer are also at greater risk
- If your baby was born with reduced lung function or abnormal airways, they may be more likely to get pneumonia, and children exposed to second-hand smoke are also at higher risk.
Pneumonia in children usually begins in late fall, winter, and early spring. Indeed, infections are more contagious when children are indoors more than at school or daycare.
Methods of preventing pneumonia in children
You can’t always protect your baby from infections. Fortunately, there is a safe and effective way to fight many types of bacteria that cause pneumonia.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, all children should receive the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to protect against pneumococcal infections. The vaccination schedule includes doses at the following ages:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 12 to 15 months
Although there is no vaccine for viral pneumonia, the best way to prevent it is to prevent upper respiratory tract infections as best you can. This means washing children’s hands often and covering coughs and sneezes. Also, making sure your child gets the flu shot every year will also reduce the risk of viral infections that can lead to pneumonia.
The above article has shown the causes of pneumonia in children. I hope this information will help you!
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