Causes of pneumonia in newborns
Pediatric pneumonia can be bacterial, viral and fungal in nature. Most often, this disease occurs if the child's body is weakened by any viral infection.
Pneumonia in a newborn can develop due to birth trauma Photo: Getty The following causes increase the risk of pneumonia in the baby:
- hypovitaminosis, beriberi;
- intrauterine lack of oxygen;
- asphyxia;
- birth trauma, in particular trauma of the brain and respiratory tract;
- congenital heart or lung defect;
- problems with immunity, including hereditary;
- underdevelopment of the respiratory muscles.
Diagnosing pneumonia in a baby is not so difficult. The doctor examines the child, interrogates the parents, prescribes tests of urine, blood, sputum cultures. Among the instrumental studies: X-ray, computed tomography, echocardiography. If necessary, the baby is examined by a children's pulmonologist.
Consequences of pneumonia in newborns
If treatment of the disease started on time and conductedhis competent specialist, you should not be afraid of serious consequences. In the most rare cases, pulmonary edema or pulmonary insufficiency may develop. The pleurisy, which hampers the breathing of the child, is also rarely developed. In the case of severe pneumonia, the destruction of lung tissue can occur in the infant. In this case, the tissues are destroyed and the lungs form cavities. Pneumonia in infants develops rapidly, rapidly "capturing" healthy areas of the lungs. But if the child does not teach adequate treatment, pneumonia still reminds of itself for a long time. After it passed its acute form, the child is haunted by residual effects - severe lethargy, lack of appetite, problems with growth and weight gain. Sometimes the acute form of pneumonia, which has not been treated, flows into the chronic and periodically exacerbates. This very weakens the small body. If you notice that your baby is feeling unwell, his fever has risen, and a cough has started, go to the pediatrician. This is not the case when it is worthwhile to test people's prescriptions and engage in self-medication. The risk of unpleasant consequences from such treatment without the help of a specialist is too great. Look also:
