There is also an entity in which both the airways and air sacs are involved with infection, and this is referred to as bronchopneumonia. Sometimes a chest X-ray is the only way to distinguish pneumonia from bronchitis. The symptoms and physical examination can be identical. Sometimes it is very difficult, even for a doctor, to tell pneumonia and bronchitis apart. Pneumonia is different from acute bronchitis (another disease that can cause fever, cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath) because acute bronchitis is caused by inflammation in the air passages (called bronchi) leading to the alveoli, not the alveoli themselves.Pneumonia can be very serious, because it directly interferes with the body's ability to exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen.It is not infrequent, however, for inflammation not to involve the surface of the lung and therefore, little if any pain may be present. This is called pleurisy and often can accompany pneumonia. The pleura does contain many nerve fibers, and if it becomes inflamed by an adjacent infection in the lungs, significant pain can result. The lungs themselves do not have any pain fibers but are surrounded by a membrane called the pleura. Inflammation is the body's attempt to destroy infection, and causes many of the other symptoms of bacterial pneumonia, including fever and chest pain. This causes the feeling of being short of breath (dyspnea), which is one of the most common symptoms of pneumonia. When the alveoli don't work efficiently, the lungs are less able to extract oxygen from the air.The lungs become less elastic and cannot take oxygen into the blood or remove carbon dioxide from the blood as efficiently as usual. When the inflammation occurs in the alveoli (microscopic air sacs in the lungs) they fill with fluid.This response to bacterial invaders is called inflammation. In bacterial pneumonia, bacteria reproduce in the lungs, while the body tries to fight off the infection. The body's immune system usually keeps bacteria from infecting the lungs.People with pneumonia usually complain of coughing, mucus production, fever, shortness of breath, and/or chest pain. Consider using a humidifier in your child’s room at night to help clear the lungs.Pneumonia is a fungal, viral, or bacterial infection of the lungs. You should avoid offering any cough suppressants because they can keep mucus in the lungs, which can prolong the infection.
Vaccines also help prevent other infections occurring at the same time as pneumonia. Several of the vaccines given in childhood, including the pneumococcal, measles, and varicella vaccines protect against pneumonia caused by these organisms. If your child isn’t up-to-date on vaccinations, it’s also a good idea to make sure they’re fully vaccinated. Replenish electrolytes with drinks such as Pedialyte or Gatorade.Keep a water bottle near your child to encourage hydration throughout the day.Here are some things you can do to help your child stay hydrated: Sleep and lots of hydration with water are key. It’s important to give your child plenty of downtime during recovery. Walking pneumonia can take four to six weeks to clear up completely. More commonly, however, doctors prescribe an oral antibiotic, usually amoxicillin.Ĭhildren may need up to 14 days of oral antibiotics for a bacterial case of walking pneumonia, and a day or two of rest at home. In some cases, an infection due to walking pneumonia may not need any treatment other than rest. This is why you may see more cases of pneumonia in the colder fall and winter months, when people spend more time indoors.Ĭhildren who have other health conditions or weakened immune systems are also at risk for pneumonia.
If you smoke in your home or have caregivers that smoke around your child, your child may be more susceptible to developing pneumonia.Ĭertain living conditions, such as very crowded spaces or homes with significant air pollution, can also contribute to lung infection.
Depending on where you live, you may notice more cases of walking pneumonia every 3-4 years. pneumoniae infection tends to occur in three- to four-year cycles.Īnother study found that in recent years the cycles have occurred less frequently in some geographical areas. One study suggested that pneumonia caused by M. Many cases of walking pneumonia are caused by respiratory viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus, though tests for viruses are often not needed. pneumoniae infection is less common in children under 4 years old. Walking pneumonia is often caused by an infection with the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae. All types of pneumonia are due to a lung infection.
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