Clinical Pediatrics: Open Access
Open Access

Effects of Pneumonia on Lungs of Children

Author info »

Description

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs. Microorganisms, diseases, and fungi cause it. The contagion causes infection in the air sacs in your lungs, which are named alveoli. The alveoli seal with fluid or pus, making it hard to breathe. The germs that cause pneumonia are infectious. This means they can feast from person to person. Both virus-related and infectious pneumonia can spread to others over gulp of air of airborne dewdrops from a sneeze or cough. You can also catch these types of pneumonia by coming into contact with surfaces or objects that are contaminated with pneumonia-initiating bacteria or viruses. You can pact fungal pneumonia from the atmosphere. However, it doesn’t extent from person to person.

Signs of pneumonia are mild to life-intimidating. They can involve coughing that may create sweating or chills, fever, phlegm (mucus), shortness of breath that occurs while doing common actions nausea or vomiting, or even while resting, chest pain that’s worse when you breathe or cough, feelings of drowsiness or fatigue, loss of appetite, headaches. Other indications can differ according to your age and general fitness Children less than 5 years old may have dissolute breathing or gasping. Infants may appear to have no signs, but sometimes they may lack energy, vomit, or have trouble drinking or eating. Older people may have slighter signs. They can also show misperception or a lower than normal body temperature. There are numerous types of contagious agents that can cause pneumonia.

There are several types of contagious agents that can reason pneumonia.

Bacterial pneumonia

The most common reason of bacterial pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumonia. Other causes include: Haemophilus influenza, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila

Viral pneumonia

Respiratory viruses are frequently the reason of pneumonia. Some examples include: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza (flu), rhinoviruses (common cold).

Fungal pneumonia

Fungi from dirt or bird droppings can cause pneumonia. They most frequently cause pneumonia in people with weakened resistant systems. Examples of fungi that can reason pneumonia include: Cryptococcus species, Pneumocystis jirovecii, Histoplasmosis species.

Pneumonia risk factors

Anyone can catch pneumonia, but definite groups do have a greater risk. These groups include:

Birth to 2 years old.

65 years and older.

People with weakened resistant systems because of disease or use of medicines, such as steroids or certain cancer medications.

People with certain long-lasting medical disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, diabetes, asthma, or heart failure

People who’ve newly had a breathing infection, such as a cold or the flu.

People who’ve been newly or are currently hospitalized, mainly if they were or are on a air duct.

People who’ve had a have problems swallowing, heart stroke, or have a state that causes immobility.

People who use certain types of drugs, smoke, or drink extreme amounts of liquor.

People who’ve been open to lung irritants, such as fumes, pollution, and certain chemicals.

Pneumonia can be a rather common childhood state. Examiner’s estimate there are 120 million Trusted Foundation cases of pediatric pneumonia worldwide each year. The reasons of childhood pneumonia can vary by age. For example, pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, respiratory viruses, and Haemophilus influenzae is more common in children under 5 years old. Pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae is often observed in children among the ages of 5 and 13. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the sources of walking pneumonia. It’s a milder form of pneumonia.

See your pediatrician if you observe your child:

Lacks energy.

Is having trouble inhalation.

Has a variation in appetite.

Pneumonia can develop risky quickly, mainly in young children.