A child with a high fever and chest congestion likely has pneumonia, an infection of the lung tissue. According to Nelson's Pediatrics, pneumonia affects approximately 10 percent of children over the age of 2. Worldwide, pneumonia is second only to diarrhea in terms of infections causing childhood death. Get immediate medical attention for your child if he has a high fever and chest congestion.
Causes
Pneumonia in children is usually caused by a bacteria, and the bacterium streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause. Other common pneumonia infections in this age group include Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Because of universal immunization in America, pneumonia due to Haemophilus influenzae is now rare. Viruses may also cause pneumonia; the most common are the respiratory synctial virus and influenza virus. Fungi can cause pneumonia in children with deficient immune systems.
Symptoms
Children with pneumonia often have cough. Depending on the age of the child, he may or may not cough up mucus. A high fever with chills is usually due to a bacterial infection, whereas a viral pneumonia usually causes a milder fever. Affected children may also be breathless and may make grunting or wheezing sounds as they attempt to breath. Children with pneumonia also may have abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of pneumonia is made by a physician after a careful examination. Doctors use a stethoscope to listen to the lungs and may be able to hear the congestion. While this is usually sufficient to diagnose pneumonia, doctors usually ask for an X-ray to determine the severity and extent of infection. Besides these tests, your child's doctor may take a blood or sputum sample to attempt a bacterial culture. This will allow him to identify the exact bacteria causing infection and the best antibiotic to use against it.
Treatment
The most important treatment for pneumonia is antibiotics. The type of antibiotics needed depends on the severity of the infection and the type of infection. Children who are severely breathless or dehydrated are often admitted to a hospital. Mild cases of pneumonia can be treated with oral amoxicillin or azithromycin. In more severe causes, intravenous antibiotics with drugs such as ceftriaxone are used. Some studies have shown that oral zinc can speed recovery.
References
- "Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics"; Dr. Robert M. Kliegman, et al.; 2008
- KidsHealth: Pneumonia
- Children's Hospital Boston: Pneumonia
