Can Garlic Treat Pneumonia in Kids?

Can Garlic Treat Pneumonia in Kids?
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Garlic can treat a variety of ailments, but pneumonia is not one of them. Pneumonia can be very difficult to treat, which may be why a homeopathic remedy does not offer much of a cure. Those most at risk for developing pneumonia are those who are younger than the age of 2 or older than 65, according to MedlinePlus, but others may develop pneumonia as well. If you think you have pneumonia, see your doctor right away.

Garlic

Fresh garlic contains allicin, which is said to have antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. While garlic may sound like it would be a cure-all because of the claims that have been made, there's not enough research to prove that garlic can cure a wide variety of health conditions such as pneumonia, athlete's foot or other tooth infections. Garlic is said to be effective when it comes to reducing hypertension as well as cardiovascular disease.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia can be caused by bacterium, a virus or fungi in children and adults, according to MayoClinic.com. Since the type of infection can vary as to the cause of the pneumonia, the treatment can also vary. Pneumonia can range from a mild lung infection to a life-threatening condition. It's also common that pneumonia would develop as a complication of another condition, such as the flu. When kids develop pneumonia, the symptoms tend to appear faster than in adults and are less severe.

Treatment

Antibiotics are usually the typical treatment for pneumonia, according to MayoClinic.com, since the most common cause of this type of lung infection is by bacterium. You can also have your child, as well as yourself, vaccinated for pneumonia, according to KidsHealth. Some strains of pneumonia are resistant to antibiotics, which can mean they are harder to treat. Antibiotics only kill bacteria, not viruses; this is why it's imperative that you take your child to his pediatrician to determine the cause of pneumonia. The vaccination for pneumonia is a live-bacteria injection, meaning it can help prevent some bacterial strains of pneumonia.

Prevention

Pneumonia is spread by germs contaminating hard surfaces, such as pencils, desks and door knobs. Sanitizing your home and the classroom may be useful to prevent the spread of pneumonia. Talk to your child's teacher to help find ways to keep germs from spreading at school. The flu vaccine may also help prevent developing pneumonia since pneumonia typically develops as a result of the flu. Tell your child not to drink after friends and family members,as this is another common way that children spread germs. Remind her to wash her hands frequently and throw all dirty tissues in the trash after use. Tissues can carry the infection from nasal secretions.

References

Article reviewed by Eric Althoff Last updated on: Aug 25, 2011

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