Patient's question:
What are the symptoms of pediatric pneumonia?Doctor's answer:
Here is the English translation of the provided content, with the return characters kept as is:Look for fever. Most children with pneumonia have fever symptoms, with temperatures often above 38°C, lasting for two or three days. Antipyretic drugs can only temporarily lower the temperature, which soon rises again. While a cold can also cause fever in children, the temperature is usually below 38°C, the duration is shorter, and antipyretic drugs are more effective.
Observe cough and breathing. To determine if a child has pneumonia, it is also necessary to check if they have coughing, wheezing, and whether breathing is difficult. Coughing and wheezing caused by colds or bronchitis are often paroxysmal and generally do not cause breathing difficulties. If coughing and wheezing are severe, and the respiratory rate increases at rest (i.e., for infants under 2 months, ≥60 breaths/min; for infants aged 2–12 months, ≥50 breaths/min; for children aged 1–5 years, ≥40 breaths/min), it indicates a serious condition and should not be delayed.
Assess mental state. If a child is feverish and coughing but in good spirits, it suggests a lower likelihood of pneumonia. Conversely, if the child is listless, has cyanotic lips, is agitated, cries, or is drowsy, the possibility of pneumonia is higher. In the early stages of pneumonia, the child’s mental state may remain unchanged, or it may be poor.
Monitor appetite. If a child has pneumonia, their appetite will significantly decrease, and they may refuse to eat or cry during feeding. If pneumonia is confirmed, continue feeding and providing nutrition. If the child’s appetite decreases, offer small, frequent meals. Breastfed infants should be fed more frequently to enhance nutrition and strength.
Listen to the chest. Due to children’s thin chest walls, sometimes rales can be heard without a stethoscope, so attentive parents can listen to their child’s chest when they are calm or asleep. When listening to the chest, ensure the room temperature is above 18°C, remove the child’s top clothing, and gently place your ear on the chest wall on both sides of the spine, listening carefully. Pneumonia patients will hear a "gurgle, gurgle" sound during inhalation, which doctors call fine crackles, an important sign of lung inflammation.