Is pneumonia fatal in children?

Neonatal pneumonia is a common disease in the neonatal period and an important cause of neonatal death. It can occur in utero, during delivery or after birth and is caused by bacteria, viruses or protozoa. Every year, 2 million children die from neonatal pneumonia worldwide. It is characterized by atypical clinical manifestations, which need to be fully recognized, not ignored, and must be identified, diagnosed and treated correctly as soon as possible.

1. Intrauterine infection: The mother is infected by bacteria, viruses or protozoa during pregnancy, the amniotic membrane ruptures prematurely for more than 24 hours or chorioamnionitis contaminates the amniotic fluid. The bacteria, viruses or mycoplasma in the mother's vagina infect the amniotic membrane, and the fetus inhales the contaminated amniotic fluid and develops pneumonia. The mother is infected by viruses, protozoa or mycoplasma in the late pregnancy, and the pathogens can be transmitted to the fetus through the blood, causing pneumonia.

2. Infection during delivery: The fetus inhales secretions from the mother's vagina that are contaminated with pathogens during delivery and develops pneumonia. Or bloodstream infection occurs due to unclean umbilical cord cutting.

3. Postnatal infection: The incidence of pneumonia is highest after birth.

1. Transmission through contact: When people who come into contact with infants have respiratory infections, they can easily pass the infection to newborns, causing pneumonia in the newborns.

2. Hematogenous transmission: When newborns suffer from other infectious diseases, pathogens can be transmitted to the lungs through the bloodstream and cause pneumonia.

3. Nosocomial transmission: due to the lack of strict disinfection of medical equipment or the medical staff's lax hand washing, the pathogens are transmitted to the newborn and cause pneumonia.

Through the above introduction, we can know that the possibility of death from neonatal pneumonia is very high, so we must understand the relevant knowledge of the disease and receive timely treatment.