There are 5 common symptoms of pneumonia in children: low white blood cells

The five common symptoms of pneumonia in children include fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, mental depression, and some children may also show low white blood cell counts. These symptoms indicate that the child may have an infectious disease and should seek medical attention as soon as possible for examination and treatment by a doctor.

1. Fever and cough

The typical symptom of pneumonia in children is persistent fever, accompanied by frequent and severe coughs. The fever may be low-grade or high-grade; the cough is mostly dry, and sputum may be discharged when the condition worsens, which is caused by bacteria infecting the lungs. If the child's temperature is found to be continuously above 38.5℃ or the cough is severe, it is necessary to go to the hospital for routine blood tests and chest X-rays in time to determine the type of infection.

2. Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing

Pneumonia can affect the normal respiratory function of the alveoli, causing the child's respiratory rate to increase, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. In severe cases, there will be flaring of the nose, three concave signs, depression of the suprasternal fossa, interclavicular fossa, and intercostal space. If parents find that their children are having difficulty breathing, it is recommended to send them to the doctor immediately. The doctor can choose to use oxygen therapy or antibiotics according to the condition.

3. Mental fatigue and fatigue

Because lung infection causes the body to consume more oxygen, children may experience lethargy and drowsiness. Children with low immune function may even have a pale face or purple lips when the condition is serious. In addition to actively cooperating with treatment, parents should try to provide their children with a warm and comfortable resting environment and ensure adequate sleep to promote recovery.

4 Low white blood cell count

Some children will find a decrease in white blood cell count when they are infected with pneumonia. This is usually caused by viral pneumonia, which is different from the increase in white blood cells in bacterial pneumonia. The decrease in white blood cells indicates that the immune system is more seriously affected. At this time, doctors usually prescribe antiviral drugs such as ribavirin and drugs to increase immune support to help children recover faster.

5Other associated symptoms

Pneumonia in children may also manifest as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms related to the respiratory system. Inadequate nutrition intake will further weaken the body's ability to fight infection. Parents can give their children appropriate nutritional support under the doctor's advice, such as liquid diet, warm water rehydration, etc.

When the above symptoms occur, parents should be highly vigilant and take their children to the hospital as soon as possible for chest X-ray examination, blood routine and CRPC reactive protein tests. Clinical treatment usually includes anti-infective drugs such as amoxicillin, cephalosporins, etc., nebulized inhalation such as budesonide, terbutaline, etc., and symptomatic antipyretic drugs such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Pediatric pneumonia should not be underestimated. Its symptoms may worsen rapidly, especially in children with low white blood cell counts, indicating that the immune system has been severely damaged. Early detection and early treatment are the key to dealing with pneumonia. If parents find suspicious symptoms, they should not delay diagnosis and treatment.