What are the early symptoms of pneumonia in children?

Early symptoms of pneumonia in children include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Parents should identify them as early as possible and seek medical attention in a timely manner. Other possible manifestations include loss of appetite, crying and restlessness, mental depression, etc. In severe cases, dangerous signals such as cyanosis of the lips or sunken chest may appear.

1 Common early symptoms

The most typical symptoms of early pneumonia in children are fever and cough, with body temperature reaching above 38°C, often accompanied by irritating dry cough or sputum. Some children may only have mild and frequent coughs, which are easy to be ignored. In addition to coughing, some children will experience shortness of breath and shortness of breath. Parents can observe whether the child's chest rises and falls too quickly or sinks significantly. It may also manifest as reduced feeding or eating, as well as abnormal crying or drowsiness, which may indicate the development of the disease.

2 Warning signs of worsening symptoms

If pneumonia symptoms are not treated in time, the condition may worsen rapidly. For example, breathing becomes more labored, the chest becomes sunken, the face becomes pale, and the lips or nails become purple or cyanotic. Severe cases may cause confusion or extreme fatigue. If parents find these symptoms, they should take their children to the doctor immediately to avoid delaying the best time for treatment.

3 How to deal with early symptoms

If your child has the above mild symptoms, it is recommended that parents take their child to the hospital for blood tests, chest X-rays and other tests as soon as possible to confirm the diagnosis. After the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment can be determined based on the cause, usually including the following measures:

Drug treatment: Antibiotics such as amoxicillin or cephalosporins are suitable for bacterial pneumonia, while antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir can be used for viral pneumonia.

Supportive therapy: Maintaining your child's water intake and drinking more warm water or warm milk can help relieve cough and dilute sputum.

Local care: It can be combined with nebulizer inhalation therapy to relieve inflammation of the respiratory mucosa and keep the indoor air moist and fresh.

If parents find early symptoms of pneumonia in children, they should not blindly use medication, but seek medical advice and treatment as soon as possible. Paying attention to children's behavior and physical reactions is also the key to timely discovering problems and preventing the disease from developing.