Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Pneumonia (for Teenagers)
DESCRIPTION
- labored breathing (respiratory distress)
- rapid breathing
- occasionally painful breathing
- coughing
- fever, sometimes with chills
- abnormal patch (infiltrate) on chest x-ray.
Note: Most rattly breathing is not pneumonia.
CAUSES
Pneumonia is an infection of the lung that causes fluid to
collect in the air sacs (alveoli). About 80 percent of
pneumonia cases are caused by viruses and 20 percent by
bacteria.
Viral pneumonia is usually milder than bacterial pneumonia.
Bacterial pneumonia tends to occur more suddenly and cause
higher fevers (often over 104 degrees F, or 40 degrees C).
Also, usually larger patches (infiltrates) are visible on
the chest x-ray, when the lung is affected by bacterial
pneumonia than by viral pneumonia.
Because pneumonia is usually a complication of a cold, it is
not considered contagious.
EXPECTED COURSE
Only bacterial pneumonia is helped by antibiotics. Because
it's difficult to distinguish bacterial from viral pneumonia
in all cases, sometimes antibiotics are prescribed for viral
pneumonia.
Before antibiotics were available, bacterial pneumonia was
dangerous. With antibiotics it improves within 24 to 48
hours. On the other hand, viral pneumonia can continue for
2 to 4 weeks. Recovery from viral pneumonia is gradual but
complete.
Most teenagers with pneumonia can be cared for at home.
Admission to the hospital for oxygen or intravenous fluids
is required in less than 10 percent of cases.
Recurrences of pneumonia are rare.
HOME TREATMENT
- Antibiotics
Teenagers with bacterial pneumonia need an antibiotic
prescribed by their physician.
- Medicines for fever
Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for moderate fever (over
102 degrees F, or 38.9 degrees C). This can be repeated
every 4 to 6 hours. These medicines can also help chest
pain.
- Warm fluids for coughing spasms
Coughing spasms are often caused by sticky secretions in
the back of the throat. Warm liquids usually relax the
airway and loosen the secretions. Drink warm lemonade,
apple juice, or herbal tea. Sipping chicken broth might
also help.
In addition, breathing warm moist air helps to loosen up
the sticky mucus. Fill a humidifier with warm water and
breathe in the warm mist it produces. Avoid steam
vaporizers because they can cause burns.
Don't take cough suppressant medicines (such as those
containing dextromethorphan) if you have pneumonia. The
infectious secretions need to be coughed up.
- Humidity
Dry air tends to make coughs worse. Use a humidifier in
your bedroom. The new ultrasonic humidifiers are very
quiet and they kill molds and most bacteria that might
be in the water.
- No smoking
Tobacco smoke aggravates coughing and makes coughs last
longer. Don't smoke nor be around anyone who smokes.
If you smoke, the cough will last weeks longer.
CALL YOUR PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY IF:
- Your breathing becomes more labored or difficult.
- You start feeling very sick.
CALL YOUR PHYSICIAN WITHIN 24 HOURS IF:
- The fever lasts over 48 hours after you start taking the
antibiotic.
- The cough lasts over 3 weeks.
- You have other questions or concerns.
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