Pneumonia is the infection of the either one lung or
both. When both the lungs get infected it is known as
double pneumonia. When the pneumonia is mild enough that
the visit to the doctor can be avoided and the child can
carry out daily activities normally, it is known as
walking pneumonia.
The lungs are an important part of the respiratory
system. The air which is breathed in contains oxygen,
which is filtered by the lungs. This oxygen then is
carried around the body with the help of blood which is
passed from the breathing tubes by the alveoli.
Capillaries or the minute blood vessels are surrounded
by small air sacs known as alveoli. There are over six
hundred million alveoli in the human body. The air which
is taken in is supplied to the alveoli; the oxygen
extracted from the air is dissolved in the blood. Then
it is the job of the red blood cells to distribute the
oxygen to all the body parts. Oxygen is vital in the
proper functioning of the human body and insufficient
supply of oxygen can damage the organs and sometimes can
be life threatening. This functioning is disturbed when
the lungs get infected by pneumonia.
Pneumonia does not allow the lungs to function properly,
because the infection produces fluid which obstructs the
alveoli. In turn the oxygen does not penetrate deep
inside the lungs and lesser oxygen is supplied to the
blood. The breathing is affected and the condition
worsens when both the lungs get infected with pneumonia.
People of all ages from infants to old could get
affected with pneumonia. It is a myth among people that
getting wet makes the person catch pneumonia. But it is
actually the virus or the bacteria which causes the
infection. When a person infected with flu or cold faces
a deterioration in his/her condition, he/she can be
infected with pneumonia. This happens because the
irritation caused by the flu or cold helps the pneumonia
germs to get into the lungs easily and move around to
spread the infection.
The virus or bacteria which cause pneumonia can cause
damages, whose severity can depend on the health of the
child. If the infection is caused by bacteria, the child
will get sick very soon and can get high temperature
fever accompanied with chills. Pneumonia caused by virus
develops very slowly and it takes longer time to go
away. The child can also experiences cough, chest pain,
headache, and or muscle ache. It can also make it
difficult to breath, so the child will start to breath
faster which may make him cough out gloppy mucus. The
child would have to totally abstain from eating.
When given the right treatment, the child can recover
fully. The doctor will first examine the heartbeat and
breathing with the help of the stethoscope. The
stethoscope also helps to check the lungs, the sounds
made by the lungs help to determine if it contains any
fluids. Sounds such as crackling or bubbling are
indications of pneumonia. Chest X-ray will be taken too.
White patchy area will show fluid buildup. By looking at
the X-ray, the doctor can also determine whether the
infection is caused by bacteria or virus. If it is
caused by bacteria, antibiotics will be prescribed. And
if it is difficult for the child to swallow the medicine
or to retain it inside, he/she will be injected with IV
fluid. And if virus is responsible for the infection,
antibiotics won’t work. Fever reducers, along with cough
medicine, will be given in this case. The medicines will
be of no use, if the child doesn’t take adequate rest
and plenty of liquids.
Shots can be taken to prevent pneumonia. These series of
shots are called pneumococcal. Regular flu shots can
also prove helpful, especially for kids who have asthma
or other kinds of lung infection. Rest and sleep also
strengthens the immune system. Washing hands regularly
can keep harmful germs at bay.
