The signs indicating the onset of pneumonia in infants are contingent upon whether the pneumonia is derived from a bacteria or virus. Of these two types of pneumonia, the symptoms of bacterial pneumonia develop the fastest in the form of a fever, persistent cough, shallow breathing and loss of appetite. Viral pneumonia resembles the common cold in its early stages and might also cause coughing and a high fever.
Despite having symptoms that overlap with bacterial pneumonia, viral pneumonia is generally considered the least deleterious of the two forms of pediatric pneumonia. Although the bacterial and viral agents that cause pneumonia in infants are contagious, neither form of the disease can mutate into the other form. Also, viral pneumonia can wreak havoc on a child’s immune system and increase the likelihood of the child contracting bacterial pneumonia.
Just like in the adult form of the disease, pneumonia in children affects the lungs and upper respiratory system. Consequently, within two to three days following exposure to the infectious bacterial pneumonia strains, a child might begin to suffer from labored breathing or wheezing as well as develop a severe cough because the lungs will fill with fluid. As the body reacts to the infection, a fever might occur. To aid the body in combating bacterial pneumonia, most doctors prescribe antibiotics. Treating pneumonia in infants in this manner usually causes the signs and symptoms of the disease to subside within one to two weeks.
When pneumonia in infants is caused by exposure to a virus, the signs of pneumonia manifest themselves within four to six days. The early stages of this form of pneumonia in infants are similar to the common cold and include a runny nose and a sore throat. As the infection lingers in the body, the child’s condition will rapidly deteriorate, thus indicating a far more serious underlying health problem. Unlike bacterial pneumonia, pneumonia in infants that is caused by a virus does not respond to antibiotics. A prolonged period of rest combined with an increased intake of fluids will cause the disease to leave the body within three to four weeks.
The effects of the individual symptoms of pneumonia in infants can be mitigated, and it is important that appropriate measures are taken. Although it might seem counterintuitive, giving a child cough suppressants to curtail coughing is not proper if the child is suffering from bacterial or viral pneumonia. Coughing facilitates the clearing of mucus from the lungs and consequently improves breathing. Fluids that are high in vitamin C will bolster the immune system and help the child have a faster recovery, especially if the child has viral pneumonia, which cannot be treated with antibiotics. Finally, heat pads applied to the child's chest will help break down mucus and alleviate the soreness that results from persistent coughing.