Patient education: Pneumonia in children (The Basics)

What is pneumonia? — 

This is a lung infection that causes coughing, fever, and trouble breathing. It is a serious illness, especially in young children.

Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria or viruses:

●Babies and children younger than 5 years – Pneumonia is more likely to be caused by a virus.

●Children older than 5 years – Pneumonia is more likely to be caused by bacteria.

What are the symptoms of pneumonia? — 

Common symptoms include:

●Cough

●Fever

●Breathing faster than normal

●Trouble breathing ("retractions") (figure 1), or pain when breathing in

●Restlessness or trouble feeding (in babies)

Not all children with pneumonia have the same symptoms. But if your child seems sick and has both a cough and a fever, they might have pneumonia.

Should my child see a doctor or nurse? — 

Yes. If you think your child might have pneumonia, see a doctor or nurse right away. Pneumonia can be very serious in children, especially if it is not treated right away.

Call for an ambulance (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if your child:

●Stops breathing

●Turns blue or is very pale

●Has a very hard time breathing

●Starts grunting

●Looks like they are getting tired from having to work so hard to breathe

If a doctor or nurse thinks your child might have pneumonia, they will do an exam and listen to your child's breathing. They might also take an X-ray of your child's chest.

How is pneumonia treated? — 

Treatment depends on the child's age, how serious the pneumonia is, and whether it is caused by bacteria or a virus. Some children who are very sick, especially young children or babies, might need treatment in the hospital.

Pneumonia caused by bacteria is treated with antibiotics. These are medicines that kill bacteria. They come as pills or liquids. Make sure your child takes all the antibiotics, even if they start to feel better.

Antibiotics do not help with pneumonia caused by a virus. But your child's doctor or nurse might try other medicines if they think they will help.

When will my child feel better? — 

Most children who are treated with antibiotics start to feel better 2 to 3 days after starting the medicine. Even so, your child might still feel tired or have a cough for a few weeks or even months after treatment. It might also be a few months before they can breathe comfortably while exercising.

How do I care for my child at home? — 

Keep your child as comfortable as possible, and make sure they get lots of rest. Give them plenty of fluids to drink. For babies and very young children, it might help to offer small amounts of fluids frequently (instead of large amounts less often).

Medicines like acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin) can help relieve pain and fever. The correct dose depends on your child's weight, so ask your child's doctor how much to give.

Do not give your child over-the-counter cough medicines. They do not usually work well, and they can have serious side effects in children. Also, do not give aspirin or medicines that contain aspirin to children younger than 18 years. Aspirin can cause a serious problem called Reye syndrome in children.

Call your child's doctor or nurse if your child gets worse at any time or does not seem to be getting better after 2 days. They might need a different type of treatment.

How can I keep my child from getting pneumonia again? — 

The best way to prevent the spread of infection is to wash your child's hands often with soap and water. You can use an alcohol rub instead, but make sure the hand rub gets everywhere on their hands.

There are several vaccines that help protect against pneumonia. Talk to your child's doctor or nurse about which vaccines your child should get, and when they should get them.

More on this topic

Patient education: Pneumonia in children – Discharge instructions (The Basics)
Patient education: Fever in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Cough in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for babies and children age 0 to 6 years (The Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for children age 7 to 18 years (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use an incentive spirometer (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use a pulse oximeter (The Basics)
Patient education: Sputum culture (The Basics)

Patient education: Fever in children (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for infants and children age 0 to 6 years (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for children age 7 to 18 years (Beyond the Basics)