As a first-time mom to a toddler, I navigated the parenting world with vigilant measures. I read, research, and educate myself to ensure that his well-being is taken care of perfectly.
I genuinely believe that I did everything in my power to keep him healthy and happy. Then my son started to have a fever, along with the cough that came and went. When my child was hospitalised previously for high fever, I thought this was another fever case due to seasonal change.
I gave him medicines that we had in hand, hoping he would get better with plenty of bed rest. What made me change my mind immediately that night was when I saw how his chest went up and down rapidly.
Red flag!
Without any hesitation, I took him immediately to the emergency room. After being consulted with the doctor, I was informed that my son had contracted pneumonia. My swift decision to take him to the ER might have saved his life as my doctor informed me that pneumonia is the single most significant infectious cause of death in children worldwide¹.
What Is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the tissue in one or both lungs, causing swelling. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection or by a virus². Pneumonia is highly contagious, and it can spread from one person to another. So I did more digging to find out about pneumonia in children.
Let me share some important information about this disease.
Common Symptoms of Pneumonia in Children
Some of the symptoms of bacterial pneumonia include:
● Bluish colour to lips and fingernails³
● Confused mental state or delirium, especially in older people³
● Cough that produces green, yellow, or bloody mucus³
● Fever³
● Heavy sweating³
● Loss of appetite³
● Low energy and extreme tiredness³
● Rapid breathing³
● Rapid pulse³
● Shaking chills³
● Sharp or stabbing chest pain that’s worse with deep breathing or coughing³
● Shortness of breath that gets worse with activity³
Different Types of Pneumonia In Children
Here are the three (3) main types of pneumonia that all parents should be aware of:
- Bacterial pneumonia⁴
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterium that causes bacterial pneumonia, though other bacteria can also cause it. Other bacteria that can cause bacterial pneumonia,
includes:
●Group B streptococcus
● Staphylococcus aureus
● Group A streptococcus
- Viral pneumonia⁴
Various viruses, including the following, cause pneumonia in children:
● Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV (most commonly seen in children under age 5)
● Parainfluenza virus
● Influenza virus
● Adenovirus
It is said that early symptoms of viral pneumonia are the same as those of bacterial pneumonia. However, with viral pneumonia, respiratory involvement happens slowly.
Wheezing may occur, and the cough may worsen. Viral pneumonia may make a child susceptible to bacterial pneumonia.
- Mycoplasma pneumonia⁴
This presents somewhat different symptoms and physical signs than other types of pneumonia. They generally cause mild, widespread pneumonia that affects all age groups but more commonly in older children. Symptoms usually do not start with a cold and may include the following:
● Fever and cough are the first to develop
● Cough that is persistent and may last three to four weeks
● Severe cough that may produce some mucus
Getting Your Child Vaccinated to Prevent Pneumonia
After weeks of treatment, my son recovers and is back to his usual self. My husband and I then decided to get him vaccinated with pneumococcal vaccine.
In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that out of the 8.8 million worldwide annual deaths amongst children under the age of 5 years, 476 000 (333 000–529 000) cases were due to pneumococcal infections. Mortality and disease rates were higher in developing nations, with most deaths reported in Africa and Asia⁵.
In Malaysia, pneumococcal disease is one of the most widespread vaccine-preventable diseases. Acute otitis media (AOM) is closely associated with viral upper respiratory tract infections. Still, the most common microbial agent found in the middle ear fluid during AOM is Streptococcus pneumoniae⁶.
Pneumococcal disease can sometimes develop into ‘invasive pneumococcal disease’ (IPD), which can include severe conditions, including meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain), septicaemia (blood infection), and blood infection⁷. Parents, you need to know that the pneumococcal vaccine will be given in three doses: two primer doses at age four months and six months, followed by a booster shot at age 15 months⁸.
Now that you have educated yourself with new information, it is time to take action and start vaccinating your child against deadly diseases.
And let’s protect our future generation today!
Asian Parent 1st Issue – PCV article in conjunction with World Pneumonia Day (v0.1)
NP-MY-SYN-ADVR-240001 04/24
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For further information please contact your doctor
References:
¹ Pneumonia in children (11 November 2022)
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/pneumonia
² National Health Services, UK. Pneumonia (12 January 2023)
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pneumonia/
³ John Hopkins Medicine. Pneumonia (n.d)
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/pneumonia
⁴ Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Pneumonia in Children (n,d)
https://www.chop.edu/conditions-diseases/pneumonia-children
⁵ Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia. Pneumococcal Vaccine (17 June 2015)
www.myhealth.gov.my/en/pneumococcal-vaccine/
⁶ Ritva K Syrjänen, Kari J Auranen, Tuija M Leino, Terhi M Kilpi, P Helena Mäkelä. Pneumococcal acute otitis media in relation to pneumococcal nasopharyngeal carriage. (24 Sept 2005)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16148847/
⁷ Queensland Government. Pneumococcal Disease (19 sept 2023)
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/condition/infections-and-parasites/bacterial-infections/pneumococcal-disease
⁸ CodeBlue. Malaysia Chooses PCV10 Pneumococcal Vaccine, Immunisation Starts December (24 November 2020)
https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2020/11/24/malaysia-chooses-pcv10-pneumococcal-vaccine-immunisation-starts-december/
