When does pneumonia become dangerous for babies?
Pneumonia in babies is always a serious disease. Infants are always treated as inpatients, as they are given antibiotics through the vein to combat the germs.In addition, the baby’s condition must be closely monitored to ensure that no complications arise. If a baby becomes conspicuous due to a change in behavior, such as unwillingness to drink, lethargy or rapid and shallow breathing, it is absolutely necessary to consult the pediatrician at an early stage.
Symptoms such as coughing, nostrils, a distended abdomen or a general restlessness of the baby can also indicate pneumonia. If pneumonia is present, treatment must be initiated immediately, so it should not take long before a pediatrician is consulted. If pneumonia is suspected, the pediatrician will immediately refer the baby to a clinic, which can take appropriate measures. In Germany, the treatment options are very good, so that the pneumonia usually heals within one to two weeks without consequences. Since pneumonia can lead to serious complications such as sepsis (blood poisoning), medical care for the baby is essential.
Prognosis
Basically, pneumonia does not have to be dangerous for a baby. With medication and other therapy, there is a significant improvement within the next 2 to 3 days. The exhaustion of the child slowly disappears, but a general weakness in the period after recovery is not uncommon.
This too will pass with complete restoration of physical vitality. Complications can become dangerous for the baby, favored by the existing pneumonia. This includes, for example, pleural effusion.
If the inflammation spreads in the baby’s lungs, the pleura may also become inflamed (pleuritis). This not only causes pain when breathing, but can also lead to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural gap. The fluid may consist of inflammatory infiltrate and/or blood.
The volume that the fluid takes up means that the baby’s lungs are increasingly deprived of space for complete expansion and breathing activity is further restricted. Another complication is a lung abscess. This involves encapsulation of a focus of inflammation, which can render an existing drug therapy ineffective. Most abscesses drain into the bronchi during the healing process and do not require surgery.
