Pneumonia
Patient Information
Child Health Department
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Leaflet Number:
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Date Produced:
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Pneumonia
MF
CH 013
5
Pneumonia
February 2016
February 2018
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What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an illness that can be caused by an infection from a virus or bacteria.
Another name for pneumonia is chest infection. The infection leads to swelling, redness
and the production of a fluid (called exudates) in the small air sacs of one or both lungs.
Whole sections of the lung tissue may become blocked by the swelling and exudates so
that air cannot enter the lungs properly. This is often called ‘consolidation and collapse of
the lung’. Pneumonia occurs in all age groups but is more common in children under four
years of age. Recovery usually takes seven to 10 days.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms vary greatly depending on the age of the child and the organism, which has
caused the illness.
Infants and young children often have symptoms such as fast breathing, fever and lack of
energy, loss of appetite, ‘tummy’ pains and neck stiffness. Older children complain of
headaches, fever, chest pain and a general feeling of being unwell. Pneumonia may
follow a mild infection in the nose and throat. Your child may also have a cough.
Rapid breathing, difficulty with breathing, grunting noises with breathing and a bluish tinge
around the mouth are also common symptoms of pneumonia.
What tests are needed?
We will usually take blood to test and perform a chest x-ray. These are used to be sure
that the diagnosis is correct, and plan treatment.
How is it treated?
Your child may require oxygen for a small period of time. We usually prescribe an
antibiotic to treat the infection. Antibiotics are good at dealing with this sort of problem.
They will help your child get better sooner and reduce the chances of later problems. The
antibiotics may at first be given through the vein, especially when children are unable to
take the medicine by mouth. Any fever and discomfort can be controlled with medication
such as paracetamol.
Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluid to prevent dehydration. Your child may need
to avoid doing activities, which need a lot of energy. Try to get your child to do more
restful activities e.g. reading, watching TV, and doing puzzles. Encourage your child to sit
up during the day, to help their breathing.
Getting better
Children will usually show good improvement before going home. The antibiotic course
will be finished at home. We will then meet you again in clinic. If there are symptoms,
which continue past a month, or the infection was severe, we will repeat the chest x-ray to
ensure that your childs’ lungs have fully recovered.
Pneumonia
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Please feel free to ask
If you have any questions or queries, which we have not covered in this leaflet, the staff
will be pleased to answer your questions as clearly and honestly as they can.
Rainbow Ward, Tel: 01942 778762. Ward open 24 hours
Please note that we can only give specific advice where we have recently been involved in
the care of a child.
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Comments, Compliments or Complaints
The Patient Relations/Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) Department provides
confidential on the spot advice, information and support to patients, relatives, friends and
carers.
Contact Us
Tel: 01942 822376 (Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm)
The Patient Relations/PALS Manager
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Albert Edward Infirmary
Wigan Lane
Wigan WN1 2NN
Ask 3 Questions
Become more involved in decisions about your healthcare. You may
be asked to make choices about your treatment. To begin with, try to
make sure you get the answers to three key questions:
1. What are my options?
2. What are the pros and cons of each option for me?
3. How do I get support to help me make a decision that is right
for me?
This leaflet is also available in audio, large print, Braille and other languages upon request.
For more information call 01942 773106.
© Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust
All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of the copyright owner
Pneumonia
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