Pneumonia is a condition that refers to the lungs' infection, which is caused by an attack of a number of microorganisms.
The infection is either considered to be viral or bacterial in nature, and starts taking place at the upper part of the respiratory tract.
It can be in either one, or both lungs.
There are a few basic symptoms which clearly indicate the onset of pneumonia.
In case your child seems to be going through any such symptoms, you can immediately get him or her checked by a doctor.
In such a case, treatment should not be delayed, as the condition may worsen.
Such symptoms are the following: The most important sign is of persistent fever that stays for more than four days in a row.
If the fever just does not seem to drop down, and remains high during a number of days continuously, you may get the indication that it is something that has to be checked.
Fever is usually a sign of the infection caused due to bacteria.
Moreover, chills may accompany fever.
Pneumonia that takes place due to a virus takes a long time to be cured completely, and may cause headaches, chest and muscle pain, and severe cough.
Breathing may also get affected as the child may breathe at a faster rate, and while doing so may cough out mucus.
A child's breathing who is suffering from pneumonia comes out with a grunting and wheezing sound usually.
Furthermore, the breathing takes so much of effort that the child's rib muscles may retract, causing pain and uneasiness.
Apart from chest pain, a child may also experience pain in the abdomen, usually due to the excessive cough.
Loss of appetite usually takes place, resulting in the child not being able to eat as he or she may usually, due to the mucus formed which comes out while rapid breathing and strong cough.
While not eating enough in the first place, the child may vomit the little that has been eaten too.
In order to save his or her health from declining, it is important to get treatment early.