Pneumonia is an infection of the lung caused by a virus, bacteria, or fungus. While it can affect anyone, children under the age of 5 are the most vulnerable group because their immune system has not fully developed. Therefore, it is important to recognize the early signs and take preventive measures against pneumonia.
Here are the early signs of pneumonia in a child:
- High fever
- Coughing up yellow or green mucus
- Difficulty breathing and/or noisy breathing
- Chest pain
- Decreased amount of urine
- Crying more than usual
- Loss of appetite
Here are five preventive measures you can take for your child:
- Breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months of life.
- Ensure they have a proper, balanced diet.
- Practice good hand and personal hygiene.
- Avoid smoking or burning mosquito coils inside the home.
- Get your child vaccinated with the Hib, measles, and Pneumococcal vaccines.
Let’s protect, prevent, and treat pneumonia in our loved ones.
References:
1 Pneumonia in children. (2022, November 11). Retrieved March 29, 2023, from
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-
sheets/detail/pneumonia#:~:text=Pneumonia%20is%20a%20form%20of,painful%20an
d%20limits%20oxygen%20intake.
2. Pneumonia. (2023, January 12). Retrieved March 29, 2023, from
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pneumonia/
