Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a general term for infection of a lung or lungs. In both kids and adults, these infections are most commonly caused by viruses and bacteria. The viral kind usually presents with cold-like symptoms and fever, often with a more productive cough, but the body usually takes care of these viral invaders similar to upper respiratory coughs and colds over a week or so time. Bacterial pneumonia is less common but usually more virulent. If we catch it early enough, we try to start prompt antibiotics with good monitoring of recovery. We will often treat with antibiotics that cover the top half dozen or so types of bacterial pneumonia that affect kids, but if a child is not improving after starting antibiotics, we get concerned that they may need a chest X-ray and/or hospitalization for stronger antibiotics. 

The body does not like it when lungs are infected, so kids with pneumonia will tend to have high spiking fevers, faster breathing patterns (due to the infected lung not doing enough oxygen transfer), and will just look really sick. In fact, the physical exam finding most associated with pneumonia proven by X-ray is a rapid breathing rate, more so than even cough on physical exam. So if we have a kid breathing a mile a minute for the good part of a day with some other possible cold-like symptoms, we will fully investigate the possibility of pneumonia and offer the best treatment.