Paediatric illnesses
Preventing pneumonia in young children
There have been reports of young children contracting severe pneumonia, causing concern among many parents who worry their children might be among them. Children's immune systems are not yet fully developed during their growth period, making them less resistant than adults. Furthermore, when learning and playing at school, they inevitably have close contact with other children. If one of them becomes infected with a respiratory illness, cross-infection can easily occur, and if not handled properly, it could lead to a risk of developing pneumonia.
However, parents need not filter these concerns, as pneumonia itself can range from mild to severe. In general, only appropriate medication is needed for recovery, with only a small minority of severe cases leading to long-term complications. Paediatrician Dr. Chan Yan-wing explains: "Common symptoms of pneumonia in young children include persistent coughing, high fever, and audible phlegm during coughing that cannot be expelled. Recovery usually follows the prescription of appropriate oral antibiotics. In some more serious cases, complications such as pleural effusion and invasive pneumonia may occur. The latter is when bacteria enter the bloodstream from the air sacs in the lungs, which can cause fatal meningitis."
Professional diagnosis, complemented by blood tests and X-ray examinations
It is widely known that antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections and have no effect on viral diseases. The text above mentions that appropriate oral antibiotics are usually prescribed for treating pneumonia in young children. Does this mean that all pneumonia is caused by bacteria? Dr. Chan points out that this is not the case: "Most pneumonia is caused by bacterial infections, but not all of them. Other causes include fungi, viruses, and tuberculosis bacteria. The ideal method is, of course, to culture a sputum sample from the patient and then prescribe treatment accordingly. However, in reality, many children are unable to cough up thick phlegm, and what is obtained is often only a saliva sample, which inevitably significantly reduces the accuracy of the laboratory test. Therefore, doctors also use blood tests and X-ray examinations. If a significant increase in the white blood cell count in the patient's blood is found, along with the findings on the X-ray, it is usually sufficient to determine whether it is bacterial pneumonia."
Dr Chan pointed out: "Even if antibiotics are prescribed to young patients as part of the usual treatment protocol, doctors must closely monitor the patient's condition. If the condition does not improve after medication, it is possible that the bacteria themselves are resistant, or the inflammation is caused by other sources as mentioned above. In such cases, the patient may need to be immediately referred to hospital for detailed examination, and stronger intravenous antibiotics or other types of medication may be required. Everything depends on clinical judgment and must not be delayed." This shows that the doctor's diagnostic and prescribing experience are both extremely important.
Preventive measures, strengthen immunity in multiple ways
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Dr. Chan reminds parents that they can take many steps to educate their children about disease prevention: "For example: wash hands frequently to prevent bacteria and viruses from entering the body through the respiratory tract, wear a mask when ill, avoid rubbing your eyes and nose with your hands, or putting fingers in your mouth and fiddling. Parents should carry wet wipes to maintain hygiene when taking their children out, drink plenty of water, get enough rest and eat a balanced diet, and actively consider getting their children vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal disease."
