Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lung air sacks and can be caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses or can be secondary to an upper respiratory tract infection. The most common and important symptoms of pneumonia are chills, fever, cough, rapid breathing, grunting or wheezing respiratory sounds heard with a stethoscope, vomiting, chest pain, abdominal pain, decreased physical activity, loss of appetite and in some cases, gray color of the lips and fingernails caused by the lack of oxygen.

In some cases, no clinical manifestations are present or the only symptom might be the rapid breathing, especially when pneumonia is localized in the lower lobes. Viral pneumonias are often more mild and with gradual evolution while bacterial pneumonias start sudden, with chills and high fever. Pneumonias caused by Mycoplasma cause sore throat and headaches additional to the usual symptoms. Pneumonias due to Chlamydia lead to the occurrence of conjunctivitis but have only mild evolving effects. Pneumonias caused by Pertusis germ have a more aggressive evolution with long coughs, lack of air and whoop- sounds while trying to breathe.

Viral pneumonia is most commonly triggered by adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, Influenza and Para influenza and the respiratory syncitial virus. The last one has an incubation period of 4-6 days while Influenza viruses only incubate 18-72 hours inside the human body.

Most types of pneumonia can be cured with antibiotics in 1-2 weeks while viral pneumonias cannot be treated with antibiotics and last longer? pneumonias caused by Mycoplasma may take 4-6 weeks to heal completely. Bacterial and viral pneumonias are usually contagious and can be spread by cough, sneeze, sharing drinking glasses or eating utensils, or by touching the handkerchiefs or other objects used by the patient.

Small children receive vaccination against pneumonias caused by Haemophillus Influenzae and Pertusis and in some cases also against the cases caused by Pneumococcus responsible for the bacterial pneumonia. Persons with chronic illnesses or depressed immune system can be administered additional immunization like the Flu vaccine. Antibiotics can also be prescribed prophylactic for children who have been exposed to cases of pneumonia.

You must immediately contact a doctor if your child has any symptoms of pneumonia and if it has trouble breathing or has very rapid breathing, if it has a grayish color of the fingernails and lips or if he has developed very high fever.