Pneumonia during childbirth. What is congenital pneumonia? Bilateral pneumonia in newborns

Pneumonia itself is a serious disease, but if we're talking about about small children, the situation can be critical. Congenital pneumonia in newborns is not so rare, and this is due to the fact that during pregnancy the expectant mother suffers an infectious disease. This subsequently affects the child, and the disease progresses in the first three days.

When a baby is born, the symptoms are immediately visible, and the painful condition is accompanied by asphyxia, which occurs during childbirth, and the fact that the child is premature.

Breasts are a special category of patients, since their defenselessness and vulnerability to severe infection is obvious. Physiological features babies contribute to the fact that the risk of getting sick increases significantly. The narrow passages in the bronchi and larynx do not allow us to say that a baby can fight for life just like an adult. The mucous membrane in babies is prone to swelling, and removing sputum from the lungs is quite a difficult task. All systems have not yet been launched; they are not capable of functioning fully. The lungs are more filled with blood than in adults, less elastic and therefore vulnerable.

Despite the fact that inflammation can occur in a baby outside the hospital, most often, the most severe cases occur when infected in the womb. It may also be the consequences of previous diseases, such as ARVI, whooping cough, measles.

With congenital pathology, the risk that the disease will be more severe than usual is quite high.

The symptoms of pneumonia that was acquired in utero can be determined by the following signs:

the skin has a bluish tint, the most pronounced manifestations are in the lips and tongue, the legs and arms may be bluish;
the cry at birth is very weak or not heard at all, since inflammation of the lung tissue does not allow it to manifest itself in full force;
breathing is uneven, noise and wheezing are heard;
the temperature in children born on time is significantly elevated, as for not full-term, it is below 36 degrees;
the child is lethargic, reacts poorly to stimuli, reflexes are reduced;
swelling of the legs may occur;
the gag reflex is pronounced, constant regurgitation is observed, both after meals and between them;
weight decreases, the umbilical cord falls off much longer than in healthy children, and the wound in the navel area may become inflamed.

The symptoms that indicate that infection occurred during childbirth are similar, but there are certain differences:

heat bodies;
refusal to eat, regurgitation is constantly observed, and vomiting occurs;
lips and the area around the nose acquire a bluish tint;
the stool is disturbed, constant abdominal pain, the child is capricious and sleeps poorly;
in full-term babies, breathing is noisy, with wheezing, while not full-term babies breathe weakly and rarely;
intoxication of the body does its job, and this period is characterized by: weakness, drowsiness, poor reaction.

Types

The incubation period is short and can range from several hours to seven days. Several forms of pneumonia in newborns, intrauterine and acquired, have been identified. Congenital ones received during pregnancy are divided into:

transplantental, in which the pathogen enters the baby through the mother’s placenta;
intrapartum, when infection occurs during the passage of the child through the birth canal;
antenatal, in which infection occurs through amniotic fluid and affects the lungs.

After birth, the baby is also at high risk of getting sick, since the body is weakened, the immune system is not yet working, or is weak, which leads to infection. They separate infection outside the hospital, when the baby arrives already infected, and hospital infection, if during his stay in maternity hospital pneumonia occurs. This can also happen in the intensive care unit or in the pathology department. It should be noted that clinical manifestations also have certain qualifications, and they are divided into several types:

Focal, in which the focus and area of the lesion are quite large. The disease develops progressively, over approximately one week, or sudden, rapid development over three days, while the course of the disease occurs in mild form, easily treatable with certain groups of antibiotics;
segmental does not manifest itself in any way; only with the help of radiography can compaction in the segments of the lungs be determined, and it is usually caused by a viral infection. Both ARVI and influenza can cause it. There may be similarities with the segmental form, the symptoms are similar in the initial stage, but big picture, which can be detected using x-rays, appears only after 2 weeks;
lobar differs in that its manifestation is influenced by the child’s allergic resistance to infection. On the background bacterial diseases this can be extremely rare, since the child’s body has not encountered such an infection and does not perceive it;
the intertitial form is characterized by compactions, and is accompanied by allergic reaction. Rashes and peeling appear on the skin, which may indicate the nature of the disease.

Causes

Several causes that can cause this severe manifestation of pneumonia are divided into subgroups. The most common is bacterial infection. These can be streptococci, anaerobic microorganisms that can exist in an oxygen-free environment, or bacteroids that live in the soil. Listeria can also be found there.

Viruses can also cause the disease, with cytomegavirus and herpes being particularly common. Herpes occurs against a background of reduced immunity. If during pregnancy the mother suffered one of the forms of herpes, then there is a high risk that the baby will be born with a pathology. Therefore, it is so important to follow all the rules and recommendations of doctors.

Fungal pathogens are also observed, which, with a weakened immune system, become more active and penetrate the lower respiratory tract.

Much depends on what chronic diseases the woman was ill, how she carried the child, under what conditions.

Combined pneumonia can also be observed in newborns, the consequences of which are not always good. It is important that there is an experienced specialist nearby who can determine that the baby is sick and take necessary measures. It is diagnostics that is in the foreground; sometimes the baby’s life depends on the speed of decision-making.

Prevention

First of all, it is worth paying attention to the state of the epidemiological situation in the maternity hospital. It is this factor that is significant. Most often, congenital pneumonia in newborns occurs inside the hospital, which is associated with poor hygiene. Recently, the mortality rate from pneumonia was a significant percentage, measures were taken and certain requirements were adopted that helped to avoid many troubles.

On this moment All conditions have been created to localize the infection as soon as possible and avoid death.

Prognosis for the course of the disease depends on many factors, and with timely detection of the disease, implementation of operational measures to neutralize the cause of the disease, success therapeutic actions guaranteed.

Breastfeeding is advisable, since through breast milk the child receives all the necessary enzymes, the mother’s immune protection, and this prevents the penetration and activation of the virus in the baby’s body.

After the birth of a child, it is better not to expose the child to the risk of infection, not to stay in public places, and try to isolate him from potential patients. The baby's body is so weak that it can accept any infection, and thereby be at risk of getting sick.

It is important for the mother, before becoming pregnant, to exclude all inflammatory processes in the body, to cure everything possible diseases and only then plan your pregnancy.

Treatment

Every child should have individual approach, since only after a thorough examination of the mother’s pathology, determining whether she has diseases, can effective treatment be prescribed. It is advisable to stay in a hospital, and, at the first signs of illness, a prerequisite for a speedy recovery is the provision of qualified assistance. In this case, you cannot do without antibiotics, and for a little one this is always fraught. But, with the right approach, everything can be corrected, and sometimes the child’s life depends on the doctor, mother, and loved ones.

Carry out regular monitoring of body temperature and respiratory rate. The skin and mucous membranes must always be in perfect condition. Breastfeeding is indicated good nutrition the key to successful treatment.

Immunoglabulins and antibiotics are indispensable drugs during treatment; only with their help can the disease be defeated.

Complications

If therapy was carried out in a timely manner and adequate drugs were prescribed to help localize the disease, then the prognosis for the treatment of a disease such as congenital pneumonia in newborns is quite favorable. Within a few weeks everything will return to normal and the baby will be healthy.

If the disease is neglected, respiratory failure, toxicosis, and refusal to eat appear, which leads to death.

In premature babies, the risk of developing dysplasia is high, the lung tissue does not function at full capacity, and re-exacerbation of diseases associated with the bronchopulmonary system occurs. This often leads to death.

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Progressive pneumonia in infants and newborns is accompanied by severe symptoms of lung damage and is extremely unpleasant consequences for good health. That's why complex treatment must be timely, hospitalization of the patient is necessary, and the use of antibacterial drugs is mandatory. Pneumonia in an infant can develop from the first days of life; premature babies and newborns with birth injuries are at risk.

What is pneumonia in newborns

This is an infectious disease that is accompanied by an inflammatory process of the lung parenchyma and bronchial walls. A disease with inflammatory foci can be determined after performing ultrasound and radiography. The relapse progresses in utero or develops against the background of infection of the lungs in the first days after the baby is born. Secondary pneumonia is an already acquired ailment that becomes a complication of the underlying disease. To avoid intoxication of the body, effective treatment must be started on time.

Symptoms of pneumonia in infants

The disease progresses spontaneously, occurs during acute intrauterine infections. Extensive pathologies due to intrauterine infection are obvious from the first days of life, general manifestations acute pneumonia in the body of a newborn are presented in detail below, they make the child nervous and irritable:

intermittent breathing, wheezing;
high body temperature;
swelling of the lower extremities;
complete lack of appetite;
severe signs of dyspepsia, accompanied by bloating;
symptoms of general intoxication of the body;
indigestion;
severe belching, bouts of vomiting;
frequent regurgitation, bouts of vomiting.

Signs

With increased activity bacterial infections pneumonia develops in the tissues of the lungs and bronchi. During the prenatal period, unilateral or bilateral damage progresses; doctors do not rule out fetal hypoxia. The first signs of pneumonia appear during childbirth, since the newborn is characterized by cyanosis of the skin, lips, and mucous membranes. Other manifestations, in addition to cyanosis of the skin, are presented below:

weak cry of the baby at birth;
weakening of unconditioned reflexes;
underweight newborn;
enlarged liver and spleen;
low blood pressure;
muffled heart sounds when listening;
progressive convulsions.

Causes

Bilateral or unilateral pneumonia occurs from the first days of life, and can be either an independent disease or a complication of another chronic illness. It occurs in a complicated form, provoked by increased activity of viruses, bacteria, fungi, mycoplasma, chlamydia. In the fight against harmful pathogens of pneumonia, it is necessary to reduce the viability of streptococcal and staphylococcal microorganisms. Pathogenic factors preceding an acute attack in a newborn are presented below:

insufficient oxygen supply to cells;
asphyxia during labor;
birth injuries;
malnutrition;
immunodeficiency states;
hypo-, avitaminosis;
congenital defects of the lungs and myocardium.

Intrauterine pneumonia in newborns

Progressive pneumonia is a consequence of intrauterine asphyxia, when the child suffers from oxygen starvation, and the expectant mother suffers from late toxicosis, gestosis. After birth, a baby is characterized not only by extensive breathing problems, but also by dangerous internal pathologies. Congenital pneumonia can be provoked by other pathogenic factors:

immaturity lung tissue, underdevelopment of the respiratory tract;
acute viral diseases suffered during pregnancy;
anatomical and physical features of the structure of the respiratory tract;
heavy bleeding during pregnancy;
chronic diseases of the mother during pregnancy;
early discharge of amniotic fluid, leakage;
genetic factor.

Stages

By clinical trial lungs, the predominant stage can be determined pathological process, because the characteristic features Pneumonia in infants is different each time and is modified in the absence of timely therapy. Here is the established classification of a characteristic illness:

The mild form is accompanied by shortness of breath, intermittent and heavy breathing, moderate acidosis and cyanosis.
The pathology of moderate severity is characterized by generalized cyanosis, tachycardia, oxygen starvation, tachypnea, shortness of breath with wheezing.
The severe form of the disease is characterized by dangerous respiratory disorders, extensive damage to the central nervous system, convulsions, difficult sputum separation, the child develops pleurisy.

Forms

Signs of pneumonia in an infant are determined by the duration of infection and the nature of the prevailing symptoms. Doctors identify the following forms of characteristic illness and give differential diagnosis:

Congenital pneumonia. A low degree of adaptation prevails, a decrease in respiratory rate, and an enlarged liver. Since the virus penetrates the placental barrier, it infects internal organs.
Pneumonia in a newborn after cesarean section. The pathology is caused by birth injuries, there is a high probability of blood poisoning, lifelong disability, and contributes to brain swelling.
Aspiration pneumonia. It is caused by a long anhydrous period, transitioning through pregnancy with the most unexpected consequences for the health of the child.
Postnatal pneumonia. At the initial stage, the symptoms are not characteristic of the characteristic disease and are considered atypical. These are signs of dyspepsia, high fever, and central nervous system instability.

Complications

In the absence of intensive care, pneumonia in newborns is fraught with dangerous health consequences, and death is possible. In this clinical picture, newborns experience one of two forms of complications:

Pulmonary. These are pleurisy, pneumothorax, respiratory failure, bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Extrapulmonary consequences. Sinusitis, otitis media, mastoiditis, heart failure.

Diagnostics

To avoid dangerous consequences of sepsis, it is necessary to promptly diagnose. By X-ray image extensive foci of pathology are visible, the stage of a progressive pathological process. These are compacted areas of tissue in the structure of the affected lung. Additional diagnostic measures for pneumonia are presented below:

general and biochemical analysis blood;
sputum culture;
general urine analysis;
echocardiography;
CT and MRI.

Treatment

The presence of nosocomial infections helps to promptly initiate intensive therapy with injectable antibiotics. With a community-acquired form of pathogenic flora, adults do not rush to the doctor, trying to treat the baby themselves, which worsens the clinical outcome. General recommendations from specialists if pneumonia is diagnosed in premature newborns are detailed below:

the child needs to be hospitalized, ensure regular ventilation of the hospital room, and skin hygiene;
control temperature regime body, features of the newborn’s breathing rate;
provide the baby with a full period of breastfeeding for the development and formation of children's immunity;
use antibacterial drugs from the penicillin group and not only for the productive extermination of pathogenic flora;
It is mandatory to carry out detoxification therapy, vitamin and oxygen therapy for a newborn in a hospital setting or hospitalization.

Here mandatory medications in conditions of preliminary hospitalization, in order to significantly speed up the process of natural recovery for progressive pneumonia:

Glucose. The composition must be administered intravenously to maintain the natural life processes of the newborn body.
Saline solutions. Intended for intravenous delivery into the newborn body. Necessary for strengthening the immune system and removing toxic substances.

Medications

The main goal of the conservative treatment is to destroy pathogenic flora, restore the structure of the lung tissue and normalize the respiratory rate, and strengthen the immune system with prescribed vitamins. Pneumonia can be cured by representatives of the following: pharmacological groups and their prominent representatives:

immunostimulants: use antistaphylococcal, anti-influenza, anti-pseudomonas immunoglobulins;
symptomatic drugs: mucolytics, antipyretics, antitussives, anti-inflammatory drugs;
probitics: Simbiter, Bio Gaia, Bifidumbacterin;
diuretics to remove excess fluid;
saline solution to prevent dehydration of the newborn.

Antibacterial drugs

Doctors recommend antibiotics for newborns to treat pneumonia. penicillin series. This medical supplies Amoxiclav, Augmentin, Flemoxin Solutab, Flemoklav, Unazin orally. Mycoplasma pneumonia is successfully treated with macrolides: Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, Roxithromycin. Here is what is known about the proposed antibacterial therapy and its prominent representatives:

Augmentin. Produced in the form of a powder for the preparation of a suspension, it is approved for use by children already in the first year of life. The course of treatment is 7-10 days, additionally use probiotics. Daily dose– 125 mg/31.25 mg in a dose equal to 2.5 to 20 ml.
Flemoxin Solutab (125 mg). Tablets for oral administration that act systemically. A small child is supposed to take up to 3 pills per day for 7–10 days, a single dose is 1 tablet.

Consequences

Pneumonia is a dangerous disease that can be fatal for a newborn. Even if the child survives, the health consequences are not the most favorable. This:

respiratory failure;
pulmonary tissue dysplasia;
risk of repeated relapse of severe bronchopulmonary diseases.

Prognosis of intrauterine pneumonia in newborns

The prognosis in newborns with meconium aspiration is accompanied by the risk of congenital intrauterine pneumonia, neurological disorders due to cerebral hypoxia. A third of such children have physical and mental retardation. psycho-emotional development. In other clinical pictures, with a timely response to a health problem, the outcome is favorable.

Prevention

Parents must comply with sanitary and epidemiological standards to reduce the risk of pathogenic infection entering the newborn body. Among the others preventive measures For pneumonia, doctors distinguish:

planned pregnancy management;
timely strengthening of immunity;
prevention of infectious diseases;
maintaining a healthy lifestyle;
lack of contact with carriers of viruses, bacteria, and other pathogenic microorganisms.

Video

Intrauterine pneumonia in newborns, the consequences of which can be very dire, is a very common pathology. This is an infectious disease that develops in the first days of a child’s life.

The reason for the appearance this kind pneumonia is the child’s ingestion of infected amniotic fluid at the time of birth or hematogenous penetration of the pathogen from a sick mother.

Diagnosis of intrauterine pneumonia

Main diagnostic criteria for intrauterine pneumonia:

Signs of pneumonia appear between 1 and 3 days of life.
When taking an x-ray on the 3rd day of a child’s life, focal or infiltrative shadows are revealed.
When sowing microflora in the mother and child in the first days of life, identical analyzes are observed.
If a newborn dies on the 4th day, an inflammatory process in the lungs is determined.

Auxiliary diagnostic criteria:

Histological examination of the placenta can reveal the inflammatory process even in the womb.
When the liver and spleen are enlarged, pathology in the baby’s body is determined.
Blood tests reveal the presence of inflammation.

Symptoms of intrauterine pneumonia

Symptoms appear on the second or third day after birth. Already during childbirth it is noticeable that the child is lethargic, weak, skin cyanotic. Swallowing and sucking reflexes and muscle hypotonia may be absent.

Other symptoms include:

dry skin accompanied by hemorrhagic rash;
swollen limbs;
in full-term infants the temperature rises, in premature infants, on the contrary, it decreases to 34-35 degrees;
difficulty breathing accompanied by shortness of breath;
on the 2-3rd day wheezing is heard;
regurgitation and vomiting;
lack of body weight;
possible development of heart failure;
asphyxia;
liver enlargement.

Most often, pneumonia can develop due to a streptococcal infection in the womb.

With the development of respiratory failure, three phases of its formation are distinguished:

1st degree – not strong rapid breathing, retraction of the intercostal spaces is weakly expressed, cyanosis is weakly expressed in a calm state.
2nd degree - auxiliary muscles are involved during breathing, cyanosis is more pronounced.
3rd degree – rapid breathing, arrhythmia, apnea, movement of the head and additional muscles during breathing. Cyanosis is persistent both during excitement and in a calm state.

Consequences of intrauterine pneumonia in a newborn and their treatment

Treatment of congenital pneumonia may not always give a favorable result. Consequences of even timely treatment are common. These include the formation of atelectasis, which is characterized by areas of adhesive lung tissue and the formation of connective tissue in the affected areas of the lungs. In the future, with such pathologies, the lungs are not able to fully perform their functions, which leads to emphysema. With this disease, the child develops toxicosis, which is difficult to treat.

Basic therapeutic measures pneumonia and its consequences:

Elimination of peripheral circulation and its blockade. This procedure is carried out in order to eliminate the centralization of blood flow and reduce the activity of the brain, which is also involved in this process.
Detoxification of the body. This therapy is carried out in order to remove toxins accumulated in the body, correct the water-electrolyte and alkaline-acid balance, and saturate the internal organs with good blood supply.
Elimination of heart failure.
Prevention of disseminated vascular coagulation, and when it occurs, quality treatment.
Elimination of symptoms of pneumonia.

Consequences of pneumonia in children with delayed diuresis.

Most often, the consequences of this disease manifest themselves through difficulty urinating. Delayed diuresis is treated with diuretics, which should be prescribed by a doctor. Often, the assistance of a catheter is required, which is inserted into the bladder.

Forced diuresis is carried out in three directions, such as:

Elimination of body dehydration.
Establishment of water-salt metabolism.
Non-admission high content fluids in the body.

Basic treatment

If pneumonia is suspected, the child is isolated from the mother and transferred to the neonatal department. There he is placed in an incubator, where humidified oxygen is supplied. A small child is prescribed a course of antibiotics. If the condition worsens, artificial ventilation is used; this process is most often carried out in the intensive care unit, where a seriously ill baby is transferred. If the treatment was not carried out entirely correctly, then pneumonia can progress to the chronic stage.

Causes of intrauterine pneumonia

Most often, the causative agents of the disease are streptococci from group B, as well as influenza and parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses, and mycoplasma. Infection of the fetus can occur if a pregnant woman in the last stages of pregnancy falls ill with influenza or ARVI.

Other causes of infection in a child include:

chronic maternal infections;
use of steroids during pregnancy;
hypoxia of the fetus in the womb;
genetic diseases of the lungs and other internal organs.

A child can get an infection that leads to pneumonia in two main ways:

Bronchogenic, when the infection enters through the lungs.
Hematogenous, when infection occurs in utero through the infected blood of the mother.

Another route of infection may be when a child passes through the birth canal and ingests infected amniotic fluid. There are cases of infection after the birth of a baby.

Prevention of pneumonia in newborns

Preventive measures for this disease include protecting the body of a pregnant woman in order to prevent her from becoming infected with influenza or acute respiratory disease, especially in the second half of pregnancy.

Other preventive measures for a pregnant woman include the following:

Timely opening of an account card, regular visits to the clinic and passing all the necessary tests.
The expectant mother's diet should be varied and balanced, rich in vitamins and minerals.
A significant role is played by the refusal bad habits and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

During delivery, doctors must take all measures to avoid fetal asphyxia. After the child is born, do not allow infection to enter the room where he is located. It is very important not to overcool the baby during this period. And the importance has long been proven mother's milk in raising immune system child.

About pneumonia in a newborn baby

Peculiarities bronchopulmonary system in the fetus and newborn.

In utero, the fetal lungs do not contain air. But breathing movements it begins to occur as early as 23 weeks of pregnancy. However, before this period, gas exchange in the lungs of the fetus cannot yet occur due to anatomical and functional immaturity.

At birth, the baby's lungs are filled with amniotic fluid. When a full-term baby takes his first breath, the inhalation volume is approximately 70 ml, with almost all alveoli opening. Amniotic fluid is quickly absorbed into the blood and interalveolar space. In premature babies, taking the first breath is more difficult because, in addition to the immaturity of the respiratory system, their nervous cardiovascular system and many metabolic processes are imperfect.

The newborn baby's breathing is intermittent and uneven. There are pauses; in full-term babies they last 1-6 seconds, in premature babies - 5-12 seconds.

Reasons why newborns are susceptible to pneumonia:

immaturity of the pulmonary elements, few muscle fibers in the walls of the respiratory tract;
dense network of capillaries and lymphatic vessels, loose connective tissue between them;
ciliated epithelium is still poorly functioning, cough reflex reduced;
the airways are narrow throughout their entire length, which causes difficulty in the passage of air;
the ribs are located horizontally, the intercostal muscles are poorly developed, so the excursion of the chest is reduced;
immaturity of the nervous system aggravates the failure of the respiratory system.

These features, as well as the peculiar response of the immune system, make newborns especially vulnerable to pneumonia. The vulnerability of babies exists, even if the pregnancy proceeded well, the birth was not complicated, and there is no hereditary pathology.

Causes of pneumonia in newborns

Pneumonia of newborns is treated by neonatologists. They define this disease as infectious, although sometimes it can develop as a result of aspiration, but sooner or later the infection still attaches.

Pneumonia in newborns is an acute infectious disease of the lungs that can develop as independent disease or as a complication. It is quite difficult. The mortality rate from the disease in children 1 month old is 30-40%. The incidence rate in full-term infants ranges from 0.5-1%, in premature infants - up to 10%.

Pneumonia in newborns is classified into the following forms:

focal;
segmental;
interstitial.

By causative factor:

hospital;
out-of-hospital.

Depending on the circumstances of infection, there are the following types pneumonia:

congenital pneumonia (infection is transmitted from the mother through the placenta);
intrauterine (when infected amniotic fluid enters the lungs);
intrapartum (bacteria enter during childbirth from the mother’s genital tract);
postnatal (the disease developed after birth in a maternity hospital or at home).

Causes of pneumonia in new born child:

bacteria;
viruses;
mushrooms;
pneumocystis;
mycoplasma;
chlamydia.

In most cases, mixed pneumonia is observed, for example, bacterial-viral. In terms of frequency, adenoviruses, influenza and parainfluenza viruses predominate among viruses. Bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus, pneumococcus, and alpha-hemolytic streptococcus. The proportion of Klebsiella bacteria has increased significantly intestinal group, Protea in the structure of pathogens.

Symptoms of pneumonia in a newborn

Pneumonia in newborns will manifest itself differently depending on the pathogen and the conditions of infection.

Congenital pneumonia is characterized by the development of suffocation at birth. The child is born with a bluish tint to the skin, does not scream immediately, screams weakly or not at all, moves his arms and legs little, and has weak reflexes. When feeding, such children experience profuse regurgitation. Breathing is weakened, a groan is heard when exhaling, and sometimes a semblance of cough appears. In addition to the respiratory system, the child’s cardiovascular and digestive (bloating, abdominal pain, enlarged spleen) systems are also affected. Body temperature is normal or reduced. Full-term infants may have fever from the second day of illness. Symptoms last about 3-4 weeks. This type of inflammation is different severe course and high mortality.

Pneumonia that develops in the first days of a child’s life has a long latent period. The first signs can be observed only on the 5th day of life and later. The severity of the course depends on the infection that caused the disease.

The diagnosis of viral pneumonia is difficult to make because it is quickly associated with a microbial infection. Influenza pneumonia in a newborn has an unexpected onset. Body temperature rises to 39 °C and higher, convulsions, anxiety, refusal to eat, and meningeal symptoms appear. An atypical course with a temperature of up to 38 ° C and without strong signs of intoxication is also possible. A feature of this type of pulmonary inflammation is damage to blood vessels and hemorrhages in all organs of the child. Such children may have consequences in the form of encephalitis, meningitis, hemorrhages in vital organs, otitis, and pyelonephritis.

Pneumonia caused by the parainfluenza virus develops in parallel with inflammation of the pharynx. Clinically, it is milder than influenza, intoxication is less pronounced, and the temperature rises slightly. But weakness, decreased reflexes, and pallor of the limbs are still present.

Staphylococcal pneumonia in children can be a complication of sepsis or occur as an independent disease. It is severe with high fever, severe toxicosis, hemorrhages, and pleurisy. The heart, nervous system, and kidneys are also affected.

Chlamydial and mycoplasma pneumonia most often occur in utero. They are not only difficult, but also difficult to treat. These pneumonias are characterized by cough, swelling, and sometimes a rash. These diseases are often fatal.

What are the differences in the course of pneumonia in full-term and premature infants? In premature newborns:

symptoms such as shortness of breath, cyanosis of the skin, increased breathing predominate;
fever is rare;
complications both from the lungs and from other organs are more common;
foamy fluid comes out of the mouth;
Pneumonia is often followed by sepsis;
the disease lasts a long time and leaves behind irreversible consequences.

Treatment of pneumonia in newborns

The main thing in the treatment of pneumonia is antibacterial therapy. Most often, the causative agent of the infection is not yet known at the time the antibiotic is prescribed, so the doctor makes his own assumptions. If the drug is chosen correctly, the condition will improve within 2-3 days. Otherwise, the medications need to be changed to others.

Three groups of antibiotics are used in newborns: penicillins, cephalosporins and macrolides. Protected penicillins (amoxiclav, augmentin, flemoclav, unasin) are considered the most effective for initial therapy. If there is a suspicion of chlamydia or mycoplasma, then the choice falls on macrolides (azithromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin). Cephalosporins are used as alternative drugs. The child is treated with antibiotics for at least 10-14 days.

If a pathogen is identified, treatment with specific immunoglobulins (antistaphyllococcal, anti-influenza, anti-pseudomonas, etc.) can be added to antibiotic therapy.

Inhalations are an integral part of the treatment of lung diseases. Oxygen is inhaled through aqueous solutions, sodium bicarbonate, saline, acetylcysteine, lazolvan, trypsin, chymotrypsin. Oxygen reduces respiratory failure, and mucolytics thin sputum.

The position of the child also matters. If the pneumonia is unilateral, then the baby is placed on the healthy side, and if it is bilateral, the side is changed every 2 hours. It is advisable that the mother or medical staff gave the child a chest massage by tapping. This will also make the mucus easier to clear. From physiotherapy to acute phase Only microwave is allowed on the chest area.

What are the consequences of pneumonia for a child?

Time is of the essence. The earlier treatment is started, the better the prognosis for the child. If treatment is started on the first day, then pneumonia can be cured without a trace. But if antibiotic therapy is started late, the consequences can be very different. The infection can spread to healthy areas of the lungs, to the pleura, and then pleurisy develops. Sepsis is a fairly common and serious complication. With prolonged tissue destruction, cavities form in the lungs. Features of the lung tissue of babies determine fast development pulmonary edema and respiratory failure.

Long-term consequences develop months and years after the illness. These could be: transition to chronic form, adhesions between the lungs and pleura, violation normal function lungs, frequent pain in adulthood.

How does pneumonia occur in newborns?

Pneumonia in newborns is a fairly common disease that a baby can become infected with while in the womb or directly during childbirth.

Just a few decades ago, this diagnosis jeopardized not only the health, but also the life of the child, but today the situation has changed radically. Of course, the baby will have to undergo complex treatment, but the chances of his survival will be much higher.

How to diagnose pneumonia?

As a rule, pneumonia in newborns is diagnosed within the walls of a medical institution and is then under control medical workers. If the illness makes itself felt when the baby is already at home, the parents simply cannot help but notice the problem! The child becomes capricious, his body temperature rises significantly, accompanied by a severe cough. Trying to cope with the disease on your own is categorically not recommended, because in the vast majority of cases this only leads to a worsening of the baby’s condition.

Among the most common routes of infection are:

Transplacental. In this case, the unborn child is infected by penetration of the pathogen through the mother's placenta. In order to avoid such an outcome, a woman must be extremely careful, avoiding crowded places, especially during periods of worsening epidemics of infectious diseases.
Antenatal. The pathogenic bacteria enter the child's respiratory tract from the amniotic fluid and cause rapid infection. Treating an unborn baby is a rather complicated process, so in the absence of clear indications, doctors wait until it is born.
Intrapartum. In this case, infection of infants occurs directly during the birth process, especially if the woman in labor undergoes a cesarean section. The reason for this is not necessarily an infection in the mother's birth canal. It can be invisibly present in environment.
Postnatal. This route assumes that the infection affects an already born baby, who is in both maternity ward, and at home. However, parents are strongly discouraged from wasting time trying to find out who is to blame. Their main task is to select a qualified doctor who can prescribe high-quality and effective treatment for the baby.

No matter how dangerous and frightening intrauterine pneumonia may be for parents, it should not put parents into a state of stupor. The problem can and should be dealt with! However, this will take time.

How is pneumonia treated?

As soon as pneumonia is diagnosed in newborn babies, the doctor immediately places them in medical institution where they will be provided qualified assistance. Trying to challenge the doctor's decision and convince him that the best care will be provided at home will be an unforgivable mistake! Fragile children's body is in a developmental stage and simply cannot cope with severe infection. He should definitely be helped, but only on the condition that drug treatment will not harm other body systems.

In this case, a correctly prescribed course of antibiotics plays a key role in this matter, allowing to normalize the temperature and stop progressive inflammation. This course is prescribed to children in mandatory, regardless of the form of the disease and its severity. At the same time, the child will take powerful vitamin therapy to support the body and give it the strength to fight the disease on its own.

As a rule, visible signs of pneumonia disappear within a week, while full recovery takes several weeks. A small patient can be discharged home for further rehabilitation in about 10 days. However, this does not mean at all that at home, in case of pneumonia in newborns, parents will need to give their baby exclusively medications!

Methods can also provide significant assistance traditional medicine, being evaluated as an alternative treatment. One of them is mustard plasters, well known to many, which, in agreement with the pediatrician, can also be placed on infants. However, parents should be extremely careful in this matter so that after using them there are no burns left on the baby’s delicate skin.

Honey can also help in the fight against pneumonia. healing properties known to almost every person. It should be mixed with birch buds and boiled for 10 minutes. The child should be given this mixture immediately before going to bed. The good thing about a mixture of honey and birch buds is that it does not cause allergies and can be used not only when treating pneumonia, but also for any other infectious disease. However, before using it, consultation with a pediatrician is an essential procedure!

Prevention of pneumonia in children

The development of intrauterine pneumonia in newborns in no way depends on the baby and falls entirely on the conscience of the parents. The expectant mother should be extremely careful and not once again provoke the development of diseases. On a bad day or during the progression of infections from contact with big amount It is advisable for people to abstain! After all, often these are the causes of infection. What is truly important for a woman during pregnancy is the health of her child. All other desires can wait.

If parents suffer from an infectious disease, they should minimize contact with the child and be sure to wear gauze bandages on their faces!

Such, at first glance, simple methods protections make it possible to exclude the presence of a disease in a child such as intrauterine pneumonia, which is categorically not recommended at such a tender age!

The health of a newborn child should be given due attention, because at this age many surprises are possible. If the symptoms of pneumonia have already made themselves felt, do not despair! After all timely appeal Seeing a doctor will certainly solve all the problems and give your baby a healthy and happy childhood.

Pneumonia in newborns

Pneumonia in newborns – infectious inflammation lung tissue - is one of the most common infectious diseases. It is dangerous for any baby, especially when it comes to bilateral pneumonia in newborns. Unfortunately, the statistics today are as follows: pneumonia in newborns is diagnosed in 1% of full-term and 10-15% of premature babies.

Types and causes of pneumonia in newborns

In medicine, the following types of pneumonia are distinguished depending on the cause of the disease:

congenital transplacental (the pathogen enters the baby through the placenta from the mother);
intrauterine antenatal, caused by pathogens that penetrated from the amniotic fluid into the lungs of the fetus;
intrapartum, occurs when the baby passes through the mother’s birth canal infected with microorganisms;
postnatal pneumonia, in which infection occurs after birth in a maternity hospital, in the neonatal pathology department (nosocomeal), or at home.

The most common causes of pneumonia in newborns are:

infections of toxoplasmosis, listeriosis, rubella, herpes (with congenital transplacental pneumonia in newborns);
streptococci of groups B and O, gestal mycoplasmas, tuberculosis and Haemophilus influenzae (for antenatal and intrapartum pneumonia);
group B streptococci, cytomegaloviruses, chlamydia, Candida fungi and herpes virus type II (for intrapartum pneumonia);
Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus, staphylococci (with nosocomeal aspiration pneumonia in newborns);
mixed bacterial-bacterial, viral-bacterial.

Acquired domestic pneumonia most often occurs against the background of ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection) caused by adenoviruses.

Secondary pneumonia, which is a manifestation or complication of sepsis, aspiration syndrome, is often caused in newborns by streptococci, staphylococci or gram-negative flora.

Symptoms of pneumonia in newborns

In the case of intrauterine infection, doctors will detect signs of pneumonia in a newborn even before discharge, because often the first signs of pneumonia begin to appear immediately after the birth of the child.

If a mother and child are discharged home, a doctor must come to their home for patronage during the first month. He will monitor the baby’s condition, and he needs to talk about all the alarming symptoms, for example, the baby’s lethargy, frequent regurgitation and loose stools, refusal to breastfeed, rapid fatigue when sucking.

If your child’s temperature rises, you should not wait for the doctor’s next visit. Call an ambulance immediately. Cough in infants may be mild, but it is important to immediately pay attention to coughing. The appearance of nasal discharge and shortness of breath in a child should also alert you. Shortness of breath leads to symptoms of blueness on the feet, face and hands. A sick child develops diaper rash more quickly.

There is no need to be afraid of missing pneumonia in your child, because signs of the disease rarely appear without a rise in temperature. And it needs to be measured periodically for preventive purposes.

A doctor who regularly examines and listens to a child can easily detect pneumonia.

What treatment is prescribed for pneumonia in newborns?

Antibiotics are always used to treat pneumonia wide range actions. The child needs careful care to avoid hypothermia and overheating. It is important to monitor the hygiene of his skin, often change the position of his body, and feed exclusively from a horn or using a tube. Doctors will allow breastfeeding of a sick baby only when it is satisfactory condition, namely with the disappearance of intoxication and respiratory failure.

In addition to the listed treatments, physiotherapy (microwave and electrophoresis), vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, B6, B15, the use of immunoglobulins, mustard and hot wraps twice a day, and blood plasma transfusions are also prescribed.

Consequences of pneumonia in newborns

Children who have had pneumonia (especially double pneumonia in newborns) are prone to recurrent illnesses. After discharge, they should be given repeated courses of vitamin therapy and bioregulators (aloe and eleutherococcus extract) for 3-4 months. And for 1 year the child will be under medical supervision.

Everything is fine, but then the diagnosis is intrauterine pneumonia!!! this is dangerous, what are the consequences?

Answers:

Olga

INTRAUTERINE PNEUMONIA is an infectious lung disease that occurs during intrauterine infection of the fetus and manifests itself in the first hours and days of a newborn’s life. More often observed in premature babies.
The causative agents of the disease are most often group B streptococci, influenza viruses, parainfluenza, adenoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, mycoplasma. Infection of the fetus occurs when pregnant women develop respiratory infections. viral diseases in the last weeks of pregnancy and shortly before childbirth.
Symptoms of the disease most often appear at birth or within 24-48 hours after birth. Children are born in serious condition, lethargic, pale or cyanotic. From the first hours after birth there are observed a sharp decline reflexes (including sucking and swallowing), muscle hypotonia. Physiological erythema is mild or absent, dry skin is often noted, hemorrhagic rash, pyoderma. On the lower extremities and abdomen, many children develop swelling of the subcutaneous base due to a violation metabolic processes, increased permeability vascular wall. Body temperature in full-term infants rises to 37-40 °C, in premature infants it is reduced to 34-35 °C. From the moment it is established, breathing is rapid and shallow, sometimes arrhythmic, groaning, shortness of breath is accompanied by retraction of the pliable parts of the chest, and attacks of respiratory arrest. Regurgitation and vomiting are often observed in newborns. Physiological loss of body weight exceeds 15-30%. As the severity of the general condition increases, the manifestations of respiratory failure intensify. Breathing becomes shallow and arrhythmic. Along with pneumonic symptoms, newborns show signs of cardiovascular disorders. Prognostically unfavorable symptoms include changes in the boundaries of the heart (narrowing or expansion), the appearance of systolic murmur, attacks of cyanosis, signs of peripheral circulation disorders (pallor of the skin, acrocyanosis, marbling, hypothermia of the extremities).
The vast majority of patients have an enlarged liver. In the blood - leukocytosis or leukopenia.
When pneumonia develops due to aspiration of infected amniotic fluid during childbirth, signs of the disease appear quickly. Pallor and cyanosis of the skin, shortness of breath, attacks of asphyxia, and increased body temperature are noted. Pneumonia is often combined with atelectatic and edematous-hemorrhagic changes in the lungs.
The course of pneumonia caused by group B streptococci differs in some ways. Infection occurs in utero - as a result of an ascending infection or through contact of the fetus with infected tissues of the birth canal - during childbirth. The disease usually progresses quickly and often ends fatal in 1-2 days.
Recognized on the basis of medical history that predisposes the fetus to early infection (acute and chronic infectious diseases of the mother, uterine bleeding during pregnancy, etc.), early factors clinical signs disease, results of X-ray, bacteriological, virological research contents of the respiratory tract, detection of pathogenic flora in the amniotic fluid.
Pneumonia of newborns.
Forecast. The outcome of intrauterine pneumonia depends on the degree of maturity and reactivity of the newborn’s body, as well as on the type of pathogen and the timeliness of the use of therapeutic measures.

Freya

Why not ask your doctor this question IMMEDIATELY?? ? There is a lot of information in the search engine. It is treatable, not fatal.

How long does it take to treat pneumonia in a newborn? Are the chances of recovery high? What could be the consequences?

Answers:

liza liza

Apparently, the baby is in a hospital, i.e., under the constant supervision of doctors, so be patient and under no circumstances doubt his recovery.
In general, pneumonia is treated within 21 days; the course of treatment includes antibiotics. Don't rush to be discharged home. After discharge, the recovery period will begin. Find a good pediatrician and gastroenterologist (dysbacteriosis usually appears after antibiotics).
Olga, EVERYTHING WILL BE OK!!!

Galina Chernyavskaya

It is very unpleasant when a child is sick, and even at such an early age, my daughter, at 3 years old, had left-sided pneumonia and was treated for 21 days. 4 days is not enough, wait and don’t be upset, hope for the best, pray for good things, go to church, light a candle for yourself and your baby, if you can’t do it yourself, your relatives will do it for you. Hope for the best!

Olya boss

antibiotics and time, if one antibiotic is not enough, then add a second one and donate blood again for ESR

Fairy Winged

My daughter also had unilateral pneumonia, she was treated right in the maternity hospital for 18 days, first she was injected with one antibiotic for 7 days, then with a second, stronger one. The only side effect we had was dysbacteriosis, which was quickly cured. There, in the maternity hospital, I talked with the mothers of children who also had pneumonia (some had unilateral, some bilateral), everyone was cured and discharged, but in general, of course, I don’t know the statistics on pneumonia. 4 days is not a long time, everything will be fine, let the baby recover.

Just LANA

Firstly, a lot depends on your confidence that your child will recover! Secondly, if the baby is strictly under the supervision of doctors and nurses, then there is no need to worry too much. If the child was born healthy, there are no pathologies, then the chances are especially good. Consequences: the baby is registered after this disease for a certain time, the downside is that the immune system is greatly weakened. Speedy recovery for the little one!

Mhlu

Necessarily!! ! Rub your feet and hands every two hours. You also need to rub and massage the back and chest 3-4 times a day. As your condition improves, the number of rubbing your legs and arms can be reduced to eight.

Sergey Balanenko

Thanks girls for your feedback

Intrauterine pneumonia is the most common cause newborn mortality. After birth the lungs are the most important body, which helps the child adapt to life in the environment. Lung damage disrupts this process, so often such children are immediately admitted from the delivery room to intensive care units for newborns for intensive care and artificial ventilation.

Causes of intrauterine pneumonia in newborns

The most common causes of intrauterine pneumonia are the presence of viruses and bacteria in the body of a pregnant woman, which can penetrate the hematoplacental barrier to the fetus and infect the lungs. We can assume the likelihood of intrauterine pneumonia if a pregnant woman has had an acute respiratory viral infection or other infectious disease during pregnancy. later pregnancy.

The cause of pneumonia in newborns may be aspiration (swallowing) of amniotic fluid during protracted labor, post-term pregnancy. Meconium (original feces) entering the respiratory tract of a newborn is especially dangerous. The risk of fetal pneumonia is higher in premature babies.

Signs of intrauterine pneumonia in newborns

The first signs of intrauterine pneumonia may appear in the first hours or days after birth. These symptoms include:

shortness of breath;
bluish color of the skin;
moaning sounds.

Treatment of intrauterine pneumonia in newborns

Having suspected pneumonia in a newborn child, the neonatologist should transfer him to the neonatal department, place him in an incubator with a constant supply of humidified oxygen, and immediately prescribe antibacterial therapy. If the condition worsens and it is necessary to transfer the child to artificial ventilation, the child is transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit.

Consequences of intrauterine pneumonia

Even if timely medical care helps the baby survive, it can leave consequences in the form of the formation of atelectasis (areas of collapsed lung tissue) or the replacement of areas of inflammation with connective tissue. The altered areas of the lung tissue of such a child cannot perform their function, and subsequently emphysema (areas of increased airiness of the lung tissue) may develop in such lungs.

Prevention of intrauterine pneumonia is the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza in the mother, especially in the last weeks of pregnancy.

The birth of a child is a joyful event. But sometimes it can be overshadowed by complications and congenital diseases, in particular intrauterine or acquired pneumonia. Pneumonia is a pathology that becomes a test for both the newborn and his parents. Timely diagnosis and treatment will help avoid serious consequences.

Features of the disease in newborns

Pneumonia is a disease that causes serious complications and health consequences. In newborns, pneumonia can occur as an independent disease or as a complication after, for example, an acute respiratory viral infection.

Pneumonia is 10 times more likely to affect premature babies

Premature babies are most susceptible to pneumonia. In them, pneumonia occurs in 10–15% of cases, while among children born at term, the pathology is diagnosed in only one child out of a hundred. This is due to the underdevelopment of the respiratory muscles, insufficient regulation of the mechanisms of breathing and gas exchange, and the immaturity of the lung tissue.

Types of pneumonia

All cases of pneumonia can be divided into:

congenital (intrauterine);
acquired (postnatal).

They differ in the method of infection, symptoms, severity of the disease and possible consequences for the child.

Congenital pneumonia

This type of pneumonia develops in the womb and accounts for approximately 10% of all pneumonia in newborns. The disease makes itself felt already in the first minutes or days of the baby’s life. Infection can occur in different ways:

transplacentally, i.e. the causative agent of the disease entered the child’s body through the placenta. Rarely encountered;
antenatally - through amniotic fluid;
intrapartum, or during childbirth.

Most often, congenital pneumonia occurs due to infection during childbirth with pathogenic microflora located in the mother's birth canal, or through infected amniotic fluid. The transplacental method is rare.

Acquired

If the disease occurs after birth in the first month of the baby’s life, then it is called acquired. This type of pneumonia can be:

out-of-hospital - the child falls ill at home;
hospital - the disease developed in a hospital setting in a maternity hospital, intensive care unit, neonatal pathology department, etc.

Causes

There are many factors contributing to the development of pneumonia in newborns. They pose a particular danger to premature babies. Often several of them can lead to illness at the same time:

diseases suffered by a woman during pregnancy;
use of steroids by the expectant mother;
oxygen starvation and fetal suffocation;
complications during childbirth;
C-section;
intracranial or spinal injury;
intrauterine brain damage;
genetic diseases of the lungs and other internal organs;
unfavorable environment for raising a child;
improper care of the baby.

Normally, a baby has a small amount of fluid in its lungs, which is expelled during natural delivery. During a caesarean section, the organs do not have time to adapt to new living conditions, and fetal fluid remains in them. This contributes to the development of the so-called fetal fluid retention syndrome, which poses a risk of developing respiratory pathology in the child, in particular pneumonia.

In a premature baby, a cesarean section can provoke the development of respiratory distress syndrome, in which rapid, irregular breathing is observed and the risk of developing pneumonia increases. Such newborns require careful monitoring, examination and treatment.

Separate mention should be made of aspiration pneumonia. Its cause is often a violation of the child’s feeding regime, in which milk, formula, water, or vomit can enter the lungs. This type of pneumonia develops especially often in premature infants due to their predisposition to regurgitation.

Pathogens of pneumonia

Pneumonia is caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi, which can enter the lungs in two ways:

hematogenously - in utero through blood;
bronchogenic - through the lungs.

The most common causes of the disease are the following bacteria:
- streptococcus;
  Group B streptococcus is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns from meningitis, sepsis and streptococcal pneumonia in developed countries.
- staphylococcus;
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
- listeria;
- gram-negative rods of the family of intestinal bacteria;
- Klebsiella (Friedlander's bacillus) and other microorganisms.
Viral pneumonia can be caused by different types of herpes virus, in particular cytomegalovirus, as well as influenza virus, adenovirus and others.
Fungal pneumonia is more common in children who have been on mechanical ventilation for a long time, especially for premature babies. The causative agents of the disease can be fungi of the genus Candida, less often - Aspergillus, pneumocystis (an average between protozoa and fungi).
Pneumocystis pneumonia, or pneumocystis, occurs mainly in premature infants. Infection with this microorganism can occur through contact with a carrier at home or in the maternity hospital. A characteristic feature of this type of disease is the absence of wheezing in the lungs, so the diagnosis is made on the basis of an x-ray.

Pneumonia of newborns in 65–80% of cases is of a mixed nature, for example, when a bacterial infection is added to viral or fungal inflammation of the lungs.

Intrauterine pneumonia is most often caused by group B streptococci and gram-negative bacteria - coli and Klebsiella (Friedlander's bacillus), less often - staphylococcus and listeria. The disease may develop due to infection with cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus and Candida fungi.
The most common pathogens of acquired pneumonia are viruses (respiratory syncytial, parainfluenza and others), gram-negative intestinal microflora, and staphylococci. Less commonly, community-acquired pneumonia is caused by Moraxella (representative normal microflora upper respiratory tract) and pertussis bacillus. Pneumococci and influenza or Pfeiffer bacillus are rarely isolated from newborns.

Symptoms and characteristics of different types of disease

Symptoms and characteristics of the disease depend on whether the baby was born full-term or not, as well as on the type of pneumonia.

Intrauterine pneumonia appears immediately after the birth of a child

Symptoms of intrauterine pneumonia

If the disease developed in the womb, then its symptoms are visible immediately after the birth of the child:
- decreased muscle tone;
- lack of swallowing and sucking reflexes;
- impaired blood circulation;
- swelling of the legs (sometimes);
- a large loss of the child’s body weight - 15–30%, as well as its slow recovery.
Infection during childbirth appears 1–2 days after birth. At the same time, the symptoms of intrapartum pneumonia differ from the symptoms of other types of intrauterine pneumonia.

Features of symptoms depending on the method of infection - table

Variety intrauterine pneumonia(by method of infection)	Symptoms
Transplacental and antenatal (development of the disease in the womb)	bluish skin tone; the first cry is very weak or absent at all; laryngeal wheezing; increase in body temperature (in premature babies - decrease in body temperature).
Intrapartum pneumonia (acquired during childbirth)	weakness, poor appetite; regurgitation and indigestion; blue color of the lips and area around the nose; pale skin; noisy and intermittent breathing (in premature babies - weakness of breathing).

Symptoms of acquired pneumonia

Acquired pneumonia in its symptoms resembles ARVI. Marked following signs:

respiratory disorders;
runny nose;
child's anxiety;
lethargy;
sleep disturbances, feeding patterns;
increase in body temperature.

Symptoms and course of the disease depend on the pathogen:

Pneumonia caused by respiratory syncytial infection is characterized by difficulty breathing.
When infected with adenovirus, severe wheezing, conjunctivitis, runny nose, and wet cough occur.
With the flu, the nervous system suffers.
At herpetic infection bleeding, acute renal and liver failure, expressed in liver enlargement and general intoxication of the body, are observed.
When infected with staphylococcus, abscesses (ulcers) of the lungs, pustular skin lesions occur, umbilical wound, osteomyelitis.
When affected by Klebsiella, enteritis, meningitis, and pyelonephritis are noted.

Diagnostics

To diagnose pneumonia important has radiography

In order to diagnose pneumonia in a newborn, the doctor carries out the following measures:

Collecting anamnesis and analyzing symptoms (by interviewing parents).
General examination, during which the specialist identifies:
- pallor and cyanosis of the skin;
- hard breathing - inhalation is equal in duration to exhalation, wheezing, etc.
Laboratory research:
- general blood and urine analysis, as well as biochemical blood test;
- cultures of mucus and sputum from the throat (to determine the pathogen).
Instrumental studies:
- chest x-ray (x-ray);
- echocardiography;
- CT (computed tomography).

Doctor Komarovsky about methods of diagnosing pneumonia - video

Treatment and its timing

Treatment of pneumonia in newborns is carried out only in a hospital setting. It includes a number of measures:

An important task of a mother during a child’s illness is to maintain breastfeeding. Breast milk strengthens the immune system and contains everything necessary substances that contribute to the baby’s recovery.

Duration and prognosis of treatment

The duration of treatment and the prognosis for recovery depend on the causative agent of the disease, the severity of the baby’s condition and concomitant diseases. In most cases, pneumonia is easily treated. With proper and timely medical care, improvement is observed within 2–3 weeks of illness. It is characterized by a decrease in signs of respiratory failure, restoration of appetite, and normalization of the nervous system.

Inflammation of the lungs caused by pneumocystis takes longer to treat. Its incubation period ranges from 8 days to 1 month. The total duration of the disease is 7–8 weeks, but in premature babies only acute period lasts 4–6 weeks.

But in some cases the disease can cause dangerous complications and consequences.

Dangerous complications and consequences for newborns

Level modern medicine so high that it allows saving babies who have been diagnosed with intrauterine or acquired pneumonia. However, the consequences of the disease are sometimes very serious. They are divided into:

Complications of pneumonia in newborns affect the entire body as a whole and each organ and system separately.

Children who have had pneumonia have a much higher susceptibility to bronchopulmonary diseases. Adhesions and scars called alectasis may remain on the tissue of the lungs or bronchi. Speaking about the consequences for the baby’s health, it is necessary to mention the increased risk of developing anemia and rickets in premature infants who have had early pneumonia children.

Prevention of illness before and after birth

Measures to prevent pneumonia in a child must be taken both before and after the birth of the baby. A pregnant woman should take care of her health, namely:

regularly visit the clinic and take all necessary tests;
eat properly and balanced;
to refuse from bad habits;
lead healthy image life;
Avoid ARVI, influenza and other infections during pregnancy.

During childbirth, all measures must be taken to avoid fetal asphyxia. After the birth of the baby, you need to organize proper care for him, avoid hypothermia and contact with sick relatives. Breastfeeding plays an important role in the prevention of pneumonia and other diseases. It improves the child's immunity and increases resistance to disease.

Although pneumonia in newborns is a very serious and dangerous disease, the level of modern medicine allows us to hope for a positive outcome and complete recovery. Caring for the health of a child should begin not after birth, but from the moment of conception.

One of the most dangerous childhood diseases is pneumonia in a newborn. The disease especially often affects premature babies. Statistics show that newborn mortality from pneumonia remains high despite modern methods diagnosis and treatment.

The disease causes the development of an inflammatory process in the lung tissue, as well as the walls of the bronchi. Pneumonia in young children is classified as acute infectious diseases, is considered very dangerous. The disease is severe for several reasons:

It is difficult for a weak body to fight infection
Lung tissue takes up a very small volume, so infection spreads quickly
the length of the trachea is also very short
pleural sinuses are not fully dilated

This is why complications, even death, are so common. Features of pneumonia in newborns include the sudden onset of the disease. The child develops a high temperature, a dry, painful cough, trouble breathing, loss of appetite, and the baby constantly sweats.

Causes

The initial factor in the occurrence of the disease is the development of pathogenic microflora, the carrier of which can be a newborn. In a newborn, pneumonia can be caused by various pathogens. These include streptococcus, staphylococcus, pneumococcus bacteria, herpes viruses, cytomegalovirus, Candida fungus, Escherichia coli or Haemophilus influenzae, as well as mycoplasma and chlamydia.

To understand where pneumonia came from in a newborn, you should know that a baby can become infected with it in different ways:

In utero, congenital pneumonia in a newborn baby.
When passing through an infected birth canal.
In the first days of life.

Intrauterine pneumonia can occur if the pregnancy was difficult, with associated diseases. Viruses, bacteria or other pathogenic microflora penetrate the placenta, affecting the fetus, which is why congenital pneumonia appears in the newborn. The severity of the disease depends on how long the expectant mother has been infected. The longer the period of time between the infection entering the body of a pregnant woman and childbirth, the more difficult the treatment will be. If the pathogen has passed from the mother to the newborn, this will be noticeable immediately after its birth.

If infection occurs during childbirth, the first signs of pneumonia in the newborn appear after 2-3 days. So the child is already born with pneumonia, but its symptoms appear a little later. Even if the newborn did not pass through the birth canal, if surgery was performed caesarean section, there is a risk of infection.

Acquired pneumonia does not depend on the health status of the mother. Factors in the development of pneumonia in the first weeks of a newborn’s life can be divided into three main groups:

External reasons. These include viruses that entered the baby’s body after birth, unfavorable living conditions for the newborn, hypothermia or overheating, and bacteria affecting the respiratory tract in other ways, for example, through vomiting.
Injuries during childbirth. These include asphyxia, ingestion of amniotic fluid into the respiratory tract, and damage during childbirth.
Intrauterine development. Most often, pneumonia develops in a premature newborn. Also, factors contributing to the onset of the disease include underdevelopment of the respiratory system, damage to brain tissue, and other organs and systems of the body.

Inflammation can also develop due to improper treatment diseases of the respiratory system. It can be a complication after a newborn has suffered from bronchitis, ARVI, colds and other diseases.

Main manifestations

Pneumonia in premature babies is a very dangerous disease, so it is important to recognize it in time. Parents should pay close attention to the following signs in their newborn:

Cough. With pneumonia, it is dry, superficial, and painful for the baby. The baby has seizures. Another option for the development of the disease is a dry cough that lasts more than seven days.
Breath. The newborn breathes heavily and shortness of breath appears. Breathing is frequent, shallow, do deep breath fails, as this causes chest pain.
Body temperature. One of the signs of up to a year is a high temperature, which is almost impossible to bring down. Antipyretics do not help, and if they help, it is for a very short time. The decrease occurs by only a few notches, and soon the baby’s body temperature rises again up to 40 degrees. However, some forms of the disease may occur differently. The body temperature of a newborn remains at 37 - 37.5 degrees for a long time. This fact should also alert parents.
Skin. One of the signs of pneumonia in a newborn baby is pale skin. An alarming symptom if a one-year-old child’s nasolabial triangle turns blue. Health care needed immediately. The skin on the newborn’s body becomes bluish or grayish.
Newborn behavior. How a child behaves with pneumonia depends on the severity of the symptoms. The main signs are lethargy, weakness, thirst, loss of appetite. The newborn often sleeps or, on the contrary, is constantly capricious.

Symptoms of pneumonia in infants are not always pronounced. If this primary disease, then its signs can easily be confused with common cold, acute respiratory disease or influenza. The inflammatory process may be asymptomatic for the first few days, and the first signs of inflammation appear after some time.

Pneumonia is especially severe in a newborn if he was born premature. Symptoms appear sharply, accompanied by a jump in temperature and cough. It is important to make a correct diagnosis in time to prevent complications.

Treating a newborn baby at home is also impossible. Upon diagnosis, the child and mother are under 24-hour supervision by specialists.

Treatment of newborns at home is also impossible. When a diagnosis of pneumonia is made, the child and his mother are admitted to the hospital under round-the-clock supervision by specialists.

Types of disease

Pneumonia is classified according to several criteria. Depending on the pathogen, the disease in young children can be:

Viral. In infants it is most often caused by cytomegalovirus or herpes virus.
Gribkov. Caused by the fungus Candida.
Bacterial. Pneumococci, staphylococci, pneumococci and other pathogenic bacterial flora always require treatment with antibiotics.

The degree of damage to lung tissue during pneumonia can also vary:

Focal - small areas of the lungs are affected.
Total inflammation. Involves damage to one entire lung.
Bilateral pneumonia in a newborn. Occurs more often than in patients of other ages. A newborn's lungs are small, so inflammation quickly spreads on both sides of the lung tissue.

There are different routes of infection:

Intrauterine develops during a woman’s pregnancy.
Aspiration usually occurs when amniotic fluid enters the respiratory tract.
When passing through an infected birth canal, children can also become infected.
Acquired pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs caused by the entry of pathogenic microflora by airborne droplets.

Determining the type of disease allows you to choose the right treatment.

Diagnostics

As soon as parents discover the first signs of newborn pneumonia, they should immediately consult a doctor. Only a specialist can diagnose the disease. The following methods are used for this:

Visual inspection. The doctor will measure the baby’s body temperature and examine the mucous membranes and skin.
Listening to the lungs. Using a stethoscope, the pediatrician will listen to the lungs to detect wheezing and harsh breathing.
. Increased ESR and leukocytosis indicate inflammation in the body.
Blood chemistry. It is carried out to determine the causative agent of the disease.
Sputum culture. Allows you to identify bacteria that led to the development of pneumonia. This also makes it possible to choose the right medicine.
X-ray. The most accurate and reliable method for diagnosing pneumonia today is radiography. The inflamed areas are visible, so at the same time the degree of damage to the lung tissue can be determined.

In young children, diagnosis should be made in a hospital. After the first results appear, treatment should begin, because dangerous disease can lead to dire consequences.

Principles of treatment

After diagnosis, therapy should be started as early as possible. Treatment of pneumonia in newborns includes a number of procedures that are prescribed in combination.

Taking antibacterial drugs. If the doctor can guess the nature of the pneumonia, then an antibiotic is prescribed empirically. This is usually a broad-spectrum drug that should be started as early as possible. After extensive testing, you may need to change your medication. Counts. That intramuscular antibiotics are most effective, but modern drugs also work well when taken orally. If after two days there is no improvement in the child’s condition, the drug was chosen incorrectly. In this case, the recovery time will be longer.
Taking probiotics. To prevent the development of dysbiosis, drugs that restore intestinal microflora are necessarily prescribed.
Immunomodulatory drugs or vitamin complexes. Prescribed by a doctor if necessary, depending on the condition of the newborn. More often, these medications are prescribed after treatment, for a speedy recovery from illness.
Intravenous infusions. To alleviate a serious condition, the doctor prescribes droppers with saline solution. The introduction of saline solution intravenously helps relieve intoxication.
Antitussive drugs. They help in the removal of sputum and alleviate the condition of the baby.
Antipyretics. At the beginning of treatment they do not help much, they are used only when necessary.
Vibration chest massage. It is carried out to expel sputum as quickly as possible.
Physiotherapeutic procedures. Usually carried out when acute stage the disease has already passed. For pneumonia, inhalations are often prescribed.

Duration of recovery

How much pneumonia is treated in a newborn baby, including those with prematurity, depends on the degree of development of the disease at the time of treatment and the baby’s immunity. Recovery usually takes 10-15 days. If complications arise, they will have to be treated later.

During treatment, complete and almost round-the-clock care for the newborn is important. Compliance comes first drinking regime: The baby needs to be given water as often as possible. And if the newborn baby is on breastfeeding, then increase the frequency of breastfeeding. Let your baby breastfeed briefly but often.

The air temperature in the room or ward is important. Overheating and hypothermia should be avoided. Premature newborn and are completely placed in an incubator, where the necessary conditions for it are created. Treatment of pneumonia in newborns also depends on hygiene: the room should be regularly wet cleaned and hygienic procedures carried out.

Possible complications

After an illness, there may be Negative consequences pneumonia in newborns. Breasts are more likely than others age groups susceptible residual effects and pathologies. With timely treatment, neonatal pneumonia has favorable prognosis, but there is a list of complications. The most common concerns:

Long continuous cough.
Otitis.
Meningitis - can occur when a pneumococcal infection occurs.
Pleurisy – occurs when the pleura is damaged.
Chronic pneumonia. Pneumonia in a newborn child can subsequently cause a lot of trouble, since almost every cold will lead to it.
Pulmonary sepsis.
Neurological disorders occur if pneumonia was associated with asphyxia.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia most often develops during prematurity.
Collapsed lung.
Multiple organ failure.

The risk of complications increases if the baby is premature, weak, or treatment is started late.