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Things That You Can Do To Help Your Child At Home Are
- Control the fever with the proper medicine and right strength for the age of your child. Fevers lower than 101° F do not need to be treated unless the child is uncomfortable .
- Give your child plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
- See that your child gets lots of rest.
- Do not give over-the-counter cough medicines or other OTC medicines without asking the health provider first. The child needs to cough and bring up the phlegm. Coughing is the bodys way of clearing the infection from the lungs.
- Avoid exposing your child to tobacco smoke or other irritants in the air.
Besides Vaccination What Else Can I Do To Prevent Bacterial And Viral Pneumonia
Receiving all recommended vaccinations is one of the best ways to prevent pneumonia. Additionally, there are several other ways to prevent pneumonia, including:
- Quitting smoking, and avoiding secondhand smoke. Smoking damages your lungs.
- Washing your hands before eating, before handling food, after using the restroom, and after being outside. If soap is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoiding being around people who are sick. Ask them to visit when they are feeling better.
- Not touching or sharing objects that are shared with others. Germs can be transferred from object to you if you touch your nose or mouth without washing or sanitizing your hands first.
- Eating a healthy diet, exercise, and get enough rest. Healthy habits keep your immune system strong.
- Getting treated for any other infections or health conditions you may have. These conditions could weaken your immune system, which could increase your chance of infections.
- Avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol.
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How Do The Lungs Work
Your lungs main job is to get oxygen into your blood and remove carbon dioxide. This happens during breathing. You breathe 12 to 20 times per minute when you are not sick. When you breathe in, air travels down the back of your throat and passes through your voice box and into your windpipe . Your trachea splits into two air passages . One bronchial tube leads to the left lung, the other to the right lung. For the lungs to perform their best, the airways need to be open as you breathe in and out. Swelling and mucus can make it harder to move air through the airways, making it harder to breathe. This leads to shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and feeling more tired than normal.
How Soon After Treatment For Pneumonia Will I Begin To Feel Better
How soon you will feel better depends on several factors, including:
- Your age
- The cause of your pneumonia
- The severity of your pneumonia
- If you have other at-risk conditions
If you are generally healthy, most symptoms of bacterial pneumonia usually begin to improve within 24 to 48 hours after starting treatment. Symptoms of viral pneumonia usually begin to improve within a few days after starting treatment. A cough can last for several weeks. Most people report being tired for about a month after contracting pneumonia.
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What Should I Do If My Child Is Dealing With Covid
Family members should take extreme caution when caring for someone who has become sick with COVID-19 in their home due to the highly contagious nature of the disease. The CDC has published a full guide to all of the precautions you must take when looking after sick children, which includes similar advice for adults sequestering them in a separate room and facility, wearing masks at all times, and plenty of disinfection and cleaning, among other tactics.
Specializing in pediatric care, Dr. Schaffzin says parents or caregivers will often know their child best, and can immediately tell when symptoms take a turn for the worse. Parents of kids with preexisting conditions should have plans in place for if COVID-19 hits them, but parents should always call physicians or healthcare providers on the spot if symptoms become too difficult to work through. Primarily, though, the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital expert says that some of the most challenging symptoms may come weeks or months after an initial COVID-19 diagnosis.
The syndrome often manifests in rashes, across the body and in hands and feet, or in chronic abdominal pain and aches, in addition to other symptoms.
How Is Pneumonia Spread From Person To Person
Pneumonia is spread when droplets of fluid containing the pneumonia bacteria or virus are launched in the air when someone coughs or sneezes and then inhaled by others. You can also get pneumonia from touching an object previously touched by the person with pneumonia or touching a tissue used by the infected person and then touching your mouth or nose.
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What Other Problems Can Pneumonia Cause
Sometimes pneumonia can cause serious complications such as:
- Bacteremia, which happens when the bacteria move into the bloodstream. It is serious and can lead to .
- Lung abscesses, which are collections of pus in cavities of the lungs
- Pleural disorders, which are conditions that affect the pleura. The pleura is the tissue that covers the outside of the lungs and lines the inside of your chest cavity.
- Respiratory failure
How Can I Tell If I Have Pneumonia Versus The Common Cold Or The Flu
Do I have a cold or could it be the flu or even pneumonia? Its tough to tell the difference but critical to know when to seek medical care
Watch for these ongoing symptoms that occur in pneumonia:
- Serious congestion or chest pain.
- Difficulty breathing.
- A fever of 102 or higher.
- Coughing that produces pus.
Pneumonia symptoms last longer than cold and flu. If your symptoms arent severe, its okay to try such home remedies as getting more rest, drinking more fluids and taking some over-the-counter medicines and see what happens. But if you dont see improvement in your symptoms after three to five days, or if you are experiencing more serious symptoms such as dizziness or severe difficulty breathing, see your healthcare provider. Dont let it go. Pneumonia-like symptoms in very young children or in adults older than 65 are a cause for concern. Also, pneumonia can cause permanent lung damage if left untreated for too long. And always seek immediate care if you experience chest pain or have breathing difficulties.
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What Is Walking Pneumonia
Walking pneumonia is a mild case of pneumonia. It is often caused by a virus or the mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria. When you have walking pneumonia, your symptoms may not be as severe or last as long as someone who has a more serious case of pneumonia. You probably wont need bed rest or to stay in the hospital when you have walking pneumonia.
When Can I Return To Work School And Regular Activities If I Have Pneumonia
You typically can resume your normal activities if your symptoms are gone, mild or improving and you do not have new or worsening:
- Shortness of breath or tiredness
- Chest pain
- Mucus, fever or cough
If you are generally healthy, most people feel well enough to return to previous activities in about a week. However, it may take about a month to feel totally back to normal.
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Life Saving Tips If You Contract Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs which has a number of different causes and symptoms. It can lead to complications and severe illness. Those at high risk are people with underlying diseases like asthma, heart disease, cancer, or diabetes. People who are generally healthy can come down with pneumonia by breathing in germs and are even more susceptible if they have a cold or the flu at the same time. Care is undertaken at home or in the hospital depending on the severity.
Pay Proper Attention To Warning Signs
Be it encountering a persistent headache or sessions of breathlessness, it is extremely significant to pay proper attention to any of these alerts or warning symptoms that your body is not doing fine. Make sure that you pass on all this information to your doctor in case any such complications arise even after recovery from COVID-19.
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Whole Grains And Cereals
They are a healthy source of complex carbohydrates which are broken down in the body to provide energy for the patient. For chronic patients, they experience body weakness and require a healthy source of energy such as whole grains and cereals. Examples are oatmeal, millet, barley, brown rice, and buckwheat found in whole wheat flour. They are also a source of vitamin B complex and micro nutrients such as selenium, magnesium, iron and folic acid. The micro nutrients increase the bodyâs ability to fight off infection and promote overall health.
When Would I Need To Be Hospitalized For Pneumonia
If your case of pneumonia is more severe, you may need tostay in the hospital for treatment. Hospital treatments may include:
- Oxygen
- Fluids, antibiotics and other medicines given through an IV
- Breathing treatments and exercises to help loosen mucus
People most likely to be hospitalized are those who are most frail and/or at increased risk, including:
- Babies and young children
- People with weakened immune systems
- People with health conditions that affect the heart and lungs
It may take six to eight weeks to return to a normal level of functioning and well-being if youve been hospitalized with pneumonia.
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Tea Tree And Eucalyptus Oils
Tea tree oil and eucalyptus oils are antibacterial. And for that reason, they are able to help fight your sickness.
They will help kill the germs that cause pneumonia. Eucalyptus oil also relieves congestion by breaking up mucus in the lungs.
Process 1:
- Boil water and stir in 5 drops of tea tree or eucalyptus oil.
- Pour the water into a bowl.
- Drape a towel over your head, lean over the bowl, and inhale the steam.
- Do this until Stopped getting oil fragrance.
- Now blow nose gently to clear the mucus which causes the problem.
- Repeat 3 times a day.
- You can use other essential oils for pneumonia like lavender, lemon or camphor essential oil in the place of tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil.
Process 2:
- Mix 20 drops of tea tree or eucalyptus oil with 1 tablespoon of almond or coconut oil.
- Before bed, rub the mixture on the neck and chest.
- Leave on overnight, then rinse in the morning.
- Repeat nightly.
- Note: Do not change quantities.
Process 3:
- Dip a cotton cloth in carrier oil or vegetable oil.
- Place it in oven at low temperature and warm the cloth.
- Pour 20 drops of tea tree or eucalyptus oil and rub cloth gently to spread evenly.
- Lie down and place the cloth on the chest.
- Leave it on 30 minutes.
- Repeat 2-3 times a day.
Basil And Black Pepper
Basil and black pepper act as natural decongestants. Black pepper expels the mucus from the air sacs and dries up the fluids which cause pneumonia infection.
Process 1:
- Crush 5-7 basil leaves to extract juice.
- Mix with ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper.
- Consume every 6 hours to cure pneumonia.
Process 2:
- Repeat 2 times a week.
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When To Call The Doctor
You should call your childs doctor if your child:
- Has trouble breathing or is breathing much faster than usual
- Has a bluish or gray color to the fingernails or lips
- Is older than 6 months and has a fever over 102°F
- Is younger than 6 months and has a temperature over 100.4°F.
- Has a fever for more than a few days after taking antibiotics
When your child should stay home and return to school or childcare
Pneumonia And Weight Loss
There is also the question on weight loss that comes up in many pneumonia related forums. Just like any other disease, the loss of weight is a common occurrence. This is a result of reduced appetite that translates to less calories being consumed in a day. Patients with advanced pneumonia have more harsh symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea that results in a rapid loss of nutrients exceeding the rate at which the same can be replenished. Inevitably, the patient will end up losing weight during the duration of these symptoms.
However, this is not characteristic of all cases as some individuals do not lose weight during the duration of illness. With proper nutrition management, even the chronic patients can pull through without any significant weight loss.
Some of the medication used in the treatment of pneumonia could also triggr nausea or induce vomiting leading to loss of nutrients and possible weight loss. However this is uncommon as the doctor is likely to counter this effect by switching up the prescription or introducing an additional drug to prevent the extreme side effects.
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Is There A Vaccine For Pneumonia
There isnt a vaccine for all types of pneumonia, but 2 vaccines are available. These help prevent pneumonia caused by pneumococcal bacteria. The first is recommended for all children younger than 5 years of age. The second is recommended for anyone age 2 or older who is at increased risk for pneumonia. Getting the pneumonia vaccine is especially important if you:
- Are 65 years of age or older.
- Smoke.
- Have certain chronic conditions, such as asthma, lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, sickle cell disease, or cirrhosis.
- Have a weakened immune system because of HIV/AIDS, kidney failure, a damaged or removed spleen, a recent organ transplant, or receiving chemotherapy.
- Have cochlear implants .
The pneumococcal vaccines cant prevent all cases of pneumonia. But they can make it less likely that people who are at risk will experience the severe, and possibly life-threatening, complications of pneumonia.
How To Prevent Pneumonia In Dogs
The best way to prevent a dog from developing bacterial or viral pneumonia is to vaccinate it for these diseases. The most common causes of pneumonia have vaccines available for them but keeping a dog out of a known infected area is also recommended. Places where dogs frequent, including dog parks, dog daycare, and boarding facilities can all harbor bacteria and viruses that can cause pneumonia. If a dog is coughing or showing signs of pneumonia or another respiratory disease, other dogs should be kept away from it as well.
If inhaled irritants are the concern, keeping the air clean where a dog lives can decrease the likelihood of it causing pneumonia. Air purifiers can help keep home air clean, pet owners should never smoke in the house or by their pets, and aerosol sprays should be avoided.
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A Lukewarm Bath Or Compress
Soaking the body in lukewarm water may help cool it down.
If it is not possible to take a bath, apply towels or washcloths to the body after dunking them in lukewarm water and wringing them out. This may help the body cool. When the towels warm up, dip them in the water again and reapply.
Chills are often a secondary symptom of a fever. The following home remedies may help ease chills:
Why Does Recovery Take So Long
Almost everyone who comes down with pneumonia will ask themselves or their healthcare provider at least once, Why does it take so long to recover from pneumonia? After all, you felt better within a few days of starting your antibiotic or, in some cases, steroid treatment. Like everything else in medicine, there are many reasons why it takes so long to recover.
When bacteria enters your body, your body goes into defense mode to remove it. Somewhere along the line, you start your antibiotics, and in a few days, you feel better. This improvement is because the bacteria has been dealt with. However, your body is now in cleanup mode, removing all the debrislike the mucus in your lungs.
Your body starts working overtime to clear out all the trash left behind. Your body is using multiple mechanisms to move the mucus out of your lungs. This movement is why you experience a productive cough.
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Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- I have a chronic condition. Am I at higher risk for pneumonia?
- Do I have bacterial, viral, or fungal pneumonia? Whats the best treatment?
- Am I contagious?
- How serious is my pneumonia? Will I need to be hospitalized?
- What can I do at home to help relieve my symptoms?
- What are the possible complications of pneumonia? How will I know if Im developing complications?
- What should I do if my symptoms dont respond to treatment or get worse?
- Do we need to schedule a follow-up exam?
- Do I need any vaccines?
Drink A Cup Of Ginger Tea
Ginger has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties in recent research . As with turmeric, current research on ginger hasnt looked at whether it helps specifically with chest pain, but its a harmless, hydrating way to try and soothe the uncomfortable effects of pneumonia.
You can find loose or bagged ginger teas at your local grocery or online. Or, you can use raw ginger to make your own ginger tea.
Your fever may develop suddenly or over the course of a few days. With treatment, it should subside within the week.
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