Recurrent Pneumonia in Children

Pneumonia refers to inflammation of the lungs, which is usually caused by infections. This condition can affect people of all age groups, though elderly and young children are at an increased risk for getting pneumonia. Children can also become prone to develop recurrent pneumonia, if they are suffering from certain underlying health problems. Two or more episodes of pneumonia in a single year, or more than 3 episodes of pneumonia at any time is referred as recurrent pneumonia. In general, pneumonia is caused by bacteria, fungi, virus and parasites, out of which bacterial pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia. On the other hand, pneumonia caused by fungi is very uncommon.

Recurrent Pneumonia Causes
Usually, pneumonia is caused by microorganisms like, bacteria, virus, fungi and parasites along with irritants. Virus and bacteria are more commonly associated with the infection and inflammation of the lungs, while pneumonia caused by fungi and parasites are comparatively less common. But, this condition can be associated with certain underlying health conditions such as, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). GERD or acid reflux disease can cause aspiration, which can put a child at an increased risk for getting pneumonia frequently.

Apart from GERD, there are several other health problems that can increase the chances of getting recurrent episodes of pneumonia. Some of the most common risk factors are:

• Impaired or weakened immune system
• Immune disorders
• Asthma
• Bronchial ciliary dysfunction
• Genetic disorders like, Kartagener syndrome, where the cilia or the hair like cells in the lining of the airways fail to function properly
• Oropharyngeal incoordination
• Cystic fibrosis
• Bronchiectasis
• Sinusitis
• Sickle cell anemia
• Congenital lung or heart defects

Symptoms of Recurrent Pneumonia
The symptoms of pneumonia can greatly resemble the symptoms of flu or influenza. Moreover, the symptoms can vary to a great extent from person to person. Nevertheless, the most commonly observed pneumonia symptoms in children are:

• Cough
• Fever
• Chest pain
• Breathing difficulty
• Muscle pain and fatigue
• Headache

Treatment for Recurrent Pneumonia
Physicians usually detect pneumonia with the help of chest X-ray, blood or mucus test and physical examination. Pneumonia is usually treated with antibiotics. However, viral pneumonia does not respond to antibiotics. Viral pneumonia usually resolves within a couple of days with adequate rest. Drinking plenty of fluid is recommended to speed up the healing process. Anti-viral medications are usually prescribed only when the viral infection is serious in nature. On the other hand, pneumonia caused by fungi is treated with the help of antifungal medications.

But in the case of recurrent pneumonia, it is very important to identify the underlying medical problem that is causing the recurrent episodes, along with treating the infection. Effective treatment of the underlying medical condition can only prevent the recurrent episodes of pneumonia in children. Therefore, the treatment can differ slightly than the treatment for typical pneumonia. Along with curing the infection, the treatment is directed towards alleviating the root causes.

So, if your child experiences more than one episodes of pneumonia, be sure to report it immediately to the pediatric. Proper evaluation of this condition is of crucial importance to find out and address the underlying health problem, in order to prevent the repeated episodes of pneumonia in kids.