As a lifestyle doctor creative writer, I know how anxious and helpless parents can be when their children are sick. Especially in the cold winter months, children are prone to colds, and if the cold is not received in time**, it may develop into pneumonia. Therefore, it is important for parents to understand the symptoms of their child's fever and determine whether it is a cold or pneumonia.
1. The difference between a cold and pneumonia.
1.Colds: Colds are caused by viral infections and are mainly manifested by runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, etc. In general, your child's body temperature should not exceed 385. The duration of fever is short, about 1-2 days.
2.Pneumonia: Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens, with symptoms including fever, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, etc. The fever temperature of pneumonia is high, up to 385 or more, and the duration is longer, generally 3-5 days or even longer.
2. Be alert to the symptoms of pneumonia.
1.Fever: as noted above, fever is high and prolonged in patients with pneumonia. Parents should pay close attention to the changes in their child's body temperature and seek medical attention if they find that they have a persistent high fever.
2.Cough: pneumonia-based cough is mostly paroxysmal with sputum, and may be accompanied by dyspnea when the cough is severe. On the other hand, colds and coughs are mostly persistent, with less phlegm.
3.Shortness of breath: Due to lung inflammation, the patency of the respiratory tract is affected in patients with pneumonia, and symptoms such as shortness of breath and difficulty breathing will occur. For small babies, parents can observe the child's breathing rate, which normally does not exceed 50 breaths per minute.
4.Chest pain: People with pneumonia may feel chest pain when coughing and taking deep breaths.
5.Mental status: patients with pneumonia often have a poor mental state, with a pale complexion and loss of appetite. In contrast, the mental state of cold patients is generally better, and the appetite is not affected much.
6.Auscultation of the lungs: auscultation of the lungs in patients with pneumonia may reveal crackles, whereas auscultation of the lungs in patients with colds is unremarkable.
3. Dry goods suggestions.
1.Observe your child's symptoms: Parents should learn to observe the changes in their child's condition, and seek medical attention as soon as possible if they find the above symptoms of pneumonia.
2.Keep warm: In winter, when the temperature is low, parents need to provide adequate warmth for their children to avoid catching a cold and catching a cold.
3.Indoor ventilation: Keep indoor air circulation to reduce the breeding of viruses and bacteria, and reduce the risk of children catching colds.
4.Enhance immunity: Improve children's immunity and reduce the occurrence of colds through reasonable diet and exercise.
5.Vaccination: In accordance with China's childhood immunization program, children are vaccinated accordingly to prevent pneumonia and other diseases.
6.Pay close attention to the condition: In the process of the child's **, parents should pay close attention to the changes in the condition, such as the fever persists or the body temperature fluctuates greatly, and seek medical attention in time.
In short, when the child has a fever, parents should be alert to whether it is a cold or pneumonia. By observing your child's symptoms, keeping warm, keeping the room ventilated, and boosting immunity, you can reduce the occurrence of colds and pneumonia in your child. When a child is ill, parents should pay close attention to the changes in the condition and seek medical attention in time to ensure the child's health.
Thank you for taking the time to read our article. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. I wish you all the best!