Segmental pneumonia in children is one of the known inflammatory processes that occurs in the lungs. It proceeds in an acute form. This pathology affects the tissues of the organ and violates the overall functionality. The defeat of the local form. Often, pneumonia occurs either left-sided or right-sided. Symptoms at the initial stage are weak, so often the diagnosis is not effective. It is mandatory to take an x-ray in two projections.
Pathology Description
Segmental pneumonia in children is called that way, because it affects not the entire organ, but only part of it. Inflammation is difficult to notice. Initially, the manifestations are similar to a common cold. Chest discomfort, coughing, and fever may occur. Some patients experience abdominal pain.
Left-sided segmental pneumonia in children occurs more often than in adults. In the latter, the pathology of the right lung is most often diagnosed. The reason for this is the anatomical structure of the chest.
Of all lung diseases, the described pathology is diagnosed in 25% of cases. Children aged 3 to 7 years suffer from this disease. Sometimes pneumonia manifests itself in several parts of the lung. In this case, it is called polysegmented.
There are two types of pneumonia: primary and secondary. For the primary characteristic of independent development. A secondary ailment proceeds against the background of the underlying disease. As a rule, this is the flu or SARS. Most often, the disease is in acute form and often leads to complications.
To avoid the consequences, the disease must be diagnosed as early as possible. This will allow you to prescribe an effective treatment on time.
Causes of inflammation
Most often, in children, segmental pneumonia occurs against a background of various infections. The most common cause are viruses. A respiratory illness, adenovirus infection, or flu often leads to such complications. Bacteria should also be attributed to provoking factors. Streptococcus, hemophilic bacillus, etc. can lead to pneumonia. Given that bacteria and viruses enter the body most often through the nose or throat, inflammation begins after inhalation. Often the transmission of the disease occurs by airborne droplets through a cough or sneeze. The blood of an infected patient is also unsafe.
Other causes of inflammation include:
- problems with the heart and blood vessels;
- oncology;
- allergies
- defects of the bronchi (congenital and acquired);
- hypothermia;
- blood flow problems in the lungs.
Symptomatology
Symptoms of segmental pneumonia in children at the very beginning of inflammation are weak. There is a cough, runny nose, as well as a feeling of stuffiness in the nose.
In young children, signs of intoxication appear. Shortness of breath, chest pain, tachycardia occurs. The pressure decreases to 90/60, the pulse accelerates on average by 30 beats per minute, the body temperature rises. Next, the child will have a wet cough. There will be lethargy, unwillingness to eat, the skin will turn pale.
It must be remembered that inflammation in the lungs proceeds quite quickly, therefore, when the body temperature rises to 40 degrees, the child will experience weakness, insomnia, headache and muscle pain. Sweating may increase. The child will be apathetic, and his consciousness confused.
Regardless of the causes of segmental pneumonia in children, coughing will manifest itself already 3 days after infection. Due to an increase in body temperature, it will become wet and strong. Sputum is expectorated well and often. In some patients, coughing is jerky and rare, but such cases are infrequent.
A child may experience pain in the upper abdomen, as well as cramps. These unpleasant sensations are strong, and when coughing become unbearable.
9 days after the first signs of the disease, the infiltrate begins to resolve. If the tissue of the affected organ begins to coagulate, then the problem may drag on for a month. In some patients, allergies can occur against the background of pneumonia. Its main manifestation is choking. In severe cases, anaphylactic shock occurs.
Antibiotic treatment
Treatment of segmental pneumonia in children is aimed at combating foci of inflammation, as well as with all concomitant symptoms.
In order to cure a child, antibiotics are used. Such drugs can be harmful to children, but it is difficult to do without pneumonia. Drugs should be prescribed only by your doctor.
Consider those funds that belong to the group of cephalosporins. We are talking about "Klaforan", "Rocefin", "Zinnat" and others. Of the macrolides, Sumamed, Macropen, and Azithromycin can be prescribed. If for some reason Penicillin is not suitable for the child, then Ampioks or Flemoklav may be prescribed. At the beginning of treatment, intravenous drugs are prescribed. Sometimes two antimicrobial medicines are prescribed right away. After a while, the patient is transferred to tablets for a week. Treatment lasts no more than 10 days.
Detoxification therapy
In the treatment of right-sided segmental pneumonia in a child, saline, glucose, and Ringer's solution are often administered to him. These medicines help relieve symptoms quickly. After a similar procedure, the patient restores the water-salt balance, electrolyte metabolism. The amount of toxic substances in the blood decreases. The child begins to feel better. With regular withdrawal of symptoms, it is easier to cure the disease.
If the level of sweating increases sharply, then the child rises in temperature. Means should be taken that will fight this symptom. If after the course of therapy there is relief, but the patient still feels a breakdown and sweats heavily, then you should be re-examined. This may indicate untreated pneumonia. Otherwise, it will go into a chronic form.
If the patient suffers from choking, Quincke's edema, then it is necessary to go to the hospital. Need hospitalization. If the child does not have enough oxygen, there are problems with respiratory functions, then he may have serious problems in the work of internal organs. Therefore, in severe cases, mechanical ventilation may be prescribed.
Cough Treatment
To minimize the effects of segmental pneumonia in children, it is necessary to pay attention to agents that facilitate coughing, allow sputum to pass. Great help bronchodilators. Attention should be paid to drugs such as Fluimucil, ACC and others.
If there is shortness of breath and obstruction of the bronchi, prescribe "Berotek", "Salbutamol" and some others.
An excellent nebulizer device is considered. Thanks to him, the therapeutic mixture easily enters the respiratory tract and effectively affects the foci of inflammation.
Oxygen therapy
Sometimes it helps to alleviate the effects of segmental pneumonia in children treated with special oxygen procedures. The child should get into an environment where there is a large amount of oxygen. This procedure is called barotherapy.
Due to such therapy, the patient normalizes breathing, and the body is cleansed of toxins and foreign substances. Oxygen therapy is prescribed at the stage of recovery as a normal physiotherapeutic procedure.
Gymnastics and massage
After the complete cure of segmental pneumonia in children, the doctor prescribes therapeutic massage, as well as respiratory gymnastics. They have a mechanical effect on the bronchi and lungs. This allows you to get rid of sputum in the respiratory tract, and also helps to improve blood flow in the muscles and accelerates the recovery process.
By inflating balloons, the rehabilitation period can be facilitated. Respiratory gymnastics should be prescribed by the attending physician. This is due to the fact that for some diseases of the heart and lungs it is contraindicated.
Home mode
If a child has right-sided segmental pneumonia passes in a mild form, then therapy can be carried out at home. Hospitalization is needed only when it comes to a disease caused by an infection or causes of a cardiovascular nature.
When treating at home, bed rest, constant fluid intake, an expanded diet (meat and vegetable dishes), and vitamin complexes are prescribed.
Complications
Quite often, the described disease leads to the development of various kinds of pathological processes. We are talking about abscesses, suppuration. Similar consequences can lead to death.
If the child does not care about immunity, then problems with the functionality of the pulmonary system may occur. If pathology occurs on the left side, then the patient will suffer from nearby organs. Sometimes there is pressure on the kidney or the liver. Because of this, the work of this body is also inhibited.
Preventative measures
To prevent left- or right-sided segmental pneumonia in a child, vaccination must be carried out. This method of prevention is the only effective. When it comes to flu, the vaccine is given once a year. From pneumococcus - once every five years.
You must be vaccinated against flu. This is due to the fact that the virus easily penetrates the lungs. If the child has a chronic problem with the bronchi, then pneumococcus vaccination is mandatory.
Folk remedies for segmental pneumonia in a child
The medical history, that is, the information on the development of this ailment given above, clearly indicates that using only folk remedies is not recommended. However, they can be used in parallel with drug treatment. This will increase the effectiveness of therapy.
To get rid of cough and sputum, you can use the following tools:
- Tea from viburnum. It is necessary to pour boiling water over the berries. You can add sugar. Drink tea no more than three times a day.
- Means of onion. You need to take the onion and grate it. In the gruel, add 1 tbsp. l honey. The child should be given three times a day, one spoonful.
- Cabbage juice. You should take ΒΌ of cabbage, grate it and squeeze the juice. You need to add the same amount of honey to it. Drink before meals three times a day, one spoonful.
- Radish juice. Pretty popular tool. It is necessary to cut out the middle in the vegetable, and put honey in the resulting depression. Radish should be left overnight. During this time, juice is formed, which must be given to the child. Dosage: three times a day in a spoon before meals. There is a contraindication: if the acidity is increased, then the juice is prohibited.
Be sure to use tools that will improve the general condition of the body.
- Honey. It has many positive properties. If you add birch buds, then the effectiveness of the product will be higher. To prepare the mixture, you should take a pan, put 3 tablespoons of honey in it, add birch buds. Next, you need to boil for about five minutes over low heat. This mixture is diluted with warm water. The broth should be given before bedtime. You can use it for a year without a break. It is a great way to fight colds.
- Warm cottage cheese is an excellent tool that will allow you to relieve swelling of the chest. You need to warm it and put it on the ribs. You can use instead of mustard plasters.
To relieve fever, you can put compresses.
- Again, honey is an excellent remedy. They can smear the baby's chest and put a towel. The last should be moistened with alcohol. It must be removed after three to four hours, and the skin must be wiped.
- Sauerkraut is often used. It can be put on the forehead, on the elbow and inguinal folds. Cabbage should be wrapped with gauze. The compress needs to be changed when it becomes warm.
- You can lower body temperature with vinegar. They can either rub or make a compress. We should not forget that vinegar is an acid, so it must be diluted with water.
The above means will help to easily get rid of the symptoms and manifestations of the disease at the initial stage. However, one should not forget that they will be maximally effective only with simultaneous conservative therapy.
Summary
Children often get pneumonia. The reasons can be different - from hypothermia, to infection with the virus. The most important thing is to quickly understand why the child is not feeling well. The sooner treatment is prescribed, the easier it will be to eliminate the problem. Accordingly, there is a chance to minimize the consequences.