Pneumonia Neonatal Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Pneumonia Neonatal is an inflammatory disease of the lungs that occurs in newborns. This condition is very serious because it causes the baby to experience severe shortness of breath which can lead to shock and death.
Based on the time of occurrence, Pneumonia Neonatal is divided into two, namely:
1. Early onset Pneumonia Neonatal, namely pneumonia whose symptoms appear several hours after the baby is born.
2. Late-onset Pneumonia Neonatal, namely pneumonia that begins to appear at the age of seven days or more. This type usually occurs in infants who are treated in an intensive care unit (ICU ) and are fitted with a breathing apparatus in the form of a ventilator.
Symptoms
The main symptom of Pneumonia Neonatal is shortness of breath. The baby looks difficult to breathe, to use the muscles of the chest wall with difficulty to help keep breathing. Babies can also sound like whimpering and not strong enough to cry. A baby’s fingertips and lips can appear bluish, or medically known as cyanosis.
Unlike pneumonia in adults which is generally accompanied by fever, pneumonia that occurs in newborns is not always accompanied by fever. However, it can also be accompanied by a cold body temperature (hypothermia).
Pneumonia Neonatal does not only cause respiratory complaints. This problem can interfere with the function of other organs of the body and cause symptoms such as skin redness, yellow skin, decreased blood sugar, distended stomach, and less urination.
Reason
Pneumonia Neonatal is triggered by several conditions. Certain groups of babies are known to be more susceptible to this disorder, namely baby conditions such as the following:
- Babies born to mothers with premature rupture of membranes
- If the mother has an infection in the uterus during pregnancy
- Babies undergoing long treatment in the intensive care unit
- Mothers with fever before delivery
- If the lowest part of the fetus is the buttocks
- Mothers with recurrent urinary tract infections
- Obese mother
- Mothers who used antibiotics during pregnancy
- Mothers who smoke while pregnant
The germs that cause pneumonia are bacteria that come from the area of the mother’s intimate organs or bacteria found in the baby care room at the hospital. The most commonly encountered bacteria are group A and group B streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, and gram-negative rods such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp, and Proteus sp.
In some cases, Pneumonia Neonatal can also be caused by viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, or influenza virus. Pneumonia caused by a virus is generally passed on by family members or sick people who visit the baby.
Diagnosis
If Pneumonia Neonatal is suspected, the baby should be immediately taken to a pediatrician. During the initial examination, the doctor will conduct medical interviews with the baby’s parents regarding whether there are complicating conditions during pregnancy, for example premature rupture of the membranes or infection in the uterus. Then the doctor will do a physical examination on the baby, especially to hear the breath sounds from the lungs.
Furthermore, to confirm the presence of pneumonia, a chest X-ray will be taken. If the baby’s sputum can be obtained, a sputum culture examination will also be carried out. Thus it can also be known the type of bacteria that causes Pneumonia Neonatal and the right type of antibiotic used to treat it.
Treatment
Pneumonia Neonatal should be treated in a hospital with intensive care facilities and under the supervision of a pediatrician. The main goal of treatment is to kill the germs that cause inflammation and provide good respiratory support to sustain the baby’s life. Therefore, doctors will usually inject antibiotics to kill bacteria.
Generally, treatment requires more than one antibiotic to treat the infection quickly and effectively. If breathing is very disturbed, the doctor will also install a mechanical ventilator to help the baby to breathe optimally.
To help expel phlegm, the medical staff will also carry out rehabilitation measures by patting the baby’s back, shaking the baby’s back, or giving phlegm thinner. Sputum suction with suction is not always recommended to be done routinely because it can injure the respiratory tract.
Prevention
To prevent Pneumonia Neonatal, pregnant women are strongly advised to carry out routine controls to the doctor during pregnancy. If you have a fever during pregnancy, don’t take it for granted. Immediately consult a doctor if the fever lasts more than 24 hours.
Take care and also pay attention to general health conditions. Consumption of fresh, hygienic and highly nutritious food. Also, try to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. Cleanliness that is maintained and a fit body condition will help prevent the perch of various germs.