Question
Doctor, my child was just born two or three days ago. A friend’s child has pneumonia. I’m afraid my baby might get pneumonia too. How should I prevent neonatal pneumonia?
Answer
Maintain a suitable room temperature. In the cold winter, parents should dress their children appropriately to avoid catching a cold. Infants have a body temperature similar to adults, but their low temperature regulation center function is poor, and they cannot normally regulate body temperature in cases of extreme cold or heat. Wearing too many clothes or using excessively thick blankets can lead to infants losing too much water, which may result in dehydration and fever in severe cases. If symptoms such as fever, hoarseness, and refusal to eat occur, the family should consider providing appropriate heating facilities. The indoor temperature should not be too high and should be maintained around 18 degrees Celsius. Dressing appropriately helps infants exercise their bodies better, and if infants do not often sweat, it is best to master the appropriate amount of clothing. The key to preventing pneumonia is to avoid overheating the child, as pneumonia is often caused by overheating.