Question
The child has a cough, nasal congestion, and occasionally vomits. The baby is noisy during sleep at night, but the breathing does not seem to be rapid, about 40-50 times per minute. Should parents be concerned about pneumonia? What are the main symptoms of newborn pneumonia and what should parents be aware of?
Answer
The main symptoms of newborn pneumonia include cyanosis around the mouth, vomiting white foam, difficulty breathing, lack of energy, less crying, not crying, and breast refusal. Sometimes it may present as “common cold” symptoms, such as nasal congestion and milk regurgitation. However, upon closer observation, it can be noticed that the baby’s breathing is very fast (over 45 times per minute, usually 40-44 times per minute), and may even be accompanied by difficulty breathing, such as clamped jaws (inhalation causes indentation in the supraclavicular fossa, intercostal spaces, and xiphoid process).