Question
The baby was born with a low birth weight and tends to cough up milk while feeding. The family’s month-old babysitter had a cold with a fever. Starting from the 20th day, the baby began to experience nasal congestion, cough, and purulent nasal discharge. The doctor diagnosed it as neonatal pneumonia. How should it be handled?
Answer
Based on the description of the condition, it can be confirmed that the baby has neonatal pneumonia. Coughing up milk is a common occurrence, but in severe cases, it may lead to suffocation or pneumonia. The fats in milk can trigger an inflammatory response, causing damage to the lungs and resulting in respiratory symptoms. Neonatal pneumonia is more severe compared to children and adults, and may lead to complications such as bacterial infection and respiratory distress. Hospitalization is required, especially when complications such as anemia or congenital heart disease are present, as the condition may be more severe and require a longer hospital stay.