Question
How should neonatal pneumonia be treated? A newborn, just 20 days old, has been diagnosed with pneumonia and has been hospitalized for four days. The current symptoms include phlegm in the throat, uneven breathing, and slight coughing. The child is currently receiving injection therapy. Are there faster and more effective treatment methods?
Answer
The treatment of neonatal pneumonia is challenging due to the baby’s small age, which results in a weaker cough reflex and fewer tracheal mucosal cilia, leading to poor expectoration. This often manifests as minimal coughing but can be detected by the presence of phlegm sounds in the trachea during examination. The phlegm contains a large number of bacteria, and if not expelled in time, it may lead to the worsening of pneumonia. Therefore, it is recommended to use expectorants to promote phlegm expulsion and recovery in addition to anti-infection treatment. Pneumonia is a common pediatric disease, and once diagnosed with pediatric pneumonia, medication treatment should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor. Mild pneumonia can generally heal after one to ten days of antibiotic treatment.