Question
How long will a two-year-old cough after recovering from pneumonia?
Answer
Pneumonia is a common disease in children, occurring throughout the year, but more frequently during winter and spring. If treatment is incomplete, it may recur, affecting the child’s growth and development. Symptoms of pediatric pneumonia include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, and sometimes the child may not have a fever but experience severe coughing and wheezing. The main cause may be due to children’s fondness for overly sweet, salty, or fried foods, leading to indigestion and internal heat, with phlegm accumulating and becoming thick, which can be exacerbated by wind-cold invasion into the lungs, causing lung congestion and subsequently pneumonia. Here are some care suggestions:
- Closely monitor the child’s temperature changes, mental state, and breathing condition.
- Keep the indoor air circulating, avoiding excessive heat and humidity to reduce coughing and the stickiness of phlegm, and improve breathing difficulties.
- Due to increased fluid loss from fever, sweating, and rapid breathing, it is important to replenish fluids to maintain hydration.
- Since breastfeeding may worsen coughing, stop using a baby bottle during diaper changes and feed with a small spoon instead.
- Check if there are any dry nasal crusts in the child’s nose; if so, gently remove them with a cotton swab dipped in water to prevent nasal blockage that affects breathing.