Question
My child, who is 4 months old, has developed bronchial pneumonia. How long do I need to continue medication? Are there any side effects of taking too much medication for such a young child?
Answer
Treating pediatric pneumonia involves blood tests, at the very least a routine blood test to check white blood cell counts and differentiate between bacterial and viral infections. If there’s a suspicion of mycoplasma infection, a blood test for mycoplasma antibodies is necessary. The general treatment includes anti-infection therapy, selecting antibiotics based on the causative agent, along with additional treatments for expectoration and cough relief. Typically, the child will recover within about a week, although some infections may require a longer treatment period.